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Geology 111 > Chapter 15 > Flashcards

Chapter 15 Flashcards

1
Q

solar forcing

A

the cyclical variation in the input of solar energy

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2
Q

climate system

A

all the components of the earth system and all the interactions among those components

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3
Q

troposphere

A

the layer closest to Earth’s surface

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4
Q

what is the troposphere’s average thickness?

A

11 km

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5
Q

stratoshpere

A

above the trposhpere

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6
Q

how high does the stratoshpere extend?

A

50 km

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7
Q

what is the cause of Earth’s uneven heating?

A

the sun warms the air which expands and rises, causing the cool air to fall
that combined with the earth’s rotation causes uneven heating

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8
Q

thermohaline circulation

A

a global three-dimensional oceanic circulation pattern driven by differences in the temperature and the salinity of ocean waters

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9
Q

cryosphere

A

the ice component of the climate system

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10
Q

how much of the world’s fresh water is stored in the cryosphere?

A

75%

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11
Q

what part of the lithosphere is the most important to the climate system and why?

A

the land surface because it’s composition affects the way it absorbs solar energy. As it heats up, more energy radiates into the atmosphere causing more water to evaporate and the land surface to cool

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12
Q

biosphere

A

comprises of all living organisms on and beneath earth;s surface, in its atmosphere and in its waters

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13
Q

albedo

A

the fraction of the solar energy reflected by earth’s surface

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14
Q

greenhouse gases

A

water vapor
carbon dioxide
methane
ozon

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15
Q

greenhouse effect

A

the trapping of heat, which increases the temperature at the surface relative to higher in the atmosphere

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16
Q

positive feedback

A

the change in one component is ENHANCED by the changes it induces in other components

17
Q

negative feedback

A

the change in one component is REDUCED by the changes it induces on other components

18
Q

types of feedback

A

water vapor feedback
albedo feedback
radiative damping
plant growth feedback

19
Q

water vapor feedback

A

a rise in temperature increase the amount of water vapor which enhances the greenhouse effect by raising the temperature - positive feedback

20
Q

albedo feedback

A

a rice in temperature reduces the amount of ice and snow in the cryosphere which increases the energy the surface absorbs, causing the temperature to rise - positive feedback

21
Q

radiative damping

A

a rise in atmospheric temperature increases the amount of energy radiated back into space which moderates temperature rise - negative feedback

22
Q

plant growth feedback

A

increasing carbon dioxide stimulates plant growth which removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reducing the greenhouse effect - negative feedback

23
Q

Milankovitch cycles

A

periodic variations in Earth’s movement around the sun

24
Q

three types of Milankovitch cycles

A

eccentricity
tilt
precession

25
Q

eccentricity

A

the degree ellipticity (how circular or elliptical the orbit is)

26
Q

does a circular orbit have low or high eccentricity?

A

low

27
Q

tilt

A

the angle of the Earth’s axis of rotation

28
Q

precession

A

the wobble of Earth’s axis of rotation

29
Q

atmoshpere-ocean gas exchange (carbon cycle)

A

the echange of CO2 across the interface between the ocean and the atmosphere

30
Q

atmosphere-biosphere gas exchange

A
  • greatest carbon flux

- exchange of CO2 between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere by photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition

31
Q

lithosphere-atmosphere gas exchange

A

CO2 dissolved in rainwater forms carbonic acid which reacts with carbonates in the rock, releasing carbonate ions that are transported by rivers and oceans

32
Q

global dimming

A

the gradual reduction in the amount of global direct irradiance at the Earth’s surface

33
Q

residence time

A

the amount of time a molecule spends in a resivior

34
Q

geochemical resivoirs

A

atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere and biosphere

35
Q

flux

A

flow of chemicals from one component of Earth’s system to another

Geology 111 (9 decks)

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