Exam 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What does geography mean?

A

From geo “earth” and graphic “to write”

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2
Q

What is spatial analysis?

A

The examination of spatial interactions, patterns, and variations over are and or/space.

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3
Q

What is systems theory?

A

Order, interrelated set of things and their attributes (flows of energy and matter)

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4
Q

What is a closed system?

A

Shut off from the surrounding environment

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5
Q

What is an open system?

A

Receive inputs and outputs from without

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6
Q

What is system feedback?

A

Outputs the influence operation;outputs function as information that returns to various points in the system via called feedback loops

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7
Q

What is system equilibrium?

A

Energy and material in a system that remains balanced over time

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8
Q

What is latitude?

A

Parallel lines, up and down on a globe

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9
Q

What is longitude?

A

Horizontal lines that go side to side

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10
Q

What is a map?

A

A generalized view of an area, as seen from above and reduced in size.

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11
Q

What is remote sensing?

A

Collection of information about an object from a distance through registering electromagnetic energy

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12
Q

What is GIS?

A

Geographical information system and they combine spatial and attribute data

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13
Q

What are inner planets?

A

Formed mostly of rock and metal(solid at high T)

Mercury, Venus,Earth, Mars

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14
Q

What are outer planets?

A

Are built of ice over rocky cores, massive and cool enough to hold thick layers of gas
Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus, and Neptune

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15
Q

What are the 3 things that define a planet?

A

Orbits sun
Spherical
Clears material and orbit

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16
Q

What is perihelion?

A

Earth’s closest position to sun

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17
Q

What is Aphelion?

A

Earth’s farthest position to sun

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18
Q

What is the plane of earth’s orbit?

A

Plane of eliptic

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19
Q

What is a cause sunspots?

A

Magnetic storms

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20
Q

What happens during a sunspot?

A

Explosions(solar flares)

Outbursts of gases

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21
Q

What is solar wind?

A

Clouds of electrically charged particles

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22
Q

Describe the earth’s magnetosphere

A

2 magnetic metals move past one another
Create magnetic field
Flow of the outer core around inner core creates this field
This protects us from radiation poisoning

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23
Q

What is insolation?

A

Incident solar radiation

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24
Q

What is the electromagnetic spectrums?

A

The spectrum which lets us view light but also has many other invisible energy Rays

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25
Q

What is seasonality?

A

Refers to seasonal variations of the sun’s position above the horizon and changing day lengths during the year

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26
Q

What’s the reason for seasonal changes?

A

Is the Suns altitude, where the sun is facing on the planet, the angle the sun is at

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27
Q

5 reasons for seasons

A
Revolution 
Rotation 
Tilt of Earth's Axis 
Axial parallelism 
Sphericity
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28
Q

What is revolution?

A

Earth revolves around the sun

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29
Q

What is rotation?

A

Earth rotates on axis once every 24 hours (day)

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30
Q

What is air?

A

Blended gases, odorless,colorless,tasteless,formless

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31
Q

What is the atmosphere made of?

A

Two regions which are Heterosphere and Homosphere

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32
Q

What makes up 90% of atmosphere’s mass?

A

Troposphere

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33
Q

What did the clean air act do?

A

The U.S. federal law regulating air emissions from stationary and mobile sources
We saw a significant reductions in air pollution and higher quality of life

34
Q

What is energy balance?

A

It’s a budget, input and output

35
Q

What is energy?

A

Capacity to do work, or move matter

36
Q

_______ is the measure of the average kinetic energy, or vibrational energy, of individual molecules.

A

Temperature

37
Q

What is heat?

A

Is the flow of kinetic energy between molecules from one body to another

38
Q

Heat flows from _____ temperature to _______ temperature?

A

High,low

39
Q

What is radiation?

A

Electromagnetic waves

40
Q

What is conduction?

A

Molecule to molecule diffusion (e.g., temp differences between dark and light)

41
Q

Mixing and circulation (e.g.,air mass movements)

A

Convection

42
Q

What is advection?

