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Physical Geography 1000 > Systems in geography > Flashcards

Systems in geography Flashcards

1
Q

physical geography includes

A

physical and life sciences

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2
Q

human/cultural geography includes

A

human and cultural sciences

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3
Q

describe the continuum of geography

A

the two divisions of geography are at each end with the middle holding the synthesis of the physical environment with the human/cultural environment

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4
Q

what are the three divisions of physical geography

A

biogeography, climatology, geomorphology

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5
Q

geomorphology

A

the study of landforms and landform evolution.

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6
Q

climatology

A

the study of the atmosphere and weather patterns over time.

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7
Q

biogeography

A

examines spatial patterns of biological diversity

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8
Q

geomatics

A

the measurement, analysis and management of data relating to the earth and the built environment.

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9
Q

what elements are a part of geomatics

A
  1. remote sensing
  2. GPS
  3. GIS
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10
Q

what is important about environments that are cold

A

as they thaw, all the ancient decay and frozen matter are thawing as well = producing lots of CO2 = impacting climate change

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11
Q

why is the study of Earth and its environment more crucial than ever now

A

natural world is changing

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12
Q

what has happened with the human life expectancy doubling

A

increases population = increases impact on environment

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13
Q

how does physical geography examine processes and events happening at specific times and locations

A

spatial perspective

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14
Q

how does physical geography use spatial perspective

A

to examine processes and events happening at specific locations and times

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15
Q

what has become an overriding focus of the study of Earth systems

A

climate change

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16
Q

what is the best way to fight climate change

A

in a way that is harmonious to our current way of life

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17
Q

how do physical geographers study the environment

A

by analyzing air, water, land and living systems

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18
Q

what is geography all about

A

understanding systems and their impact

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19
Q

how is the science of geography unified

A

by its method

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20
Q

is the science of geography unified more by its method or specific body of knowledge

A

method

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21
Q

what method unifies the science of geography

A

spatial analysis

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22
Q

what do we want to understand about systems

A

their predictability

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23
Q

what is process in geography

A

the set of actions or mechanisms that operate in some special order

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24
Q

what is a central concept of geographical analysis

A

process

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25
Q

geographical analysis

A

The process of analyzing data to identify geographic relationships, patterns, and trends.

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26
Q

what is physical geography

A

spatial analysis of all the physical elements, processes and systems that make up the environment

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27
Q

what is important in physical geography

A

scale

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28
Q

how do humans struggle with scale

A

how to understand and interact with scales that are very small or very big

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29
Q

example of how humans struggle with scale

A

very hard to pick up a single grain of sand AND it’s very hard to pick up a grain of sand the size of a car

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30
Q

what does physical geography encompass

A

the field of Earth systems science

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31
Q

earth systems science

A

area of study that seeks to understand Earth as a complete entity

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32
Q

what does the spherical view of earth mean

A

the interactions of systems on earth (biosphere, atmosphere…)

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33
Q

what does the process of science consists of

A
  1. observing
  2. questioning
  3. testing
  4. understanding elements of natural world
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34
Q

what is the roadmap to science

A

scientific process

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35
Q

scientific method

A

traditional recipe, organized steps that lead toward concrete, objectives and conclusions

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36
Q

the scientific methodology is ______

A

timeless

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37
Q

what is the end result of the scientific method

A

a conclusion that is reproducible by other scientists and that can be tested repeatedly/shown as true or false

