Chapter 1.2 Flashcards
What is evaporation?
The process where liquid water changes into water vapor due to heat from the sun.
What is transpiration?
The release of water vapor from plants into the atmosphere through their leaves.
What is condensation?
The process where water vapor cools and changes back into liquid, forming clouds.
What is precipitation?
Water falling from the atmosphere to the ground in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
What is interception?
When precipitation is caught by vegetation before reaching the ground.
What is infiltration?
The process of water soaking into the soil from the surface.
What is throughfall?
Water that drips from leaves or branches after interception.
What is stem flow?
Water that flows down the stems and trunks of plants to the ground.
What is runoff?
Water that does not soak into the ground and instead flows over the surface into rivers, lakes, or oceans.
What is an aquifer?
An underground layer of water-bearing rock that stores groundwater.
What is antecedent soil moisture?
The amount of moisture in the soil before a rainfall event, which affects infiltration and runoff.
What is throughflow?
The movement of water through the soil, parallel to the surface, toward rivers or lakes.
What is groundwater?
Water stored underground in soil and rock layers.
Explain the difference between an open and closed system.
Open System: Matter and energy can be lost or gained.
Closed System: Matter is neither lost nor gained, only energy can be exchanged.
What is the composition of Earth’s atmosphere?
- Nitrogen (78%)
- Oxygen (21%)
- Argon (0.93%)
- Carbon dioxide (0.03%)
- Other trace gases
How do temperatures, density, and pressure change in each atmospheric layer?
- Troposphere: Temperature decreases, highest density, weather occurs here.
- Stratosphere: Temperature increases, contains ozone layer.
- Mesosphere: Temperature decreases, meteors burn here.
- Thermosphere: Temperature increases, contains auroras.
- Exosphere: Thin outer layer, merges into space.
What is the natural greenhouse effect, and how does it impact Earth’s climate?
The natural greenhouse effect traps heat to keep Earth warm.
Human activity increases greenhouse gases, causing global warming.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
- Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation).
- Climate: Long-term trends in weather over time.
