midterm

Question 1

what are the 4 spheres?

Answer 1

hydrosphere
biosphere
lithosphere
atmosphere

Question 2

what is the difference between: galaxy, universe and solar system?

Answer 2

Galaxy: collection of thousands to billions of stars held together by gravity
Universe: all of space and time
Solar System: a set including a star and the matter that orbits it including planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and other object

Question 3

what is geography?

Answer 3

‘study of the relationships among natural systems and processes, geographic areas, society and culture over space

Question 4

what is a system? closed and opened

Answer 4

–set of ordered components linked by flows of energy and matter, distinct from surrounding

open: not self contained (river)
closed: self contained (aunt colony)

Question 5

map projections:

Answer 5

Cylindrical: preserves shape but not area (Mercator)
Conic: preserves area but not shape (Gnomonic)
Planar/Azimuth: doesn’t preserve either (Albers equal- area)

Question 6

Milky Way Galaxy

Answer 6

collection of stars and gasses
-50 billion planets
flatted disc shaped

Question 7

Perihelion

Aphelion

Answer 7

Perihelion- closest to the sun (Jan 3rd)

Aphelion- furthest away from sun (July 4th)

Question 8

Sun

Answer 8

star in the Galaxy

Energy source for Earth

Question 9

Our Solar System

Answer 9

planets orbit the Sun in elliptical path (plane of ecliptic)

Question 10

Fusion

Answer 10

reactions between hydrogen nuclei that release large amounts of energy

Question 11

Sunspots

Answer 11

sun experiences magnetic storms –> sunspots
have lower temp than surroundings
11 year activity cycle

Question 12

Solar Winds

Answer 12

Sunspots can produce solar winds
clouds of electrically charged particles
Magnetosphere deflects solar wind poleward

Question 13

The Earth’s farthest position from the Sun can be described as:

Answer 13

Aphelion

Question 14

electromagnetic spectrum

Answer 14

solar energy occupies part of the electromagnetic spectrum

Question 15

electromagnetic radiation

Answer 15

energy that travels in waves

Question 16

short wavelength

Answer 16

higher energy, higher frequency, higher temp

Question 17

longer wavelength

Answer 17

lower energy, lower frequency, lower temp

Question 18

Wien’s displacement Law

Answer 18

objects radiate energy in __ related to their energy

Question 19

Blackbody radiator

Answer 19

perfect absorber of radiant energy

Question 20

insolation

Answer 20

solar radiation intercepted by Earth ( incoming solar radiation)

Question 21

solar constant

Answer 21

average insolation @ the top of the atmosphere

Question 22

subsolar point

Answer 22

location where insolation is perpendicular to the surface

migrates between 23.5 N and 23.5 S

Question 23

Net radiation

Answer 23

incoming shortwave- outgoing long wave

Question 24

Seasonality

Answer 24

seasonal variation in the Sun’s position above the horizon and changing daylight

Question 25

Reasons for seasons

Answer 25

``` revolution rotation tilt axial parallelism sphericity ```

Question 26

revolution

Answer 26

earth revolves around the sun length of voyage: 365 days earth's orbital speed

Question 27

rotation

Answer 27

earth's rotates from west to east (eastward) | rotation creates apparent westward movement of the sun

Question 28

what happens on Sept equinox?

Answer 28

all latitude receive 12 hours of sun light and 12 hours of darkness

Question 29

day length

Answer 29

duration of exposure to insolation

Question 30

tilt

Answer 30

Axis is tilted 23.5°from a perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic

Question 31

Axial Parallelism

Answer 31

Earth’s axis maintains the same alignment during its orbit around the Sun

Question 32

Sphericity

Answer 32

Earth’s nearly spherical shape causes insolation to reach earth at different angles•Sun’s position above the horizon varies with latitude

Question 33

the atmosphere

Answer 33

``` veil of gasses surrounding earth extends to 480km from the surface of the earth acts as protective boundary principle substance= air can be divided into layers ```

Question 34

what is air pressure?

Answer 34

force of air molecules pushing on surfaces they come in contact with

Question 35

atmospheric pressure

Answer 35

air pressure changes with elevation

Question 36

why does air pressure change with elevation?

Answer 36

high up- low density, low pressure | lower down- high density, high pressure due to gravity

Question 37

heterosphere

Answer 37

gasses separate based on gravity

Question 38

temp of thermosphere

Answer 38

cold

Question 39

temp

Answer 39

a measure of kinetic energy of molecules

Question 40

heat

Answer 40

flow of kinetic energy from 1 body to another

Question 41

atmospheric functions

Answer 41

absorbs: gamma rays, X-rays, and short wavelengths of UV radiation contains increased ozone levels

Question 42

ozone

Answer 42

``` oxygen molecule (O3) highly reactive ozone absorbs: short wavelengths of UV radiation ```

Question 43

transmission

Answer 43

uninterrupted passage of energy through the atmosphere or water

Question 44

energy

Answer 44

capacity to do work or move matter - kinetic energy: energy of motion - potential energy: stored energy

Question 45

radiation

Answer 45

transfer of heat in electromagnetic waves | waves of radiation do not need to travel through a medium to transfer heat

Question 46

scattering

Answer 46

redirection of light without a change in wavelength

Question 47

diffuse radiation

Answer 47

insolation that reaches Earth's surface after scattering occurs

Question 48

Rayleigh scattering

Answer 48

shorter wavelengths scatter more than longer wavelengths

Question 49

mie scattering

Answer 49

longer pollutants result in scattering of all visible light wavelengths

Question 50

refraction

Answer 50

change in the speed and direction of light upon entering a different medium

Question 51

Rainbows

Answer 51

visible light passes through raindrops light is refracted according to wavelength such that unique colours separate out refracted light is reflected back to absorber

Question 52

reflection

Answer 52

arriving energy that bounces directly back into space

Question 53

albedo

Answer 53

ratio of reflected solar radiation to incident solar radiation

Question 54

absorption

Answer 54

process in which radiation is retained by a substance and converted into a different form of energy temp of absorbing substance

Question 55

how much short wave radiation is absorbed? | how much short wave radiation is reflected?

Answer 55

69% | 31%

Question 56

when is the coldest time of the day and the warmest?

Answer 56

before sunrise and after noon (3pm)

Question 57

latitudinal energy imbalance @ poles

Answer 57

low sun angle reflective surfaces no isolation for 6 months/year

Question 58

latitudinal energy imbalance @ equator

Answer 58

high sun angle | constant day length

Question 59

microclimates

Answer 59

local climate conditions over small areas such as in a peak, in a courtyard, in a parking lot

Question 60

what is sensible heat?

Answer 60

you can feel it, measure it

Question 61

what is latent heat?

Answer 61

you can't measure it

Question 62

what does latent heat of evaporation refers to?

Answer 62

the energy associated with a base change from liquid to vapor

Question 63

aerosols

Answer 63

minute particles suspended in the atmosphere (volcanic gasses, desert dust) can scatter and absorb radiation

Question 64

global dimming

Answer 64

decline in sunlight reaching earth's surface due to pollution, aerosols and clouds

Question 65

principle temp controls

Answer 65

insolation is primary control on temp. 1. altitude 2. latitude 3. cloud cover 4. land-water heating differences

Question 66

driving forces within the atmosphere

Answer 66

1. Gravitational Force 2. Pressure Gradient Force 3. Coriolis Force 4. Friction Force

Question 67

Gravitational Force

Answer 67

Exerts virtually uniform pressure on atmosphere at Earth’s surface Responsible for atmospheric pressure