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38
Q

what is important about drawing over a photograph

A

drawing forces us to see details we may have missed while taking a photo

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39
Q

where is there positive feedback in the scientific method

A

from the theory formulation back to observations of nature

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40
Q

where is there negative feedback in the scientific method

A

from predictions back to observations

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41
Q

what do scientists who study the physical environment begin with

A

clues they see in nature

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42
Q

variables

A

conditions that change in an experiment or model

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43
Q

what do scientists often seek to reduce when forming a hypothesis

A

the number of variables

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44
Q

hypothesis

A

tentative explanation for the phenomena observed

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45
Q

what is a hypothesis educated from

A

what we see/observe

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46
Q

how do scientists test hypotheses

A

experimental studies in laboratories or natural settings

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47
Q

inversions

A

when cold air is more dense than hot air

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48
Q

what leads a hypothesis to become a theory

A

when results support it, there is repeated testing and verification

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49
Q

what is a part of the scientific method

A

reporting research

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50
Q

peer review

A

reviewed by other experts in the field

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51
Q

is scientific progress slow or fast

A

very slow

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52
Q

why is scientific progress slow

A

research is very rigorously tested and reviewed

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53
Q

scientific theory

A

explanation made on the basis of SEVERAL extensively tested hypotheses

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54
Q

True or False
scientific theories are NEVER reevaluated or expanded according to new evidence?

A

False

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55
Q

what is the danger of hypotheses in science

A

scientists looking for what they WANT to see in the results but not the actual results

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56
Q

a hypothesis has to be _______

A

statistically testable

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57
Q

what is often better
hypothesis or research objectives

A

research objectives

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58
Q

True or false:
Earth is made up of recycled and recycling atoms

A

TRUE

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59
Q

how is the earth made up of recycled atoms

A

it has undergone many transformations

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60
Q

how old is the earth

A

4.567 billion years old

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61
Q

earth is ______ dimensional

A

three

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62
Q

True or False
most of the action of Earth is clearly visible on the surface

A

FALSE

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63
Q

where is most of the action of earth done

A

hidden from view= above or below us

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64
Q

what modifies the surface of earth

A

geomorphology

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65
Q

True or False
rocks are proxies and record keepers of earth’s history

A

TRUE

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66
Q

what are proxies and keep record of earth’s history

A

rocks

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67
Q

True or false
earth systems, rock, ocean, cyro, bio are not complex NOR are they interconnected

A

FALSE

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68
Q

what does earth’s history encompass

A

long periods of stability punctuated by sudden and irreversible events

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69
Q

True or false
Earth’s surface and life continues to change

A

TRUE

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70
Q

does time greatly limit our perspective in geography

A

YES

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71
Q

how is physical geography UNLIKE experimental science

A

time greatly limits our perspective in geography

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72
Q

what is the Earth known as

A

blue marble

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73
Q

Earth’s average distance from the sun is

A

150 000 000 km

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74
Q

Perihelion

A

the point in the orbit of a planet or other astronomical body, at which it is closest to the sun

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75
Q

when is Earth’s perihelion

A

January 3rd

76
Q

Aphelion

A

the point of the Earth’s orbit that is farthest away from the Sun

77
Q

when is Earth’s aphelion

A

July 4th

78
Q

Earth is __ min and ___ second from the sun

A

8 min 20 sec

79
Q

what does it mean if the earth is 8 minutes and 20 seconds from the sun

A

the distance light has to travel to reach earth

80
Q

Plane of Earth’s orbit is the

A

plane of the ecliptic

81
Q

plane of the ecliptic

A

the imaginary plane containing the Earth’s orbit around the sun

82
Q

Earth is known as the ____ planet

A

Goldilocks planet

83
Q

Why is earth known as the Goldilocks planet?

A

Its temp is just right
Venus - too hot
Mars - too cold

84
Q

what does NASA’s Kelper Mission look for

A

planets in the habitable zone

85
Q

habitable zone

A

the area around a star where liquid water could pool on the surface

86
Q

what is the smallest planet orbiting in the habitable zone

A

Kelper 452b

87
Q

how many Goldilock planets should there be

A

lots

88
Q

how were we able to estimate the number of Goldilock planets

A

Drake equation

89
Q

Drake equation states that in our galaxy there should be

A

10 advanced civilizations with estimates of 50 to 135 billion galaxies in the universe

