exam #1

Question 1

what are closed & open systems? how can the earth be both?

Answer 1

open: not self-contained
closed: system that is self-contained

earth = open, in terms of energy
earth = closed, in terms of physical matter & resources

Question 2

define the 3 types of systems. what are the outputs? give an example of each

Answer 2

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

Question 3

give the order of the scientific method. what are the actions/outcomes of each?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

when does the aphelion occur?

Answer 4

the earth is furthest from the sun on July 4th

Question 5

explain steady-state & dynamic equilibrium

Answer 5

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

Question 6

what are the three divisions of physical geography?

Answer 6

biogeography, climatology, geomorphology

Question 7

when a systems robustness fails, what happen(s)/(ed)?

Answer 7

the system lurches into a new operational level after reaching a threshold or tipping point

Question 8

why is earth considered a goldilocks planet?

Answer 8

it is the correct distance from the sun making water occur naturally at all three phases on its surface

Question 9

define robustness in terms of systems

Answer 9

ability of a system to stay constant, or maintain its character, even when prodded by external factors

Question 10

what’s a system linked by? and distinct from?

Answer 10

linked by flows of energy and matter. distinct from the surroundings

Question 11

when does the perihelion occur?

Answer 11

the earth is closest to the sun on January 3rd

Question 12

what’s a system?

Answer 12

set of ordered, interrelated components & their attributes.

Question 13

true or false: systems cannot be deterministic and stochastic

Answer 13

false

Question 14

What’s physical geography

Answer 14

uses spatial perspective to examine processes & events happening at specific locations and times.

Question 15

explain the difference between positive and negative feedback and how the planet heating up can be both

Answer 15

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

Question 16

define a model, name & explain the three types, give an example of each

Answer 16

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

Question 17

what are the earth’s four sphere and their links?

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

what is absolute zero? what temperature does water freeze at?

Answer 18

-273 degrees celsius. 0 degrees celsius or 273K

Question 19

what are the 4 states of matter? what processes go between them

Answer 19

solid:
-> l = melting
-> g = sublimation
liquid:
-> s = freezing
-> g = vaporization
gas:
-> s = deposition
-> l = condensation
-> p = ionization
plasma:
-> g = deionization

Question 20

what are the three ways heat energy can transfer? explain them

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Define sensible and latent heat. give an example

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What’s that one physical law about the electromagnetic spectrum? all objects radiate…. related to…?

Answer 22

all objects radiate energy in wavelengths related to their individual temperatures.

Question 23

what emits radiation?

Answer 23

anything with a temperature

Question 24

List the electromagnetic spectrum from smallest to largest wavelengths.

Answer 24

gamma rays -> x-rays -> ultra-violet -> visible -> near infrared -> shortwave infrared -> middle infrared -> thermal infrared -> microwave -> radio waves

Question 25

What does the Stefan Boltzmann Law tell us? What can we calculate?

Answer 25

Tells us how much energy is emitted. E (intensity of radiation emitted by a black body) = sigma*T^4

Question 26

What does Wien’s Displacement Law tell us? What can we calculate?

Answer 26

The characteristics of the energy emitted. lambda max (wavelength of maximum emission) = 2897/T*10^-6

Question 27

What does the Inverse Square Law tell us? What can we calculate?

Answer 27

intensity reduces according to the square of the distance from the energy source

Question 28

What’s a blackbody? Give an example of one

Answer 28

It is a perfect absorber of radiant energy, it absorbs and emits all radiant energy that is receives. ex: sun and earth

Question 29

Describe the relationship between wavelength and temperature.

Answer 29

Inverse relationship. Higher temperature = shorter wavelength

Question 30

define insolation

Answer 30

the total solar radiation intercepted by earth’s surfaces and atmosphere

Question 31

Define solar constant. What’s its value? How would you calculate it?

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

define thermopause

Answer 32

outer boundary of the earth’s energy system

Question 33

define sub-solar point

Answer 33

the only points where insolation arrives perpendicular to the surface

Question 34

What is net radiation?

Answer 34

balance between short-wave energy coming from the sun and all outgoing radiations from the earth.

Question 35

Where are the tropics of cancer, capricorn and the equator?

Answer 35

Tropic of Cancer = 23.5 degrees N
Tropic of Capricorn = 23.5 degrees South
Equator = 0 degrees

Question 36

Define a revolution, rotation, rotation, tilted axis …. all the reasons for seasons

Answer 36

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

Question 37

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

Answer 37

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

Question 38

define albedo. give an example of a high and low albedo material

Answer 38

the proportion of incoming short-wave radiation that is reflected.
high albedo: snow
low albedo: wet ground

Question 39

explain the different levels of understanding in systems

Answer 39

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

Question 40

what do seasons result from? how are they created

Answer 40

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