Sections 1 and 2 Flashcards
1
Q
What is weather? Name some examples.
A
Weather refers to the atmospheric conditions of a particular location at a specific time. Examples: temperature, air pressure, cloud cover, precipitation, humidity.
2
Q
What is climate and how is it different from weather?
A
Climate is the average weather conditions in a region measured over a period of several years (usually a minimum of 30 years).
3
Q
What is the biosphere?
A
The narrow zone around Earth that can support life. All three parts of the biosphere include biotic and abiotic components.
4
Q
Describe the atmosphere and its most abundant gases.
A
- Layer of gases around Earth
- Contains atmospheric dust (solid particles less than 0.66mm in diameter)
- may include non-living particles (e.g. soot) or living particles (e.g. pollen or micro-organisms)
- Most abundant gas: nitrogen (78%)
- second most abundant gas: oxygen (21%), maintained through photosynthesis
5
Q
What are the four layers of the atmosphere?
A
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
6
Q
Describe the troposphere.
A
- from surface (0km) to 10km
- 15 degrees to -60 degrees Celsius
- contains 80% of atmospheric gases
- has the most living organisms
- contains most of CO2 and O2 and most atmospheric dust
- layer which most weather occurs
7
Q
Describe the stratosphere.
A
- from 10km to 50km
- negative 60 degrees to 0 degrees Celsius
- contains the ozone layer (as a result, temperature increases with altitude)
- no life except for clumps of cells
- has a permanent inversion (inversion layer)
8
Q
Describe the mesosphere.
A
- from 50km to 80km
- 0 degrees to -100 degrees Celsius
- contains only traces of water vapour
9
Q
Describe the thermosphere.
A
- from 80km to 300km
- negative 100 degrees to 1500 degrees Celsius
- very little gas
- inversion layer (permanent inversion)
10
Q
What is an inversion? Which atmospheric layer(s) does this occur in?
A
An inversion is a reversal of the temperature change with altitude (usually an increase of temperature with altitude).
The stratosphere and thermosphere have a permanent inversion as their temperatures increase with altitude.
The main layer this occurs in is the troposphere.
11
Q
With inversion, specific atmospheric conditions trap ________ (colder/warmer) air closer to the ground.
A
Colder
12
Q
Briefly describe what ozone does. How does it affect the stratosphere’s temperature?
A
Ozone protects us from UV radiation from the sun (exothermic process). It acts as Earth’s “sunscreen.” The holes in the ozone layer contribute to skin cancer/eye problems.
Ozone absorbs the sun’s rays, which is why the stratosphere temperature increases with altitude.
13
Q
What is climate change?
A
Change that occurs in the climate of a region over time, usually a minimum of 30 yrs.
14
Q
What’s an adaptation?
A
Any change in the structure or functioning of an organism that makes it more suited to its environment.
15
Q
What is anecdotal evidence?
A
It normally has not been carefully tested. E.g. “it’s gradually getting warmer year-to-year.”
16
Q
What is scientific evidence?
A
Proved and checked evidence (data). E.g. measuring temperature changes.
17
Q
Describe the hydrosphere.
A
- All the water on earth (in any form like liquid, vapour, or ice)
- 97% salt water, 3% fresh water
- the amount of water always stays the same
18
Q
Describe the lithosphere.
A
- The solid portion of Earth composed of rocks, minerals, and elements
- mountains, plains, deserts, forests - includes land under oceans/bodies of water
- extends from Earth’s surface to 100km below continental crust
19
Q
Describe altitude.
A
The distance above Earth’s surface measured from sea level (or the surface). The exact altitude at which a particular atmospheric layer begins/ends varies. Higher altitudes are usually colder (expect for inversions).
20
Q
What is the source of all energy on Earth?
A
The sun
21
Q
True or false: radio waves are very long.
A
True
22
Q
Solar energy that radiates from the sun contains many different types of ____________ which are classified according to different _______________.
A
Radiation, wavelengths
23
Q
What is Earth’s angle of inclination?
A
The Earth’s axis of rotation is titled at an angle of 23.5 degrees from a line drawn perpendicular from its orbital plane.
