Final Flashcards
1
Q
human activity is a relatively new form of environmental manipulation that is _______ and _____________
A
very fast and intentional
2
Q
what are examples of natural occurring stimuli that cause persistent change to local boundary level climate or surface conditions
A
fire, shifts in rain patterns, beetles (can kill trees and change forest)
3
Q
small scale modification of surface by humans
A
albedo control
alternating geometry of the terrain/ soil
mulching
moisture control
4
Q
small scale modification of the atmosphere by humans (frost control)
A
preventing heat loss
adding heat
redistributing heat within the system
5
Q
Humans modify fog conditions by _________ and __________
A
adding and redistributing heat
6
Q
humans modify wind speeds using ______
A
barriers
7
Q
human modifications of surface and atmosphere change
A
radiative properties (K,L,Q)
moisture properties (water, QE)
thermal properties (conductivity, QH)
momentum
7
Q
albedo control regulates ________. Therefore it affects ________ and __________.
A
K (shortwave radiation)
radiative and thermal energy balances
8
Q
surface and atmospheric albedo affects an entire __________ and __________
A
environment and climate
9
Q
low albedo means more or less absorbed ?
A
More absorbed
10
Q
How does changing the color of a surface to be more white affect K up and Q*, and therefore QH
A
K up increases and Q* decreases, therefore less Q* means less QH and evapotranspiration rates
11
Q
changing geometry can effect what kinds of radiation
A
shortwave (how much is absorbed), and long wave (how much is emitted)
12
Q
how can humans modify soil surfaces in extra tropical latitudes to increase shortwave radiation and long wave radiation retention?
A
make it so that they receive insolation a more perpendicular angle of incidence
(sloped surface facing the sun)
13
Q
what kind of surface do you want in the tropics to receive max solar heating ?
A
flat
13
Q
sky view factor
A
% of the sky viewable from a specific vantage point, effected by roughness factors
14
Q
4 ways that surface geometry influences radiative exchanges
A
insolation on a flat surface
insolation on a sloped surface - influence angle of incidence
insolation on a sloped surface - influences multiple reflection (effective albedo)
longwave emission from a sloped surface - sky view factors influences emission
15
Q
more perpendicular angle means energy is spread out over a smaller or larger area?
A
smaller, more concentrated
16
Q
more reflections means more or less L (longwave) radiation ?
A
more K (shortwave) absorbed so more L (longwave) emitted
17
Q
How do furrows work
A
More solar radiation incidence because perpendicular angle, shortwave gets emitted back and forth between the two sides
18
Q
When the sun is low in winter a solar collector should be more
When the sun is high in the summer, a solar collector should be more
A
Upright, Horizontal
19
Q
What is mulching?
A
Putting something on the surface to create a barrier, exchanges are greatly reduced, evapotranspiration reduced
20
Q
Four techniques for mulching
A
- Aerating the surface with hay, wood chips, gravel or other material with airspace because air has a lower conductivity than bare soil, passes less energy to other objects
- Lowering surface albedo with dark material (black plastic), increases surface absorptivity, increase in QH
- covering surface with material that has lower energy conductivity, such as paper
21
Q
When is mulch laid down?
A
Autumn to trap in heat throughout the winter,must be removed at spring to allow input of insulation during the warm season
22
Q
What are examples of moisture control
A
Irrigation
Increasing soil moisture = increase in thermal diffusivity, spreads out energy at higher rate (no single area overheats)
High heat capacity and latent heat properties, water creates lower temp in soil environments, flooding sometimes practiced to ensure these events
23
Two types of frost
Radiative frost - due to radiative divergence (energy leaving something)
Advective frost - cold airmass horizontally transporting cold air into the environment
24
boundary layer extends
1km above surface and first meter under ground
25
multiple reflection greatly increases what?
energy absorbed in a system
26
what does it look like to intentionally redistribute heat in a system?
"push it back down" (eg with a fan)
27
why is adding moisture a good technique for controlling temp
- increases latent heat use with no change in the amount of Q it will decrease the use of QH (sensible heat)
28
windmills are useful to bring _________ by_________
warm air to the surface by increasing turbulent mixing
29
tree and buildings effect wind patterns by
30
what is QF?
anthropogenic heat flux
31
what is QS ?
net change of energy storage by building and enclosed air
+ heat from our body and machines and wires (anything that humans create)
32
What is QG?
soil heat flux, energy exchanged between the building and the underlying ground
33
Characteristics of the forest floor environment
cool, dark, moist, low wind, diffuse energy
34
Methods from the mediterranean to moderate temp
building materials that insulate, while colored exterior for high albedo
35
sloped surfaces have _________ effects
advective
36
if greenhouses get too hot it means a buildup of too much what?
longwave emission
37
indoors, we don't want it to be too humid inside so what can we do?
pass air through water to cool it, using moisture to control QH
38
indoor non greenhouse environment characteristics *know this
low transmissivity to K
(except through windows)
High absorption of L
Other things I missed!
