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Geography 107 > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

Physical Geography

A

geography which uses a spatial perspective to study the physical elements and processes that make up the earths environment

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2
Q

Hazards assessment

A

blends physical and human geography

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3
Q

tools that geographers use

A
  • maps
  • geographical information systems (GIS)
  • global positioning systems (GPS)
  • Remote sensing
  • statistical analysis
  • visualization
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4
Q

Map projection

A

how to display the Earths surface

a two dimensional representation of a three dimensional geoid

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5
Q

flat maps distort several properties of a geoid including

A
  • direction
  • area
  • shape
  • proximity
  • distance
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6
Q

GPS

A
  • Global positioning system
  • there are 24 orbiting satellites to triangulate your position on earth
  • accuracy can be around 5 meters
  • precision agriculture (one application)
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7
Q

GIS

A
  • geographic information system
  • computer based mapping and analytical ability provided by complex software
  • maps, diagrams, satellite images and aerial photographs can be stored and manipulated
  • spatially referenced data used to solve complex problems
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8
Q

ArcMap

A

highly effective software for representing spatial data

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9
Q

remote sensing

A

refers to the gathering of information from great distances and over broad areas, usually through instruments mounted on aircraft or orbiting spacecraft/ satellites

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10
Q

the shape of earth

A
  • oblate ellipsoid
  • bulges at the equator and flattens at the poles
  • also called a geoid
  • close to spherical
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11
Q

Earths rotation

A
  • counter clockwise (viewed above the north pole)
  • west to east ( viewed at equator)
  • spinning a little over 1000 mph at equator
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12
Q

Latitude

A
  • the angle between a point on a parallel and the center of the earth and a point on the equator (up and down)
  • parallel
  • can be solved for using polaris (north star)
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13
Q

Longitude

A

the angle between a point on a meridian at the equator and a point on the prime meridian at the equator as measured at the earths center (left and right)

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14
Q

prime meridian

A

in greenwich england

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15
Q

small circles

A

created when a plane passes through the earth but does not intersect the center point

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16
Q

great circles

A
  • created when a plane passes through the earth intersecting the center point
  • all meridians
  • equator
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17
Q

tropic of cancer

A

extreme northern parallel that has the sun directly overhead on the first day of summer (in N. hemisphere)

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18
Q

tropic of capricorn

A

extreme southern parallel that has the sun directly overhead on the first dat of summer (in S. hemisphere)

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19
Q

solstice

A
  • sun stands still
  • june 22, subsolar point is 23.5 degrees N (tropic of cancer)
  • december 22, subsolar point is 23.5 degrees S (tropic of capricorn)
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20
Q

equinox

A

equal amount of sunlight

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21
Q

revolution

A
  • 365 days to circle the sun
  • from north pole in counterclockwise direction
  • elliptical path
  • orbits on the plane of the ecliptic
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22
Q

tilt of the earths axis

A
  • rotational axis remains pointed towards polaris (north star)
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23
Q

perihelion

A
  • when earth is nearest to the sun
  • January 3rd
    (distance between the sun and earth varies only by about 3% during one revolution)
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24
Q

aphelion

A
  • when earth is farthest from the sun
  • July 4th
    (distance between the sun and earth varies only by about 3% during one revolution)
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25
Q

reasons for seasons

A
  • revolution
  • rotation
  • tilted axis
  • axis parallelism
  • sphericity
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26
Q

revolution

A
  • earths journey around the sun

~ 365 days

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27
Q

rotation

A
  • earth spinning on its axis
  • west to east
    ~ 24 hours for full rotation
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28
Q

tilt of earth

A
  • 23.5 degrees

- means variable amount of daylight during the year

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29
Q

axial parallelism

A
  • same alignment around the sun

- (plane of the ecliptic)

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30
Q

sphericity

A
  • geoid shape of earth means insolation gains are not across globe
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31
Q

equinox

A
  • circle of illumination passes through both poles
  • subsolar point is the equator
  • all locations have 12hr of sunlight and 12 hr of darkness
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32
Q

Sun

A
  • the primary source of energy for most of the life processes in our biosphere
  • heated by continuous nuclear reactions (hydrogen to helium)
  • takes energy 8.5 minutes to travel to earth
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33
Q

solar wind

A
  • a main output of the sun

- electrically charged particles (H nuclei and free electrons)

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34
Q

radient energy

A
  • a main output of the sun

- light associated with the electromagnetic spectrum

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35
Q

electromagnetic radiation

A
  • a collection of energy waves that travel away from the surface of an object
  • all surfaces emit radiation
  • hot objects radiation = light
  • cooler objects = heat radiation
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36
Q

absorption features

A
  • certain wavelengths are absorbed by gasses such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ozone
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37
Q

windows

A
  • wavelengths that are not absorbed
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38
Q

radiation and temperature

A
  • hot objects radiate more energy than cool objects.