24
Q
What is insolation?
A
The amount of radiant energy is received on Earth’s surface. It has many implications for climate on different parts of the Earth.
25
How does the tilt of the Earth affect the Earth?
It changes the insolation at different parts of the Earth at different times of the year.
26
What is a solstice?
One of two points in Earth's orbit when the poles are most titled towards or away from the sun (summer/June solstice, the day with the most hours of daylight, and winter/December solstice, the day with least hours of daylight).
27
What is an equinox?
When the number of daylight hours is exactly equal to the number of hours of night (spring/March equinox and autumn/September equinox).
28
Explain latitudes.
The Earth is divided into different latitudes, where 0 degrees is at the equator and the poles are at 90 degrees.
29
Why is the equator so warm?
Because sun rays don't hit at an angle.
30
The fact that Earth is shaped like a ___________ has an effect on the insolation at different latitudes.
Sphere
31
What is the angle of incidence? Explain how temperature differs with perpendicular/angled sun rays.
It's the angle between the ray and a line that is drawn perpendicular to Earth's surface.
Perpendicular rays: more concentrated, so a higher temperature
Angled rays: diffuse over more space, so a lower temperarure
32
Areas near the poles receive _________ (more/less) solar energy per square kilometer. Areas near the equator receive ___________ (more/less) solar energy per square kilometer.
Less, more
33
In the atmosphere, the types and amounts of radiation absorbed or reflected is affected by:
- the gases in the atmosphere: different layers contain different types and amounts of gases
- cloud cover and atmospheric dust
34
Explain albedo. What is the Earth's average albedo?
Albedo of a surface is the percent of solar radiation that it reflects. The average albedo for the Earth's surface is about 30%
35
Without the natural greenhouse effect, how would the Earth be affected?
Our average atmospheric temperature would be below 0 degrees Celsius.
36
Name/explain the four steps apart of the natural greenhouse effect.
- Solar energy from the sun passes through the atmosphere
- some energy is reflected back out to space
- Earth's surface is heated by the sun and radiates the heat back out towards space in the form of infrared radiation (absorbed and stored by mainly water vapour)
- gases in the atmosphere trap some heat
37
Explain net radiation budget (incoming and outgoing radiation)
Incoming radiation: solar radiation that reaches the surface of the Earth (isn't reflected by the atmosphere)
Outgoing radiation: thermal radiation that is re-emitted by the Earth's surface into space (not absorbed by greenhouse gases)
The energy budget is generally balances (incoming = outgoing), which keeps the average global temperature fairly steady.
38
The polar regions tend to have less incoming radiation (_______ insolation) than outgoing radiation (________ albedo). This gives them a net radiation budget _________.
Less, higher, deficit
39
Regions near the equator tend to have more incoming radiation (_______ insolation) than outgoing radiation (_______ albedo). This gives them a net radiation budget _________.
More, lower, surplus
40
How does the second law of thermodynamics relate to the movement of thermal energy across the atmosphere?
The second law of thermodynamics states that heat always flows naturally from a hot object to a cold object. The fact that Earth is heated unevenly means that thermal energy moves throughout the atmosphere, from hot areas to cold areas.
41
What is a fluid?
A substance with no definite shape.
42
What is a current?
The flow from one place to another in one direction.
43
What is radiation?
The emission of energy as particles or waves. This energy, when absorbed by an object, will increase the kinetic energy and temperature of the particles that make up the object. E.g. radiant energy from the sun
44
What is conduction? Where does is usually occur?
It normally occurs in solids. Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy through direct contact between the particles of a substance, without moving them to a new location.
- each atom is physically bonded to its neighbours
- if heat is supplied to one part of a solid, the atoms will vibrate faster (bonds betwteen atoms are shaken more) (vibrations pass on to the next atom)
45
What is convection?
The transfer of thermal energy through the movement of particles from one location to another. Usually occurs in fluids. Movement of particles forms a current. As particles absorb energy, they move apart (decreased density).
46
True or false: denser fluids rise.
false
47
What is atmospheric pressure?
