exam 2 review Flashcards
(119 cards)
1
Q
__________ cycling through the atmosphere is arguably the most significant environmental process in the physical geography of planet Earth.
A
Water
2
Q
Condensing clouds control the planetary __________ and temperature
A
Albedo
3
Q
Rain over the continents collects into rivers that erode and shape the landscape. (True/False)
A
True
4
Q
Water enters and leaves the atmosphere fairly __________.
A
Rapidly
5
Q
On average, a water molecule spends about 9 months in the air before returning to Earth as some form of precipitation. (True/False)
A
False: Nine DAYS.
6
Q
Water enters the atmosphere as a gas (water vapor) by __________ from wet surfaces
A
Evaporation.
7
Q
Over Hawai’i, __________ of all water vapor resides between sea level and the inversion at around 7000 feet altitude.
A
80%
8
Q
Water vapor, like other atmospheric gases, is well mixed throughout the entire atmosphere. (True/ False)
A
False: water vapor quite different from other atmospheric gases, which are well mixed throughout the entire atmosphere. Even tens of miles above the surface, nitrogen, oxygen, and argon are still found in the same proportions as at sea level, while water is not.
9
Q
Condensing water __________ an enormous amount of heat into the atmosphere.
A
Releases
10
Q
When clouds grow deep enough, they produce __________, and water returns to the surface.
A
Precipitation
11
Q
__________ refers to the phase change of water from liquid to gas.
A
Evaporation
12
Q
Most atmospheric water vapor enters the air by evaporation from oceans (about 86%). (True/ False)
A
True
13
Q
Plants boost the evaporation rate over land by withdrawing water from soil, conveying it to plant leaves, and allowing it to evaporate through openings called stomata (plural of stoma), a process called __________.
A
Transpiration
14
Q
Humidity is a measure of the amount of __________ in the atmosphere.
A
Water vapor
15
Q
The maximum amount of water vapor that the air can hold is called the __________.
A
Saturation Vapor Pressure (SVP)
16
Q
If temperature increases, saturation vapor pressure increases, and relative humidity decreases. (True/ False)
A
True
17
Q
The temperature at which relative humidity becomes __________ is called the dew point.
A
100%
18
Q
Individual clouds may weigh hundreds of tons. Why don’t they fall out of the sky?
A
Updrafts hold up the individual cloud droplets.
19
Q
If air tends to rise easily, the atmosphere is said to be __________.
A
Unstable, and deep clouds and precipitation are likely to form
20
Q
The fundamental principal of cloud formation is fairly simple:
A
Warm air rises.
21
Q
__________ refers to the actual temperature profile in the atmosphere.
A
Environmental Lapse Rate (ELR)
22
Q
In Hawai’i, the atmosphere is generally stable because of the trade wind __________.
A
Inversion
23
Q
When air cools to the __________, water vapor in the air condenses into liquid water.
A
Dew point
24
Q
Condensing water requires a solid surface to condense onto. (True/ False)
A
True
25
Ever notice how deep blue the sky looks after a rainfall? That's because rainfall scours cloud condensation nuclei out of the atmosphere and reduces __________ scattering
Mie
26
The Kilauea volcano puts out huge quantities of cloud condensation nuclei, flooding the downwind "airshed" of south Kona with small atmospheric particles, which we see as __________.
Vog
27
Raindrops form by collision and coalescence of cloud droplets, i.e. they strike each other and __________.
And merge into a larger drop
28
Cumulus means __________.
Puffy
29
San Francisco’s fog mostly forms in __________ cooling.
Advection.
30
Clouds (and attendant precipitation) most likely form when air __________.
Rises.
31
Wind pressure against a mountain barrier forces air to rise on the mountain's windward side. As it rises, it warms to the dew point, clouds form, and rain may fall. (True/ False)
True
32
In the lee of the mountain (leeward side), the air, with its moisture removed, heats quickly as it flows downward producing hot, dry offshore winds and a low rain area called a/an __________.
Rainshadow.
33
The word convergence means, "to __________."
Come together.
34
Convection refers to air rising because it is buoyant, meaning that it is warmer and denser than the air around it. (True/ False)
False
| Warmer and LESS dense than the air around it.
35
Daytime heating during summer can produce deep convection clouds, complete with torrential rainfall, lightening and thunder over continental areas. (True/ False)
True.
36
Air masses are small blobs of air with relatively uniform temperature and moisture characteristics. (True/ False)
False.
| Air masss are HUGE (maybe 1,000 miles across)
37
Warm oceans spawn __________ air masses.
Warm oceans spawn mT (marine Tropical) air masses,
38
cP air masses are:
Contiential polar (Cold dry).
39
If you know a cT air mass is headed your way, you can expect hot, dry conditions. (True/ False)
True.
40
If an mP air mass is coming in summer, expect hot, muggy weather with possible thunderstorms. (True/ False)
False.
41
When air masses collide, they readily mix, and form a new uniform air mass. (True/ False)
False.
42
If the cold air mass is pushing back the warm air mass (thus, winning), it forms a/an __________ front.
Cold Front.