A

Directional movements(e.g., horizontal winds)

43
Q

Molecule to molecule transfer of heat as it diffused through a substance is known as what?

A

Conduction

44
Q

In energy pathways what is transmission?

A

Passage of energy through the atmosphere and water

45
Q

In energy pathways what is scattering

A

Changing direction of radiation waves without altering wavelengths

46
Q

In energy pathways what is refraction?

A

Change in speed and direction of radiation

47
Q

Why is the sky blue (what principle)?

A

Rayleigh scattering

48
Q

A measure of the surface’s reflective quality(or intrinsic brightness) is known as what?

A

Albedo

49
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

The atmosphere acts a bit different, long wave radiation is not trapped like an actual greenhouse, atmosphere delays transfer of heat from Earth into space

50
Q

What are clouds useful for?

A

Either cooling or heating

51
Q

What is boundary layer?

A

Exchange of energy between lower atmosphere & surface

52
Q

Small-scale climate conditions due to radiation, heat, and moisture exchanges in the boundary layer at or near Earth’s surface

A

Microclimate

53
Q

________ microclimates are different than ________.

A

Urban;nonurban

54
Q

What is net radiation?

A

Energy budget should balance over time, this occurs through no radiative processes

55
Q

A form of energy that flows between two systems or objects

A

Heat

56
Q

What is temperature?

A

A measure of the average kinetic energy (motion) of individual molecules of matter

57
Q

What are the three types of scales?

A

Fahrenheit
Celsius
kelvin

58
Q

________ decreases w/ increasing _________

A

Temperature; altitude

59
Q

List some of the physical differences between land and water:

A
Evaporation 
Transparency 
Specific heat 
Movement 
Ocean currents 
Sea-surface Temperatures
60
Q

Line of consistent value

A

Isotherm

61
Q

What 2 things are caused by wind chills?

A

Frostbite: body tissue that froze

hypothermia: your body temperature drops to low

62
Q

What are heat cramps?

A

Painful, involuntary muscle spams, typically in your calves, arms, abdomen and back

63
Q

What is heat exhaustion?

A

Weak and rapid pulse
Low blood pressure
Cool-moist skin w/ goose bumps
Faint/dizzy and nausea

64
Q

What is heat stoke?

A

Body temperature of 104 F

65
Q

What are 3 things included in the Heat Index Table

A

Heat cramps, Heat exhaustion, and Heat stroke

66
Q

Atmospheric circulation is driven by the imbalance between:

A

Heavy insolation at the equatorial = energy surplus

Light insolation at the poles = energy deficit

67
Q

What is Air Pressure?

A

Pressure (or force/area) created by air molecules

68
Q

2 things used to measure air pressure are:

A

Mercury barometer; Aneroid barometer

69
Q

What is the horizontal movement of air?

A

Wind

70
Q

2 things that are used to measure wind

A

Anemometer

Wind vane

71
Q

Driving forces within the atmosphere

A
Gravitational force 
Pressure gradient force 
Coriolis force 
Frictional force 
Summary of physical forces
72
Q

What are trade winds?

A

Calm winds, mildly variable due to weak pressure gradient and upward (vertical) movement (doldrums)

73
Q

What are 3 types of local winds?

A

Land-sea breezes
Mountain-valley breeze
Katabatic winds

74
Q

Circular flows of water in the ocean basins, tied to high pressure systems

A

Gyres

75
Q

Strong east-west currents

A

Equatorial

76
Q

Piling-up of water on the eastern coasts of continents

A

Western intensification

77
Q

Where currents sweep away water

A

Upwelling

78
Q

Where currents pile-up water

A

Down welling

79
Q

Deep currents driven by differences in temp and salinity

A

Thermohaline circulation

80
Q

What is El Niño?

A

Happens every 2-12 years
Affects global temperatures
Can occur as early as spring and last all year long
Higher pressures over the western Pacific

81
Q

What does arid mean?

A

Refers to the amount of water available