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Physical Geography > Chapter 4 The Atmosphere And Earth’s Energy Budget > Flashcards

Chapter 4 The Atmosphere And Earth’s Energy Budget Flashcards

1
Q

What is scattering?

A

Scattering is the process by which particles or molecules deflect light or radiation in different directions.

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2
Q

What is the thermosphere?

A

The thermosphere is the layer of the Earth’s atmosphere above the mesosphere, characterized by increasing temperatures with altitude.

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3
Q

What is the Karman Line?

A

The Karman Line is an internationally recognized boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, located at an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles).

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4
Q

What is the ozonosphere?

A

The ozonosphere is the region of Earth’s stratosphere that contains a high concentration of ozone, which absorbs most of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

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5
Q

What is photosynthesis?

A

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

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6
Q

What is the ionosphere?

A

The ionosphere is a region of the Earth’s upper atmosphere, from about 30 miles (48 km) to 600 miles (965 km), where ionization occurs.

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7
Q

What is water vapor?

A

Water vapor is the gaseous state of water present in the atmosphere, contributing to weather and climate.

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8
Q

What is radiation?

A

Radiation is the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles that cause ionization.

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9
Q

What are aerosols?

A

Aerosols are tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere, which can affect climate and air quality.

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10
Q

What is terrestrial radiation?

A

Terrestrial radiation is the energy emitted by the Earth in the form of infrared radiation.

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11
Q

What are particulates?

A

Particulates are tiny solid or liquid particles in the air that can affect health and climate.

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12
Q

What is conduction?

A

Conduction is the transfer of heat through a material without any movement of the material itself.

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13
Q

What are pollutants?

A

Pollutants are substances that contaminate the environment and can cause harm to human health and ecosystems.

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14
Q

What is convection?

A

Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of fluids, including liquids and gases.

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15
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

The greenhouse effect is the warming of Earth’s surface due to the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

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16
Q

What is advection?

A

Advection is the horizontal transfer of heat or other properties in the atmosphere or ocean.

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17
Q

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

A

The enhanced greenhouse effect refers to the increased warming of the Earth’s surface due to human activities that increase greenhouse gas concentrations.

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18
Q

What is latent heat exchange?

A

Latent heat exchange is the process of heat transfer that occurs when water changes state, such as from liquid to vapor.

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19
Q

What is ozone?

A

Ozone is a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms, found in the Earth’s stratosphere, which protects life by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation.

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20
Q

What is condensation?

A

Condensation is the process by which water vapor turns into liquid water, often forming clouds or dew.

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21
Q

What is the ozone layer?

A

The ozone layer is a region of Earth’s stratosphere that contains a high concentration of ozone and protects the planet from ultraviolet radiation.

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22
Q

What is latent heat of condensation?

A

Latent heat of condensation is the amount of heat released when water vapor condenses into liquid water.

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23
Q

What is the troposphere?

A

The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere, where weather occurs and temperature decreases with altitude.

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24
Q

What is freezing?

A

Freezing is the process of a liquid turning into a solid when its temperature drops below its freezing point.

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25
Q

What is the normal lapse rate?

A

The normal lapse rate is the rate at which temperature decreases with an increase in altitude in the troposphere.

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26
Q

What is melting?

A

Melting is the process of a solid turning into a liquid when its temperature rises above its melting point.

27
Q

What is evaporation?

A

Evaporation is the process by which liquid water turns into water vapor, usually due to heat.

28
Q

What is the tropopause?

A

The tropopause is the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere, where temperature stops decreasing with altitude.

29
Q

What is evaporative cooling?

A

Evaporative cooling is the process of cooling a surface or air by the evaporation of water from it.

30
Q

What is the stratosphere?

A

The stratosphere is the layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, characterized by a temperature increase with altitude.

31
Q

What is Earth’s energy budget?

A

Earth’s energy budget refers to the balance between the energy Earth receives from the sun and the energy it radiates back into space.

32
Q

What is the mesosphere?