The pressure exerted by the air above any point on the Earth's surface.
48
Why does cold air exert more pressure than warm ait?
Because it is more dense (heavier) than hot air.
49
What creates convection currents in the atmosphere?
The difference in air pressure and air temperature.
50
What is the Coriolis effect? What is it caused by?
It's the deflection of any object from a straight line path by the rotation of Earth.
The Coriolis effect is the bending of ocean currents in response to Earth's rotation. It causes winds in the two hemispheres to move in opposite directions. Convection currents and and the Coriolis effect cause the global wind patterns.
51
What is wind?
The movement of air from regions high pressure to regions of low pressure.
52
What is a jet stream?
It's a narrow fast flowing "river" of air in the stratosphere. These strong winds are typically thousands of kilometers long and hundreds of kilometers wide. They are not subject to as much friction (faster than winds closer to surface).
53
Change in the ______ stream are important in predicting ___________ weather.
Jet, severe
54
What direction do ocean currents travel in each of the hemispheres?
Northern hemisphere: clockwise
Southern hemisphere: counter-clockwise
55
__________ transfers _________ energy from warmer latitudes to poles.
(due to what?)
Hydrosphere, thermal
Due to global winds.
56
What specific heat capacity? What units does it use?
The amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius. Unit: J/g°C
57
Why is it hard to heat large bodies of water?
Water has a high specific heat capacity.
58
What is quantity of thermal energy? What is its formula?
This is the amount of thermal energy that is released or absorbed by one gram of a substance when its temperature changes one degree Celsius.
Formula: Q=mc△t
Q: thermal energy (J)
m: mass (g)
c: specific heat capacity
△t: change in temperature
59
What is a calorimeter?
Any device used to determine the transfer of thermal energy. It can be used to determine specific heat capacity.
60
During a phase change, the _____________ of water remains constant.
Temperature
61
What is the heat of fusion of a substance and its formula?
The amount of the energy released or absorbed when 1 mol changes from a solid to liquid. Energy released during reverse phase change: heat of solidification (liquid to solid).
Formula: Hfus= Q/n
Hfus: (kJ/mol)
Q: thermal energy (kJ)
n: number of moles of substance (mol)
62
What is the formula for the number of moles?
n= m/M
m: mass (g)
M: molar mass (g/mol)
63
What is the heat of vaporization of a substance and its formula?
The amount of the energy released or absorbed when 1 mol changes from a liquid to gas. Energy released during reverse phase change: heat of condensation (gas to liquid).
Formula: Hvap=Q/n
Hvap: heat of vaporization (kJ/mol)
Q: thermal energy (kJ)
n: number of moles of a substance (mol)
64
Name three factors affecting climate?
- insolation
- global wind patterns
- ocean currents (patterns)
65
What is a climatograph?
It's a summary of the average temperature and precipitation for each month of the year. They tell us information about what biome a particular region might be in.
66
In a climatograph, what represents average precipitation and temperature?
Average precipitation: bar graph (scale on the left side)
Average temperature: line graph (scale on the right side)
67
What components are necessary in a climatograph?
- title
- latitude
- avg. precipitation (mm)
- avg. temperature
- months
- legend
68
How can we compare different regions using a climatograph?
The scale on the vertical axes must be the same on each climatograph.
69
Define a biome. Why is an open system?
It's a large geographical region with a particular range of temperature and precipitation level; plants/animals are adapted to climate conditions. It's an open system exchange both matter and energy.
70
How does dividing Earth into biomes help scientists study and understand Earth?
It helps scientists study and understand the interactions between biotic/abiotic components of each biome, and how biomes interact with each other. Biome divisions also help division also help them predict how organisms will be affected by changes occurring in a region.
71
Which 2 biomes have the lowest average annual precipitation?
Desert and tundra
72
What is permafrost?
It means permanently frozen.
73
What are Canada's biomes?
Tundra, taiga, deciduous forest, grassland
74
Describe the tundra (include temperature, precipitation, animals, plants, and other characteristics).