43
Cold fronts almost always produce a cloud band. (True/ False)
True.
44
Tracking fronts is probably the Hawaiian weather person's greatest forecasting tool, because the sequence of weather change is fairly predictable. (True/ False)
False, Mid latitude weather person's
45
As it sweeps through the cold air mass, the warm front may spawn a continuously advancing band of intense thunderstorms called a squall line. (True/ False)
False, As it sweeps through the WARM air mass, the COLD front may spawn a continuously advancing band of intense thunderstorms called a squall line.
46
Warm fronts are generally much less intense than cold fronts. (True/ False)
True.
47
A/an __________ forms when a cold front overtakes a warm front and lifts the warm air mass completely off of the surface
Occluded front.
48
Midlatitude cyclones (also called migratory Lows) form and strengthen in the __________ pressure belts of higher latitudes.
Low.
49
Midlatitude cyclones typically affect an area perhaps __________ miles in diameter.
1,000 miles.
50
Midlatitude cyclones’ cyclonic motion strengthens around their __________
Centers.
51
In the tropics, cyclones form entirely within warm air masses and thus, they form strong fronts. (True/ False)
False , They do not form fronts.
52
The term "tropical cyclone" strictly refers to an organized low pressure system, called a hurricane, in the tropics. (True/ False)
False, The term "tropical cyclone" refers to ANY organized low pressure system in the tropics
53
In Hawaiian waters during the hurricane season, many tropical depressions strengthen to become tropical storms, and many grow into hurricanes. (True/ False)
False, In Hawaiian waters during the hurricane season, only a few tropical depressions strengthen to become tropical storms, and FEWER still grow into hurricanes
54
In Hawai‘i, tropical storms and depressions do not cause any damage. (True/ False)
False, tropical storms and depressions do cause quite some damage.
55
In the formation of a hurricane, evaporation from the ocean surface transfers the necessary heat into the storm to sustain it and the warmer the water, the greater the heat transfer through evaporation. (True/ False)
True.
56
For hurricanes to form, the atmosphere needs to be unstable with great "shear." (True/ False)
False, The atmosphere needs to be unstable (like conditions that favor thunderstorms) and lack "shear" (meaning that wind speed and direction must be the same at all altitudes).
57
hurricane is essentially a highly organized mass of severe thunderstorms, with rain bands and a calm central __________.
Eye.
58
The frequency of hurricanes is particularly high on the __________ sides of ocean basins.
Western.
59
“Overcast skies, with occasionally heavy rainfall affecting all islands, highs in the upper 70's lows in the mid-60's, southerly winds gusting to 35 mph." This is a typical forecast for:
Kona storms.
60
Happily for life on Earth, the planetary __________ effect warms Earth enough that the surface is covered with mostly liquid, rather than frozen, water.
Greenhouse.
61
Average two-mile deep oceans cover __________ of the planet.
71%.
62
Historically, it has been the quality of ___________ that has determined human occupation and explained where the world's great population centers were located.
Soil.
63
Earth's surface water accumulated over billions of years by precipitation of water vapor that entered the atmosphere through __________ from volcanoes, fumaroles, and other vents.
Outgassing.
64
Streams picked up dissolved __________ on land surfaces and carried them down to the oceans, gradually increasing the salinity to today's concentration.
Salts.
65
The __________ are by far the largest reservoir, containing over 97% of all surface water.
Oceans.
66
21% of Earth's water takes the familiar forms we depend on as fresh water. (True/ False)
False, Only a miniscule 0.015% of Earth's water takes the familiar forms we depend on as fresh water lakes and rivers, soil water, and water in the atmosphere.
67
Water continually cycles between the reservoirs, both through the atmosphere and over land. Scientists call this process the __________ cycle.
Hydrologic.
68
There is a net transfer of water from ocean surfaces to land through atmosphere. (True/ False)
True.
69
Groundwater occupies the gaps between soil particles and cracks in bedrock in the saturated zone of the ground. The upper surface of this zone is called the __________.
Water Table.
70
Why can perennial (year-round) streams continue to flow even during dry periods? Because __________.
Surface runoff supplies water for streams and rivers.
71
If the soil is well aerated and porous (like sand), water cannot soak in rapidly, and thus most of it will not infiltrate. (True/ False)
False, Will soak in rapidly, Encourages infiltration.
72
Any water that evades plant roots and percolates below the root zone will continue descending until it reaches the water table and becomes __________.
Recharge.
73
The amount of water held in the root zone, called soil moisture __________, continuously changes.
Strorage.
74
In general, good conservation practice seeks to minimize runoff, because it causes soil erosion and wastes valuable water. (True/ False)
True.
75
Because rainfall varies so much over such small distances, Hawai'i has what is probably the densest rainfall monitoring network in the world. (True/ False).
True.
76
High rainfall in mountainous areas provides the major input to the Hawaiian Islands' surface water balance. Because of this, mountain watershed areas are designated as conservation districts and __________ development by state law.
Protected.
77
__________ used to be quite important on sugar cane land in Hawai'i, as this crop demands plenty of water.
Irrigation.
