exam #1 Flashcards
what are closed & open systems? how can the earth be both?
open: not self-contained
closed: system that is self-contained
earth = open, in terms of energy
earth = closed, in terms of physical matter & resources
define the 3 types of systems. what are the outputs? give an example of each
1) deterministic: system whose temporal or spacial evolution can be predicted exactly. output = known relations between dependent/independent variables. ex: dominoes, many climate systems
2) stochastic: system that covers randomness/chance. output = governed by probability distribution. ex: coin flip
3) chaotic: system whose events are not predictable. output = occur along a bounded attractor (pendulum, planetary orbits). ex: weather systems
give the order of the scientific method. what are the actions/outcomes of each?
1) real world
A: observe nature, perception
O: what do we know/want to know? what questions do we need to answer?
2) observations, measurements
A: collect data from nature, observe nature
O: determine data needed for collection methods
3) inductive reasoning
A: explaining, analyzing, and interpreting data
O: build models of real, conceptual or numerical systems
4) hypotheses
A: search for patterns, order and processes
O: make general statements that summarize data, observations and model simulations. must be testable statistically
5) predictions
A: experiment/test to verify or reject hypothesis
O: conduct experiments to predict verification/rejection of hypothesis. hypothesis refinement.
6) general theory, governing laws
A: theory formulation
O: understand real world behaviour
when does the aphelion occur?
the earth is furthest from the sun on July 4th
explain steady-state & dynamic equilibrium
steady-state: system that remains balanced over time, conditions are constant/recur. (inputs/outputs = equal, amt. energy/matter in storage = constant)
dynamic equilibrium: steady-state system whose moving average is changing over time
what are the three divisions of physical geography?
biogeography, climatology, geomorphology
when a systems robustness fails, what happen(s)/(ed)?
the system lurches into a new operational level after reaching a threshold or tipping point
why is earth considered a goldilocks planet?
it is the correct distance from the sun making water occur naturally at all three phases on its surface
define robustness in terms of systems
ability of a system to stay constant, or maintain its character, even when prodded by external factors
what’s a system linked by? and distinct from?
linked by flows of energy and matter. distinct from the surroundings
when does the perihelion occur?
the earth is closest to the sun on January 3rd
what’s a system?
set of ordered, interrelated components & their attributes.
true or false: systems cannot be deterministic and stochastic
false
What’s physical geography
uses spatial perspective to examine processes & events happening at specific locations and times.
explain the difference between positive and negative feedback and how the planet heating up can be both
positive feedback: increases/stimulates the processes in a system & drives it further towards an extreme. the planet heats up -> glaciers to melt -> less snow to absorb heat -> planet heats up more.
negative feedback:
slows down processes in a system, input/output neutralize each other and stabilize the system. planet heats up -> trees grow further north -> trees absorb CO2 -> reduce greenhouse gas
define a model, name & explain the three types, give an example of each
model: simplified/idealized representation of reality.
1) conceptual: general ideas about how processes interact with one another. ex: spherical view of the world
2) physical: reproduced hardware system, scaled up or down. ex: wave generator
3) numerical: mathematical formulas representing relations between components of a system. ex: global climate model
what are the earth’s four sphere and their links?
1) atmosphere: gaseous veil surrounding earth. includes: nitrogen, argon, oxygen, CO2, water vapour
2) hydrosphere: where water exists (on surface, in atmosphere, in crust). frozen water_> cryosphere.
3) lithosphere: earth’s crust and upper mantle
4) biosphere: all organisms/living components
hydrosphere&atmosphere: evaporation -> rain/cloud formation -> rain
hydrosphere&lithosphere: moisture -> erode rocks. melting ice/water flow back to oceans
atmosphere & lithosphere: heat -> breakdown of rocks. rocks -> reflect sun’s energy back. volcanic activity. tectonic plates
biosphere and all else: photosynthesis (from atmosphere). water (from hydrosphere). living medium (lithosphere)
what is absolute zero? what temperature does water freeze at?