- the hotter the object the shorter the wavelength

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39
Q

solar radiation

A
  • rays spread apart as they move away from the sun
  • intensity is greatest in the visible portion of the spectrum
  • most penetrates earths atmosphere to reach the surface
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40
Q

solar constant

A
  • rate of incoming energy

- about 1361 watts per square meter

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41
Q

Insolation

A
  • incoming solar radiation
  • amount of solar radiation that reaches upper earth atmosphere
  • it is high when the sun is high in the sky
  • strongest near the equator and weakest near the poles
  • intensity depends on the sun beams angle (most intense - verticle)
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42
Q

transmission

A
  • passage of sort and long wave radiation through the atmosphere or water
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43
Q

not at solar radiation reaches earths surface because:

A
  • scattering (redirection)
  • refraction (path change)
  • albedo and reflection (bounce back effect)
  • absorption/ interception (conversion of energy to another form)
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44
Q

Diffuse radiation

A
  • scattered radiation moving in all directions through the atmosphere
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45
Q

Diffuse reflection

A
  • the upward flow of diffuse radiation back into space (about 3%)
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46
Q

white objects

A

reflect nearly all light

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47
Q

black objects

A

absorb nearly all light

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48
Q

water

A

absorbs solar radiation and has low albedo unless the radiation strikes the water surface at a low angle. in that case sun glint raises the albedo

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49
Q

daily insolation

A

average taken over a 24hr day, depends on:

  • angle at which the suns rays strike the surface during the day
  • how long the location is exposed to those rays
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50
Q

daily insolation through the year

A
  • equatorial regions havean energy surplus and polar regions have a deficit
  • this fact gives rise to global circulation patterns responsible for much of our weather systems
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51
Q

latitude zones

A

based on the seasonal patterns of daily isolation

  • equatorial zone
  • tropical zones
  • subtropical zones
  • midaltitude zones
  • subartic and subanartic zones
  • north and south polar zones
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52
Q

Composition of the atmosphere

A 
nitrogen 78%
oxygen 21%
argon 1% 
carbon dioxide .035%
water vapor less than 1-2%
ozone
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53
Q

antartic ozone hole

A
  • the largest on record 29.5 million square miles

- measured in Dobson units

54
Q

Ozone

A
  • shelters earths surface from ultraviolet radiation
  • attacked by synthetic chemicals
  • thins during the spring in the southern hemisphere
  • hole has gotten smaller since 2006
55
Q

Lake vostok

A
  • coldest place on earth
  • under 4km of ice
  • researchers contaminated the lake
56
Q

temperature

A
  • measure of kinetic energy

- more molecular motion = higher temperature

57
Q

heat

A

the flow of energy from two objects of differing temperatures

58
Q

conduction

A

molecule to molecule heating (no movement of molecules)

59
Q

convection

A

circulation, vertical mixing (movement of energy)

60
Q

latent heat

A

heat associated with phase change (ex. liquid to gas)

61
Q

sensible heat

A

kinetic energy from molecular motion, measured with thermometer

62
Q

radiation

A

direct energy flow ex. microwave

63
Q

greenhouse effect

A
  • shortwave radiation passes through atmosphere and is absorbed or reflected at the surface
  • surface emits longwave radiation
  • counterradiation
64
Q

counterradiation

A
  • water vapor and carbon dioxide act like glass, allowing shortwave radiation through but absorbing and radiating longwave radiation
65
Q

carbon dioxide

A
  • plays the biggest role in global warming
  • comes from industrialization
  • amounts are increasing
66
Q