- cold
- short summer (20-30 days), long winters
- Arctic (little solar energy)
- low precipitation (mostly snow)
- negative 15°C to 5°C
- lichens, mosses. sedges
- artic fox, snowshoe hare, caribou, wolves, polar bear, lemmings, ptarmigan
- low insolation, high albedo
- plants have short life cycles
- animals feeds on other animals
- permafrost, cold, high wind; trees or tall plants
- little rainfall, but accumulation on top of permafrost
75
True or false: mountaintops around the world can be alpine tundra.
True
76
Describe the taiga (include temperature, precipitation, animals, plants, and other characteristics).
- boreal forest
- longer growing season than tundra (supports more animals) (caused by insolation)
- large terrestrial biome
- cone-bearing evergreen trees (coniferous) (evergreen leaves have resin, an adaptation, making them resistant to the freezing/drought conditions0
- animals have adaptations like colour changing fur coats
- adapted to heavy snowfall
- fir, pine, spruce, few lichens/mosses
- few shrubs/bushes
- taiga has more precipitation (much is snow) and higher avg. temperatures than Tundra
- 4°C to 14°C
- woodpeckers, eagles, rabbits, squirrels, moose, bears, foxes, wolves
- cool summers, cold winters
77
Describe the deciduous forest (include temperature, precipitation, animals, plants, and other characteristics).
- trees that lose their leaves (broad-leaved) (deciduous trees0
- oaks, maples
- moderate climate
- longer growing season than taiga
- mid latitudes (enough moisture for trees0
- trees deciduous trees let light pass; shrubs, mosses, ferns, lichens are common (provides food for animals)
- average precipitation
- 14°C to 27°C
- well-defined summer and winter
- dear, bear, fox, skunk, rabbits, squirrels, ground-dwelling birds turkey
- trees more efficient at photosynthesis
78
Describe the grasslands (include temperature, precipitation, animals, plants, and other characteristics).
- grassy regions with with few or no trees
- species are adapted to dry conditions
- grazer animals (herbivores, eat grass and low lying shrubs)
- deep, rich topsoil (a lot of conversion to agriculture)
- seasonal droughts
- occasional wildfires and grazing by large mammals prevents shrub and tree establishment
- precipitation at least 20cm per year (can't support trees growth)
- 4°C to 30°C
- prairies and savannas
79
Explain the differences and similarities between prairies and savannas.
Prairie:
- 4°C to 18°C
- winter and summer seasons
- grasses and some forbs, drought-tolerant flowering plants
- dominated by tallgrass or shortgrass plants
- hawks, mice, rabbits, snakes, buffalo, deer, elk, coyotes
Savannas:
- 18°C to 30°C
- wet and dry seasons
- grassed and scattered trees
- temp. doesn't vary much
- insects, birds, reptiles, elephants, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, cheetah, lions
80
Describe the rain forest (include temperature, precipitation, animals, plants, and other characteristics).
- richest biodiversity
- 25°C to 30°C
- short dry season
- over 200cm of rain
- warm, allows plants to grow year round
- broad-leaved trees (deciduous or evergreen)
- rootless air plants
- rich plant life supports rich animal life
- amount of shade varies, so some species adapt to maximize sun exposure, and other adapt to life in the shade
- closed tree canopy
- pronounces vertical stratification (layering)
81
Describe the desert (include temperature, precipitation, animals, plants, and other characteristics).
- sparse rainfall (<25 cm)
- extreme hot and cold temperatures
- organisms adapt to conserve water
- many protective adaptations of plants to deter herbivory
- little plant life
- high levels of insolation
- succulents (e.g. cacti)
- non succulents (e.g. drought tolerant trees)
- animals are often only active at night
- 12 to 27 degrees
82
Does cloud cover reflect oncoming solar radiation? Does it absorb energy from the earth's surface?
Yes
83
How does atmospheric dust behave with incoming solar radiation?
- can shade earth's surface
- absorbs some incoming energy from the sun and also energy emitted by earth's surface
84
Does cold air have high or low pressure?
High
85
True or false: Global winds transfer thermal energy from areas of net radiation budget surplus to areas of net radiation budget deficit.
Yes