-273 degrees celsius. 0 degrees celsius or 273K
what are the 4 states of matter? what processes go between them
solid:
-> l = melting
-> g = sublimation
liquid:
-> s = freezing
-> g = vaporization
gas:
-> s = deposition
-> l = condensation
-> p = ionization
plasma:
-> g = deionization
what are the three ways heat energy can transfer? explain them
1: conduction: heat energy transfer between solids. kinetic E transferred
2: convection: heat transfer between fluids: liquids and gasses
3: radiation: heat transfer through a vacuum in space ex: sun to earth
Define sensible and latent heat. give an example
sensible heat: heat transfer perceived as a temperature change. ex: ground warms up via sun
latent heat: heat transfer not perceived as a temperature change. ex: phase changes
What’s that one physical law about the electromagnetic spectrum? all objects radiate…. related to…?
all objects radiate energy in wavelengths related to their individual temperatures.
what emits radiation?
anything with a temperature
List the electromagnetic spectrum from smallest to largest wavelengths.
gamma rays -> x-rays -> ultra-violet -> visible -> near infrared -> shortwave infrared -> middle infrared -> thermal infrared -> microwave -> radio waves
What does the Stefan Boltzmann Law tell us? What can we calculate?
Tells us how much energy is emitted. E (intensity of radiation emitted by a black body) = sigma*T^4
What does Wien’s Displacement Law tell us? What can we calculate?
The characteristics of the energy emitted. lambda max (wavelength of maximum emission) = 2897/T*10^-6
What does the Inverse Square Law tell us? What can we calculate?
intensity reduces according to the square of the distance from the energy source
What’s a blackbody? Give an example of one
It is a perfect absorber of radiant energy, it absorbs and emits all radiant energy that is receives. ex: sun and earth
Describe the relationship between wavelength and temperature.
Inverse relationship. Higher temperature = shorter wavelength
define insolation
the total solar radiation intercepted by earth’s surfaces and atmosphere
Define solar constant. What’s its value? How would you calculate it?
the average insolation received at the thermopause when the earth is at the average distance from the sun = 1372 watts per m^2
First, determine the temperature using the stefan-boltzmann law. Then, determine the average distance that the earth is from the sun. Then, using the inverse square law, you can figure out the average insolation received at the thermopause.
define thermopause
outer boundary of the earth’s energy system
define sub-solar point
the only points where insolation arrives perpendicular to the surface
What is net radiation?
balance between short-wave energy coming from the sun and all outgoing radiations from the earth.
Where are the tropics of cancer, capricorn and the equator?
Tropic of Cancer = 23.5 degrees N
Tropic of Capricorn = 23.5 degrees South
Equator = 0 degrees
Define a revolution, rotation, rotation, tilted axis …. all the reasons for seasons
revolution: earth’s travel around the sun (365 days)
rotation: time to turn on its axis. determines day length (<24hrs)
rotation: how the earth rotates from west to east
tilt of axis: 23.5 degrees
for each solstice/equinox, tell me where the north pole is, which circle is getting light/dark & how much, and where the sub-polar point is
december solstice: north pole away from sun, north of arctic circle is 24hr dark, sub-polar point is at the tropic of cancer
arctic circle: 69.7 degrees north
antarctic circle = 69.7 degrees south
vernal equinox: no pole points to sun, everywhere gets 12hrs dark and light
summer solstice: north pole points to sun, north of arctic circle is 24hr light, spp @ tropic of capricorn
autumnal equinox: no pole points to sun, everywhere gets 12hrs dark and light
define albedo. give an example of a high and low albedo material
the proportion of incoming short-wave radiation that is reflected.
high albedo: snow
low albedo: wet ground
explain the different levels of understanding in systems
black box: understand inputs/outputs but not interactions in between
grey box: understand inputs/outputs and some interactions
white box: understand inputs/outputs and all interactions
what do seasons result from? how are they created
variations in the sun’s altitude above the horizon, sun’s declination and daylength during the year.
earth’s revolution, daily rotation on its axis, tilted axis, sphericity