Global energy system

A
  • energy is neither created or destroyed

- flows between the sun and the earths atmosphere

67
Q

net radiation

A
  • difference between incoming and outgoing radiation
68
Q

factors that influence air temperature

A
  • latitude
  • surface type
  • coastal or interior location
  • elevation
  • atmospheric and oceanic circulations
69
Q

urban surfaces

A
  • composed of asphalt, concrete, building stone, and similar material. sewers drain away rainwater keeping surfaces dry
  • temperatures are hotter in urban areas
70
Q

rural surfaces

A
  • composed of moist soil, vegetation, grass, trees, crops
71
Q

evapotranspiration

A
  • evaporation and transpiration (heat water evaporating)
72
Q

high elevations

A
  • temperatures are generally cooler
  • greater day to night range
  • density of air decreases with elevation
  • greenhouse effect is weaker with elevation
73
Q

temperature inversion

A
  • temperature increases with altitude
74
Q

troposphere

A
  • lowest atmospheric layer
  • all human activity takes place here
  • weather such as clouds and storms
  • thicker closer to the equator
75
Q

aerosols

A

tiny particles (solid or liquid) that are kept aloft in atmosphere. these are the “seeds” on which precipitation/clouds forms

76
Q

stratosphere

A
  • lies above the troposphereand is the home of strong persistent winds that flow from west to east
  • contains the ozone layer
77
Q

environmental temperature lapse rate

A

average rate of temperature decreases with height

78
Q

Larry Walters

A
  • Lawn Chair Larry
79
Q

equinox

A

insolation begins at sunrise 6am, peaks at noon, and zero at sunset 6pm

80
Q

June solstice

A

insolation begins at 4am and ends at 8pm. peak greater, more total insolation

81
Q

December solstice

A

insolation begins at 8 am and ends at 4 pm. daily total isolation reduced

82
Q

incoming solar radiation (land and water)

A
  • rays strike land and water equally
  • Land: radiation cannot penetrate soil or rock so heating is just at the surface (conduction)
  • Water: radiation penetrates below the surface distributing heat at depth (convection)
83
Q

Heat capacities (land and water)

A
  • land: low specific heat capacity, temperature increases easily as heat energy is applied
  • water: high specific heat capacity, requires five times more energy to raise temperature
84
Q

Evaporation (land and water)

A
  • water: surfaces cool as water molecules evaporate, absorbing heat
  • land: surfaces can be cooled by evaporation if water exists near the soil surface, if not then no cooling
85
Q

mixing (land and water)

A
  • water: fluid allows mixing. warming surface water mixes with cooler water to produce uniform temperature. mixes by wind generated waves (convection)
  • land: immobile, prevents mixing (conduction)
86
Q

isotherms

A
  • lines of equal temperature drawn on a map

- these maps show centers of high and low temperatures and temperature gradients (intervals on equal distance)

87
Q

ice cores

A
  • taken from glaciers

- provides a record of temperatures at the time of ice formation

88
Q

global warming

A
  • enhanced from human activity and greenhouse gasses
89
Q

consequences of global warming

A
  • artic thawing
  • polar sea ice melting = rising sea level
  • more droughts and floods
90
Q

Hydrosphere

A
  • water in all its forms
  • Oceans: nearly all the earths water is contained in the oceans
  • ice sheets and glaciers: second largest reservoir of water
  • surface water: tiny fraction of water
  • atmospheric water: .001% of water
91
Q

hydrologic cycle

A
  • the global flow of water to and from oceans, land, and atmosphere
92
Q

latent heat energy

A

released or absorbed as water changes from one state to another

93
Q

humidity

A

amount of water vapor in the air

94
Q

relative humidity

A
  • how close the air is to a point of saturation

- what weather forecasters speak of

95
Q

saturation

A

any reduction in temperature or increase in water vapor = condensation and this is the dew point (the temperature at which water vapor becomes visible)

96
Q

specific humidity

A

The actual quantity of water vapor contained within a parcel of air

97
Q

Equatorial regions

A

higher insolation evaporates water. Specific humidity and
temperature values high at low
latitudes

98
Q

High-latitude regions

A

Specific humidity values fall rapidly as temperature decreases

99
Q

Adiabatic Process

A
  • warm air rises (expands) and cools (contracts) which then sinks and heats up and rises etc.
  • when this occurs without exchange of heat
100
Q

Adiabatic decrease of temperature

A

in a rising parcel of air leads to cooling, then to condensation of water vapor into water droplets and the formation of a cloud

101
Q

Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

A
  • Rising air parcel not yet been cooled to saturation.

