Class Notes

Question 1

Perihelion?

Answer 1

When the earth is closest to the sun. Occurs on jan. 3rd

Question 2

Primate city?

Answer 2

A city that’s two times bigger than any other city in the country

Question 3

Mega city?

Answer 3

A location with a population of 20 mil. Or greater.

Question 4

CBD?

Answer 4

Central business district. Residential and non residential land use where it becomes more rural the farther from the center you go.

Question 5

Urbanization

Answer 5

The percentage of towns and cities. 80% of the world live in urban environments

Question 6

Hinterland

Answer 6

The outskirts, the land behind the city. Agricultural area.

Question 7

Aphelion

Answer 7

The point of furthest distance away from the sun. Occurs on july 4th

Question 8

Insolation

Answer 8

Inputs. Incoming solar radiation. Also known as short wave radiation. Ultraviolet, visible and shortwave. Amount of insolation depend on where you are on the earths surface.

Question 9

Sub solar point

Answer 9

Where the sun is directly overhead

Question 10

Seasonality?

Answer 10

The seasonal variation of the suns position and change in day lengths

Question 11

3 Reasons for the seasons

Answer 11

Revolution, tilt, axial parallelism

Question 12

Normal lapse rate

Answer 12

6. 4 C/1000m

3. 5F/1000ft

Question 13

Environmental lapse rate

Answer 13

Takes into account the local weather conditions at that time which the normal lapse rate does not.

Question 14

Montreal protocol

Answer 14

2010 ban of cfc’s by 189 countries

Question 15

Temperature inversion. Cause and effect.

Answer 15

Caused by calm winds, clear skies, and long cold nights. Limits vertical mixing and traps pollution

Question 16

Acid rain. Composition and sources

Answer 16

Silver dioxide and nitrogen oxides emitted by fossil fuel consumption. Comes from agriculture, vehicles and coal power plants

Question 17

Scattering

Answer 17

Change in direction of lights movement

Question 18

Refraction

Answer 18

Change in direction and speed

Question 19

Albedo

Answer 19

The reflective quality of earths surface

Question 20

Convection

Answer 20

Vertical mixing of heat energy

Question 21

Conduction

Answer 21

Molecule to molecule exchange of energy

Question 22

Principle temperature controls

Answer 22

Latitude, altitude/elevation, cloud cover. The basics to water and land heating differences.

Question 23

Gulf stream

Answer 23

Warm ocean current caused by atmospheric circulation and wind

Question 24

Urban heat island

Answer 24

Influenced albedo, concrete and asphalt has low albedo, so it’s hotter. Also solar radiation is trapped in urban environments by unnatural reflecting of heat and dust, particulates that are created by urban life

Question 25

Air pressure

Answer 25

A measurement of the airs weight, or density of air, which is unequal around the world due to differing heat. Measured by a barometer in millibars

Question 26

Driving forces of air pressure

Answer 26

Gravitational force, pressure gradient, coriolis force, and frictional force

Question 27

What is weather

Answer 27

The short term condition of the atmosphere

Question 28

What is meteorology?

Answer 28

The scientific study of the atmosphere. Linked to physical geography by the spatial implications and atmospheric phenomena that effect human activities.

Question 29

Sumblation

Answer 29

The change from frozen water to water vapor

Question 30

What is latent heat?

Answer 30

Heat required to for a phase change in water

Question 31

Latent heat vaporization?

Answer 31

Takes 540 cal to change 1g of water to 1g of vapor

Question 32

Latent heat condensation

Answer 32

The liberation of that same 540 cal to go back from vapor to liquid for 1g

Question 33

Humidity

Answer 33

The amount of water vapor present in the atmosphere

Question 34

Relative humidity

Answer 34

Is the ratio of actual vapor in the air and the given temperature

Question 35

Saturation

Answer 35

The level of saturation is met when rate of evaporation and the rate of condensation met equilibrium. Saturation is met at the dew point temperature

Question 36

Vapor pressure

Answer 36

is the portion of atmospheric pressure produced by the presence of water vapor

Question 37

What is a parcel?

Answer 37

A term used to describe a body if air that has specific temperature and humidity characteristics

Question 38

Stability

Answer 38

The tendency of an air parcel to stay put, or move vertically. Vertical movement is unstable, and expands with the higher, lower air pressure.

Question 39

Adiabatic

Answer 39

The warming and cooling rates of a parcel if expanding or compressing air