90
Q

what is important in an advanced civilization

A
  1. need water in all 3 states
  2. need planets with the same size for gravitational pull
91
Q

ecosystem sources

A

things humans/animals get from nature for FREE

92
Q

what makes Earth special

A

it has everything we need to survive

93
Q

geography is also known as

A

earth systems science

94
Q

physical geography deals with the

A

interactions of systems

95
Q

what supports all life

A

sun

96
Q

humans pose what kind of threat to interactions

A

speeds them up

97
Q

interactions have been happening for thousands of years with

A

certain speeds

98
Q

what are the central concerns of physical geography

A

issues of the growing influence of humans on Earth systems

99
Q

true or false
more people are alive today than every and they are unevenly distributed

A

true

100
Q

where is virtually all population growth

A

in less developed counrties

101
Q

less developed countries make up _____ of the total population

A

81% (5.75 billion)

102
Q

what has caused population discrepancies around the world

A

access to education, food and water

103
Q

True or false
the word system is never used in our daily lives

A

FALSE

104
Q

system analysis

A

techniques in science that began with studies of energy and temperature

105
Q

what is an important analytical tool

A

systems methodology

106
Q

system

A

set of ordered, interrelated components and their attributes linked by flows of energy and matter

107
Q

true or false
systems are distinct from the surrounding environment outside the system

A

TRUE

108
Q

true or false
a system cannot comprise of any number of subsystems

A

FALSE- it can

109
Q

within Earth’s systems, what is transformed from one type to another

A

energy

110
Q

what are retrieved and stored in Earth’s systems

A

matter and energy

111
Q

matter

A

mass that assumes a physical shape and occupies space

112
Q

energy

A

the capacity to change the motion of or to do work on matter

113
Q

three types of systems

A
  1. deterministic system
  2. stochastic system
  3. chaotic system
114
Q

chaotic system

A

system associated with deterministic events that are NOT predictable

115
Q

what type of system does this describe?
outcome events occur along a bounded attractor

A

chaotic system

116
Q

what are examples of chaotic systems

A

pendulum or planetary orbit

117
Q

weather systems belong to what kind of system

A

chaotic system

118
Q

what makes weather systems hard to predict

A

small errors in the beginning become larger ones later on

119
Q

what type of system does this describe?
used to cover the idea of random and chance

A

stochastic system

120
Q

stochastic system

A

systems where the output is governed by a probability distribution

121
Q

true or false
in a stochastic system, systems cab have deterministic and stochastic variables

A

TRUE

122
Q

examples of stochastic systems

A

coin flip and radioactive decay

123
Q

what type of system does this describe?
the outcome is the result of known relations between dependent and independent variables

A

deterministic system

124
Q

deterministic system

A

describes a system whose temporal or spatial evolution can be predicted exactly

125
Q

examples of a deterministic system

A

dominos

126
Q

what type of system do climate systems reflect

A

deterministic system

127
Q

systems are linked by

A

flows of matter and energy

128
Q

open system

A

systems that are NOT self-contained

129
Q

when is Earth considered an open system

A

with respect to energy

130
Q

when is Earth considered a closed system

A

with respect to matter

131
Q

why are earth’s systems dynamic

A

the tremendous infusion of radiant energy from the sun

132
Q

what happens to energy as it passes through the outermost edge of Earth’s atmosphere

A

it is transformed into various forms of energy

133
Q

what sets the fluid atmosphere and ocean in motion

A

the transformation of energy into different forms as it passes through outermost edge of the atmosphere

134
Q

closed systems

A

system that is shut off from the surrounding environment so that it is self-contained

135
Q

what must to done if we want a sustainable global economy

A

recycling efforts

136
Q

is photosynthesis open or closed system

A

closed system

137
Q

how do forests affect humans

A
  1. output of carbon storage
  2. soil stabilization
  3. food and resources
138
Q

what are the direct impacts of humans on forests

A
  1. logging for wood
  2. burning to make way for agriculture
  3. clearing for development
139
Q

example of a closed system

A

thermostat

140
Q

examples of open systems

A

Ocean, forest,

141
Q

positive feedback example

A

Planet heating up

142
Q

negative feedback example

A

in a forest, healthy trees produce roots that stabilize hilltops and limit erosion

143
Q

why are trees produce roots that stabilize hilltops and limit erosion NEGATIVE feedback

A

if the trees are damaged, then the hillside would become unstable and susceptible to landslides

144
Q

What feedback are predators and prey relations and WHY

A

negative feedback - if the predator population drops then prey populations increase and create instability in the ecosystem. These two populations find a balance.