- dry rate - no condensation during this process

102
Q

clouds

A

consists of water droplets, ice particles, or a mixture of both.

103
Q

strariform

A

layered

104
Q

cumuliform

A

fluffy

105
Q

cirroform

A

wispy

106
Q

alto

A

mid altitude

107
Q

nimbus

A

rain bearing

108
Q

fog

A

a cloud layer at or close to the earths surface

109
Q

radiation fog

A

Air temperature at the ground level falls below the dew point. Forms in valleys, low-lying areas, on clear winter nights

110
Q

advection fog

A

Warm, moist air layer moves over a cold surface. Warm air layer loses heat to the surface, temperature drops below the dew point, and condensation occurs. Forms over oceans when warm, moist air above a warm current moves over a cold current and condensation occurs

111
Q

hail

A
  • frequent in oklahoma and kansas
112
Q

convective precipitation

A 
1. Moist air warmed at surface,
expands, less dense than
surrounding air, and rises
2. Cools to dew point,
condensation occurs, clouds
form.
3. Continued updrafts
  • Thunderstorms common
  • Forms on summer days
113
Q

stable air

A

when all of the surrounding air is close to the same temperature

114
Q

air mass thunderstorms

A

isolated thunderstorms generated by daytime heating of the land surface

115
Q

pop up storms

A
  • Occur in warm, moist air that is often of maritime origin
  • Triggered by solar heating of the land, they start, mature,
    and dissipate within an hour or two
  • Formation stops at night, since surface heating is no
    longer present
116
Q

Microburst

A
  • an intense downdraft or downburst that accompanies the gust front
  • intense, localized winds called straight-line winds or plough winds or derechos
117
Q

Mesoscale convective systems

A

large, organized masses of severe and supercell thunderstorms

118
Q

tornados

A
  • Cyclonic wind circulation (CW) produces uplifting (unstable) air
  • Usually involves warm and cooler air at different elevations
  • Creates a mesocyclone within a supercell cloud
  • Moist air is drawn up to high altitude which releases latent heat/energy which powers the storm
  • Often produces hail (sign of circulation), rain, lightening.
  • Fujita Scale (EF0 to EF5)
  • Most tornadoes rotate in a counterclockwise direction, but a few rotate the opposite way
119
Q

Air pollutants

A

unwanted substances present in the air. Caused by human and natural activity

120
Q

fallout

A

Large particulates settle under gravity and return to the surface

121
Q

washout

A

Particles too small to settle are swept down by precipitation

122
Q

Smog

A

dense mixture of aerosols and gaseous pollutants over an urban area

123
Q

haze

A

aerosols obscure distant object

  • Occurs naturally in stationary air from human and natural activity
  • Humid air: water films grow on suspended nuclei
  • Creates aerosol particles large enough to obscure and scatter light, reducing visibility
124
Q

Atmospheric pressure

A
  • produced by the weight of a column of air above a unit area of the Earth’s surface
  • measured by a barometer (mercury)
  • decreases with altitude (mountain sickness)
125
Q

wind

A

horizontal movement between two areas of different pressure over Earth’s surface

126
Q

Pressure Gradient

A
  • moves air toward the warm region at low levels and away from the warm region at high levels
  • H -> L
127
Q

The Coriolis Effect

A
  • objects divert to the right
  • the faster the object the greater the effect
  • no effect at equator. big effect at poles
128
Q

The Frictional Force

A
  • opposite direction of wind

- greatest closest to the surface

129
Q

Local winds

A

driven by local effects – uneven heating and cooling of the air can set up thermal circulations or topographic differences

130
Q

equatorial trough/ doldrums

A

Rising air at equator produces surface low pressure known as the equatorial trough. Air in both hemispheres moves toward this equatorial trough, converges and rises – Hadley circulation. Narrow zone of air convergence – Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). Air is largely moving upward, surface winds are light. Region is known as the doldrums

131
Q

monsoon

A

an alternation of cool, dry northeasterly airflow with warm, moist southwesterly airflow experienced in south Asia

132
Q

Isobaric surfaces

A
  • slope downward from the low latitudes to the pole

Geography 107 (3 decks)

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