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1180 > midterm > Flashcards

midterm Flashcards

1
Q

what are the 4 spheres?

A

hydrosphere
biosphere
lithosphere
atmosphere

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2
Q

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

A

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

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3
Q

what is geography?

A

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

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4
Q

what is a system? closed and opened

A

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

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

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5
Q

map projections:

A

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

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6
Q

Milky Way Galaxy

A

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

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7
Q

Perihelion

Aphelion

A

Perihelion- closest to the sun (Jan 3rd)

Aphelion- furthest away from sun (July 4th)

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8
Q

Sun

A

star in the Galaxy

Energy source for Earth

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9
Q

Our Solar System

A

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

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10
Q

Fusion

A

reactions between hydrogen nuclei that release large amounts of energy

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11
Q

Sunspots

A

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

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12
Q

Solar Winds

A

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

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13
Q

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

A

Aphelion

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14
Q

electromagnetic spectrum

A

solar energy occupies part of the electromagnetic spectrum

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15
Q

electromagnetic radiation

A

energy that travels in waves

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16
Q

short wavelength

A

higher energy, higher frequency, higher temp

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17
Q

longer wavelength

A

lower energy, lower frequency, lower temp

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18
Q

Wien’s displacement Law

A

objects radiate energy in __ related to their energy

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19
Q

Blackbody radiator

A

perfect absorber of radiant energy

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20
Q

insolation

A

solar radiation intercepted by Earth ( incoming solar radiation)

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21
Q

solar constant

A

average insolation @ the top of the atmosphere

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22
Q

subsolar point

A

location where insolation is perpendicular to the surface

migrates between 23.5 N and 23.5 S

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23
Q

Net radiation

A

incoming shortwave- outgoing long wave

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24
Q

Seasonality

A

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

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25
Q

Reasons for seasons

A 
revolution 
rotation 
tilt 
axial parallelism 
sphericity
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26
Q

revolution

A

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

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27
Q

rotation

A

earth’s rotates from west to east (eastward)

rotation creates apparent westward movement of the sun

28
Q

what happens on Sept equinox?

A

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

29
Q

day length

A

duration of exposure to insolation

30
Q

tilt

A

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

31
Q

Axial Parallelism

A

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

32
Q

Sphericity

A

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

33
Q

the atmosphere

A 
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
34
Q

what is air pressure?

A

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

35
Q

atmospheric pressure

A

air pressure changes with elevation

36
Q

why does air pressure change with elevation?

A

high up- low density, low pressure

lower down- high density, high pressure due to gravity

37
Q

heterosphere

A

gasses separate based on gravity

38
Q

temp of thermosphere

A

cold

39
Q

temp

A

a measure of kinetic energy of molecules

40
Q

heat

A

flow of kinetic energy from 1 body to another

41
Q

atmospheric functions

A

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

42
Q

ozone

A 
oxygen molecule (O3) 
highly reactive 
ozone absorbs: short wavelengths of UV radiation
43
Q

transmission

A

uninterrupted passage of energy through the atmosphere or water

44
Q

energy

A

capacity to do work or move matter

  • kinetic energy: energy of motion
  • potential energy: stored energy
45
Q

radiation

A

transfer of heat in electromagnetic waves

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

46
Q

scattering

A

redirection of light without a change in wavelength

47
Q

diffuse radiation

A

insolation that reaches Earth’s surface after scattering occurs

48
Q

Rayleigh scattering

A

shorter wavelengths scatter more than longer wavelengths

49
Q

mie scattering

A

longer pollutants result in scattering of all visible light wavelengths

50
Q

refraction

A

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

51
Q

Rainbows

A

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

52
Q

reflection

A

arriving energy that bounces directly back into space

53
Q

albedo

A

ratio of reflected solar radiation to incident solar radiation

54
Q

absorption

A

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

55
Q

how much short wave radiation is absorbed?

how much short wave radiation is reflected?

A

69%

31%

56
Q

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

A

before sunrise and after noon (3pm)

57
Q

latitudinal energy imbalance @ poles

A

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

58
Q

latitudinal energy imbalance @ equator

A

high sun angle

constant day length

59
Q

microclimates

A

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

60
Q

what is sensible heat?

A

you can feel it, measure it

61
Q

what is latent heat?

A

you can’t measure it

62
Q

what does latent heat of evaporation refers to?

A

the energy associated with a base change from liquid to vapor

63
Q

aerosols

A

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

64
Q

global dimming

A

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

65
Q

principle temp controls

A

insolation is primary control on temp.

  1. altitude
  2. latitude
  3. cloud cover
  4. land-water heating differences
66
Q

driving forces within the atmosphere

A
  1. Gravitational Force
  2. Pressure Gradient Force
  3. Coriolis Force
  4. Friction Force
67
Q

Gravitational Force

A

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

1180 (2 decks)

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