145
Q

how is the planet heating up an example of POSITIVE feedback

A

as the planet heats up, glaciers melt and are replaced with darker land. darker land absorbs more energy which causes the planet to heat up MORE

146
Q

positive feedback

A

increases the response or stimulates the processes in the system

147
Q

is this negative or positive feedback
input and output drive the system further towards an extreme

A

Positive

148
Q

what type of feedback is considered unstable

A

positive

149
Q

negative feedback

A

slows down the processes in the system

150
Q

is this negative or positive feedback
input and output neutralize each other’s effect = stabilizing the system

A

negative feedback

151
Q

what type of feedback is considered stable

A

negative

152
Q

Albedo effect

A

the ability of surfaces to reflect sunlight (heat from the sun)

153
Q

a low albedo

A

Dark surfaces absorb the rays from the sun (low albedo).

154
Q

high albedo

A

Light-coloured surfaces return a large part of the sunrays back to the atmosphere (high albedo)

155
Q

what is important when thinking of system feedback

A

the speed at which these things are happening

156
Q

what is essential for life, without it = no life

A

carbon in the atmosphere

157
Q

how does carbon naturally remerge into the atmosphere

A
  1. volcanic eruptions
  2. natural decay
  3. cellular respiration
158
Q

what is the importance of the fossil record

A

rocks hold the secretes of ancient Earth and how it has changed

159
Q

model

A

simplified, idealized representation of part of the real world

160
Q

three types of models

A
  1. conceptual
  2. physical
  3. numerical
161
Q

conceptual model

A

the most generalized and focuses on HOW processes interact within a system

162
Q

physical model

A

a scale down or up of a physical system

163
Q

numerical model

A

more specific and usually based on data collected from labs or field

164
Q

what type of model is this?
transitions between states of water

A

Conceptual model

165
Q

what type of model is this?
globe or atom model

A

physical model

166
Q

what type of model is this?
climate and how climate changes

A

numerical model

167
Q

what is the benefit of simplified models

A

makes systems easier to understand and simulate

168
Q

are the four systems of Earth’s surface open or closed

A

OPEN

169
Q

do the four earth systems interact

A

YES

170
Q

what are the three abiotic systems

A

atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere

171
Q

the biotic sphere is the

A

biosphere

172
Q

atmosphere

A

a thin, gaseous veil surrounding Earth or held to the planet by the force of gravity

173
Q

hydrosphere

A

where Earth’s water exists in the atmosphere, surface and in the crust near the surface

174
Q

the portion of the hydrosphere that is frozen is the

A

cryosphere

175
Q

three main areas of the cryosphere

A

sea ice, glaciers and permafrost

176
Q

lithosphere

A

earth’s crust and a portion of the upper mantle directly below the crust

177
Q

what sphere does the action happen

A

lithosphere

178
Q

biosphere

A

intricate, interconnected web that links all organisms with their physical environment

179
Q

is this model conceptual, or mathematical

A

conceptual

180
Q

Is this steady-state equilibrium or dynamic equilibrium

A

steady state

181
Q

steady-state equilibrium

A

rates of input/output are equal AND the amounts of energy and matter in storage are constant

182
Q

dynamic equilibrium

A

steady-state system demonstrates a changing trend over time

183
Q

what does a threshold or tipping point mean for a system

A

where it can no longer maintain its character and lurches to a new level

184
Q

steady-state condition

A

energy and matter system that remains balanced over time in which conditions are constant or recur

185
Q

IS this dynamic or steady-state equilibrium

A

dynamic

Physical Geography 1000 (21 decks)

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