A

The mesosphere is the layer of the atmosphere above the stratosphere, where temperatures decrease with altitude.

33
Q

What is energy balance?

A

Energy balance is the equilibrium between incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation.

34
Q

What is heat?

A

Heat is the form of energy that is transferred between systems or objects with different temperatures.

35
Q

What is temperature?

A

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.

36
Q

What is the Fahrenheit scale?

A

The Fahrenheit scale is a temperature scale where water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees.

37
Q

What is the Celsius (centigrade) scale?

A

The Celsius scale is a temperature scale where water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees.

38
Q

What is the Kelvin scale?

A

The Kelvin scale is an absolute temperature scale where 0 Kelvin is absolute zero, the point at which all molecular motion stops.

39
Q

What is absolute zero?

A

Absolute zero is the theoretical temperature at which a system’s entropy reaches its minimum value, equivalent to -273.15°C or 0 K.

40
Q

What does diurnal mean?

A

Diurnal refers to events or processes that occur during the day or are active during the daytime.

41
Q

What is temperature lag?

A

Temperature lag is the delay between the peak solar radiation and the peak temperature.

42
Q

What is daily temperature lag?

A

Daily temperature lag is the time difference between the maximum solar radiation received and the maximum temperature recorded in a day.

43
Q

What is the daily march of temperature?

A

The daily march of temperature refers to the typical pattern of temperature changes throughout the day.

44
Q

What does maritime refer to?

A

Maritime refers to regions or climates influenced by the proximity to the ocean.

45
Q

What is continentality?

A

Continentality refers to the climatic effect of being located far from the ocean, resulting in greater temperature extremes.

46
Q

What is albedo?

A

Albedo is the measure of the reflectivity of a surface, expressed as the fraction of solar energy reflected back into space.

47
Q

What is temperature inversion?

A

Temperature inversion is a meteorological phenomenon where a layer of warm air traps cooler air at the surface.

48
Q

What is an inversion layer?

A

An inversion layer is a layer in the atmosphere where temperature increases with altitude, contrary to the normal lapse rate.

49
Q

What is an upper-level inversion?

A

An upper-level inversion occurs at higher altitudes in the atmosphere, where warm air traps cooler air below.

50
Q

What is ground inversion (radiation inversion)?

A

Ground inversion, or radiation inversion, occurs when the ground cools rapidly at night, causing a layer of warm air to form above cooler air.

51
Q

What are controls of temperature?

A

Controls of temperature are factors that influence temperature variations, including latitude, altitude, and proximity to water.

52
Q

What is specific heat?

A

Specific heat is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius.

53
Q

What is a warm current?

A

A warm current is a body of water that moves from the equator toward the poles, typically warming the coastal regions.

54
Q

What is a cold current?

A

A cold current is a body of water that moves from the poles toward the equator, typically cooling the coastal regions.

55
Q

What is an isotherm?

A

An isotherm is a line on a map connecting points of equal temperature.

56
Q

What is a temperature gradient?

A

A temperature gradient is the rate at which temperature changes with distance in a specific direction.

57
Q

What is mean monthly temperature?

A

Mean monthly temperature is the average temperature for a specific month over a given period.

58
Q

What is mean daily temperature?

A

Mean daily temperature is the average temperature for a specific day over a given period.

59
Q

What is annual temperature lag?

A

Annual temperature lag is the delay between the peak solar radiation received during the year and the peak temperature.

60
Q

What is weather?

A

Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific area, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation.

61
Q

What is climate?

A

Climate is the long-term average of weather patterns in a particular region over extended periods.

62
Q

What is meteorology?

A

Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere and its phenomena, including weather and climate.

63
Q

What is climatology?

A

Climatology is the study of climate, including its variations and changes over time.

64
Q

What are atmospheric elements?

A

Atmospheric elements are the fundamental components of the atmosphere, including temperature, pressure, humidity, wind, and precipitation.

Physical Geography (4 decks)

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