78
In some upper-mountain areas in Hawai'i, interception of cloud water by plants, also called __________, can be a significant source of water to the surface.
Fog Drip.
79
Overall, the Hawaiian Islands are not porous at the surface, which discourages infiltration and limits runoff. (True/ False)
False, Hawaiian Islands are quite porous at the surface, which encourages infiltration and limits runoff. Because of this, Hawai'i has very few perennial (year-round) streams.
80
During a heavy rain in Hawai‘i, the ground becomes unsaturated and thousands of small ephemeral (short-lived) streams appear, producing numerous streaming mountain waterfalls. (True/ False)
False, heavy rain, however, the ground becomes saturated and thousands of small ephemeral (short-lived) streams appear, producing, as noted above, numerous streaming mountain waterfalls.
81
Tree, and other plant, roots slow down the overland flow of water and open up tiny channels in the soil, which encourages infiltration. (True/ False)
True.
82
When severe erosion of topsoil happens, soil that has been stripped from upland areas is carried downstream in muddy rivers, where it can clog lowland navigational channels. (True/ False)
True.
83
When forest is cleared, heavy rainfall can produce very high overland flows that quickly fill river channels accustomed to carrying much lower water volumes. This is called _________.
Flash Flooding.
84
Every year in tropical countries, hundreds of people die in flash floods directly attributable to __________ infiltration rate caused by deforestation.
Reduced.
85
__________ through plant stomata is the main pathway for water entering the atmosphere over land.
Transpiration.
86
A unique aquifer type that exists on Hawaiian Islands is called a __________
Freshwater lens.
87
The particular rock that the mineral grains originate from, called the __________ rock, can determine many properties of the soil itself.
Parent.
88
Soil contains both decomposed rocks and organic matter. (True/ False)
True (also contains water, air, etc).
89
The red clay soils that you see in Central O'ahu and other locations are primarily __________.
Oxysols.
90
Vegetation depends on the prevailing climate, and thus, climate and vegetation zones occupy similar locations on the map. (True/ False)
True.
91
Animal life is __________ dependent on climate than on the history of dispersion, adaptation, and competition.
Less.
92
__________ is the study of the distribution of living things.
Biogeography.
93
Which Realm contains giraffes and zebras?
Ethiopian Realm.
94
Marsupials dominate __________ Realm.
Australian Realm.
95
About __________ million years ago the primitive edentate group arrived in the South and Central America, represented by the armadillo, sloth, and giant anteater.
60.
96
Placental mammals originated in the Oriental and Ethiopian Realms. (True/ False)
True.
97
Animals have been able to migrate between the Palearctic and Nearctic Realms on land bridges formed when sea levels were higher than today. (True/ False)
False, Sea levels were lower.
98
A terrestrial __________ is a recognizable community of plants and animals that have adapted to conditions in a particular area.
Biome.
99
Natural vegetation such as the temperate deciduous forests no longer exists in many areas. (True/ False)
True.
100
At a basic level, most of Earth's land area can be called forest, grassland, or desert. These vegetation types are a response to __________ availability.
Moisture.
101
If there are long dry seasons with substantial moisture deficits, __________ will dominate.
Grassland.
102
The distribution of tropical biomes depends largely on the location and movement of the major source of rainfall: the __________.
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
103
Equatorial areas generally receive enough rainfall year round to support forest. (True/ False)
True.
104
The lowland tropical rainforests house the greatest diversity of life that exists on Earth today. (True/ False)
True.
105
In the lowland tropical forests, trees grow tall straight trunks because of generally good quality of soils. (True/ False)
False, They grow tall straight trunks because the poor soil.
106
Because of their shallow root systems, the trees in lowland tropical forests often grow web-shaped __________ at their base for support.
Buttresses.
107
Non-rooting plants like orchids that grow in the tree crowns living off decaying leaves are called __________.
Epiphytes.
108
Deforestation has serious environmental consequences such as soil erosion and flash flooding. (True/ False)
True.
109
Tropical grassland is called __________..
Savanna.
110
Before the development of large cities, __________ supported the largest human populations in Africa and Australia, and anthropologists believe the human species evolved from this environment.
Savannas.
111
In Australia, __________ trees dot the savanna biome.
Eucalyptus.
112
In the tropical deserts, year-round unstable atmospheric conditions account for the low rainfall totals. (True/ False)
False, Year-round stable atmospheric conditions account for the low rainfall totals.
113
Stability of atmosphere increases in areas with __________ offshore currents.
Cool.
114
A major environmental issue concerns the margins of deserts where overuse by humans causes __________.
Dessertification.
115
The environment and climate of the midlatitudes is much more variable than the tropics. (True/ False)
True.
116
__________ are dominated by needle leaf (also called coniferous) species, such as redwood and fir, but also contain many broadleaf species.
Temperate evergreen forests.
117
_________, also called northern coniferous forest or boreal forest, occurs only in the northern hemisphere.
Taiga.
118
__________ is a Russian word that means "treeless plain."
Tundra.
119
Today, most of the original vegetation of Hawai‘i has disappeared through clearing for agriculture and urban use. (True/ False)
True.
