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ECE Environmental Science > Quest 12/11/23 > Flashcards

Quest 12/11/23 Flashcards

1
Q

latitude

A

distance north and south of the equator

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2
Q

longitude

A

distance east and south of prime meridian

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3
Q

albedo

A

percent of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface

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4
Q

tropic of cancer

A

sunlight rays directly on the tropic of cancer on 6/21, 23 1/2 degrees north

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5
Q

tropic of capricorn

A

sunlight rays directly on it on 12/21, 23 degrees south

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6
Q

windward

A

side facing the wind (left side of mountain)

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7
Q

leeward

A

side not facing the wind (right side of mountain)

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8
Q

adiabatic heating

A

the heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks towards the surface of the Earth and decreases in volume.

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9
Q

orographic lifting

A

enhances and makes rain/snow harder

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10
Q

coriolis effect

A

the deflection of an object’s path because of the rotation of the earth

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11
Q

el nino

A

a reversal of wind and water currents in the south pacific

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12
Q

la nina

A

trade winds in the south pacific reverse strongly as opposed to an el nino which causes regions that were hot and try to become cooler and wetter

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13
Q

chinook winds

A

molecules condensing, increases temperatures, very dry.

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14
Q

troposphere

A

most dense layer, weather takes place

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15
Q

stratosphere

A

jet stream and ozone / protects from UV

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16
Q

mesophere

A

coldest sphere

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17
Q

thermosphere

A

less dense layer

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18
Q

exosphere

A

least dense layer (hottest)

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19
Q

latitude is _____. Latitude is measured in ____. Each _____ is equal to __ miles (exact and absolute location)

A

distance north and south of the equator; degrees; degree; 70

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20
Q

longitude is ____. Longitude is measured in ____. Each ____ is equal to ___ miles. (exact and absolute location)

A

distance east and west of the prime meridian; degrees; degree; 70 miles.

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21
Q

How does latitude affect warming on Earth?

A

1) angle variation at which the rays of the sun strike the earth
2) variation in the amt of surface area over which the sun’s rays are distributed
3) some areas on Earth reflect more solar energy than others- referred to as its albedo
higher albedo= more sunlight reflects = lower absorption
average albedo on earth is 30%

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22
Q

Layers of the atmosphere

A

nitrogen: 78%
oxygen: 21%
misc gas: 1%
these gases make earth substantially warmer

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23
Q

Storms in the northern hemisphere rotate ______ while in the southern hemisphere they rotate ______. This is due to the ______

A

counter clockwise; counter clockwise; coriolis effect

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24
Q

the coriolis effect works in ways that makes things travelling ____ distances around the _____ appear to move in a _____ rather than a ______ line. The Coriolis effect affects _____ patterns, ocean ______, and even _______

A

long; earth; curve; straight; weather; currents; airplanes

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25
which part of Earth rotates faster?
Equator
26
Why do storms spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere?
The low pressure zones and the fact that it spins faster at the equator (high rotation).
27
Ocean currents
important factor for global climates that moves warm or colder water across the world (ex: Gulf stream and Alaska Current)
28
What drives ocean currents?
temperature, gravity, prevailing winds, coriolis, salinity, location of continents
29
the earth's surface is warmed ____ by the sun
unevenly
30
the ____ absorbs and stores more ____ than the ______
ocean; heat; atmosphere
31
The atmosphere moves heat _____, while the ocean moves it _____
quickly; slowly
32
At the oceans surface, _____ drive currents
winds
33
the "ocean conveyor belt" is also known as the _______
thermohaline circulation
34
deeper ocean currents are driven by _______. Mixing and ____ transport _____ rich waters to the surface.
Differences in density; upwelling; nutrient
35
An ____ is a circular moving body of water that spins of a main current. They play a major rule in transporting ____ and ______.
eddy; heat; nutrients
36
t/f: the mesosphere is the coldest layer of the atmosphere
t
37
if you were living in argentina, what would be the "longest" day of sunlight in the calendar year
december 21
38
which of the following would have the highest albedo?
snow
39
which of the following statements is true? Earth's atmosphere is composed of 68% Nitrogen, 31% Oxygen, and 1% miscellaneous gasses. Earth's atmosphere is composed of 78% Nitrogen, 25% Oxygen, and 1% miscellaneous gasses. Earth's atmosphere is composed of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 1% miscellaneous gasses. None of the answers listed are correct.
Earth's atmosphere is composed of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 1% miscellaneous gasses.
40
t/f meteors will often burn up in the thermosphere
f
41
which layer of the atmosphere would be considered the densest
troposphere
42
which layer of the atmosphere is the "ozone layer" a part of
stratosphere
43
which area on Earth would you expect to find higher levels of solar energy being absorbed and less being reflected
tropical rainforest
44
Earth has an approximate latitude of 42oN. Approximately how many miles is Connecticut located from the Equator?
2,940
45
On which day would you expect to find the Sun's rays directly above the equator?
september 21
46
Which of the following is true of a typical El Nino (ENSO) year?
upwelling decreases off the coast of Southern America, causing a decrease in fish populations and fishery production
47
Based off history, which climatic pattern is more favorable for hurricane development in the Atlantic Ocean? El Nino La Nina
La Nina
48
How often on average does an El Nino event occur?
typically every 3-7 years
49
On which date during the year would you typically expect an El Nino or La Nina event to really kick in?
christmas
50
Which ocean is the most affected by an El Nino or La Nina climatic event?
Pacific
51
When did the tuscaloosa storm occur?
April 27, 2011
52
What US state did this storm take place?
Alabama
53
Adiabatic heating occurs when ____________________________________.
air moves to lower altitudes therefore increasing the pressure and decreasing the volume of the air
54
If you were examining the currents found in deep ocean waters, which of the following would affect the currents the most?
density/salinity
55
Adiabatic heating is most commonly associated with _______________.
chinook winds on the leeward side of a mountain
56
Why are hurricanes uncommon in California?
the cold Alaska current impedes hurricane development
57
Cyclones in the northern hemisphere rotate ________________.
counter clockwise due to the Coriolis Effect
58
El Nino
trade winds bring warmer air and water towards North and South America -winters lack polar jet, limiting storms in New England -winters more stormy in Southern US due to southern jet stream
59
La Nina
trade winds bring colder air and water towards North and South America -winters do involve polar jet, but can lack the southern jet -winters often stormy in the northern US
60
What is latitude?
the distance north or south of the equator
61
What causes storms to rotate clockwise in the southern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere?
Coriolis Effect
62
t/f Albedo should be very high near a tropical rainforest.
f
63
t/f Adiabatic heating is less common during a La Nina event due to a weak polar jet stream.
f
64
The sun's rays are directly above the Tropic of Capricorn. What day of the year is it?
dec 21
65
t/r The exosphere is less dense than the thermosphere.
t
66
t/f The troposphere is less dense than the thermosphere.
f
67
t/f Meteor Crater is located in Arizona and gave scientists insight as to where to begin their investigation as to how the Earth was made.
t
68
Which of the following is not true concerning El Nino?
El Nino usually occurs every 2-7 years, contains a strong subtropical jet stream which bring above average precipitation to the southern United States and an increase in hurricane development
69
How does latitude affect warming on Earth?
changes in the surface area over which the sun's rays are distributed
70
t/f Orographic lifting would be stronger in Peru than it is in Washington.
t
71
What causes the enhanced precipitation rates found on the windward side of a mountain?
orographic lifting
72
If you travelled a total of from 240W to 170E, how far did you travel?
2,870 miles
73
t/f Nitrogen makes up approximately 72% of the gasses found in Earth's atmosphere.
f

ECE Environmental Science (26 decks)

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