39
describe effects of the urban heat island
- multiple reflections increase the amount of K* and therefore Q*
- low effective albedo (what's leftover after everything else is absorbed)
- high QF = extra energy source of having a lot of people
- high pollution
- heat accumulates between buildings due to lack of airflow
40
Inadvertent consequences of climate modification
vegetation removal
irrigation
buildings
41
removal of vegetation
altered albedo (vegetation to bare soil) and geometry (zero-plane displacement to ground surface wind)
- therefore changes radiation budget
changes energy budget
- add more info
42
Consequences of irrigation
creates runoff
- new moisture conditions downhill may influence temp in that new location
flooding (creation of a reservoir)
- alters temp and moisture
increases evaporation, atmospheric moisture and surface energy absorption
- decreases local surface and air temp
43
consequences of buildings
create shadows, decrease direct solar radiation
increase long. wave radiation by changing sky view factor
introduce new heating sources by emitting QH and L
change thee water budget
change air flow
one other ?
44
pattern of air flow with disruption of building/ roughness factor
a. air is unaltered
b. air is compressed and moves faster
c. vertical circulation and mixing.
d. air is decompressed and returns to its normal conditions
45
zero plane displacement
height above ground where windspeed is zero due to roughness elements
46
aspect of buildings that have environmental. effects
reflective glass (K,L)
materials like earth, brick, stone have high heat capacity and low thermal conductivity (thermal properties)
warm dry area have narrow windows, w/ blinds, overhanging eaves
buildings placed close together to shade each other and the streets remain cool (QH)
Hot humid areas orient to face oncoming winds, fans used (QE)
47
where does the urban boundary layer develop? what scale is it associated with?
downwind from the leading edge of the city
- meso-scale phenomenon
48
the _____ and _______ of the urban boundary layer is proportional to the size of the _____
depth and width, city
49
the urban canopy layer is the
part of the city that ranges from the ground surface to the top of the buildings
50
rural boundary layer
layer of air that is transported downwind from the rural environment
51
ways that water balance is effected in urban environment s
water released by combustion
urban water piped into city
52
k down at the ground is _______ in urban areas than in rural areas because more comes in as diffuse
smaller
shorter waves are filtered out
53
in cities, multiple reflection reduces _____
K up
54
due to multiple reflection at the surface and increased atmospheric turbidity aka pollution Lup and L down are ______ in urban areas
greater
55
more energy is used as QE in _______ areas compared to _______ areas. Why?
rural , urban
soil moisture leaves much slower than runoff
56
what is the Urban Heat Island
the difference in temp between the rural area and and the city (urban - rural)
determine category of areas by building density
57
spatially inhomogeneous means
different surface types in close proximity
58
advective effects definition
influences that arise from the surface- air exchanges
59
describe what happens to an air parcel travels when it travels from land over a body of water and back to land
in the beginning (over land) the air parcel maintains QE, QH, depth speed. and K/L absorption
Over the body of water, QE increase as well as moisture and K/L. QH decreases, parcel slows down and shrinks
Back on the land and over trees, QE is maintained as well as moisture and K/L QH increases and speed, depth and altitude increase
(at surface the opposite happens) don't exact understand this one **
60
as air travels over a new land cover type, the surface air exchanges are initially ______. Then decreases with _____.
rapid, fetch (surface-air gradient. decreases)
61
what is fetch?
distance downwind of a leading edge (point of transition between land cover types)
62
where are surface conditions most susceptible to changes?
immediately downwind of the leading edge
63
boundary layer conditions change first at the ______, then _______
surface, rise
64
what are some of the characteristics of continentality?
- water is cooler than land by day and warmer by night
- therefore, air over water is cooler by day, causing I to sink and warmer by night, causing it to rise
- sinking air puts greater pressure on the surface than rising air
- horizontal pressure gradient at the surface causes air to flow from higher. pressure to lower pressure
65
what is slope?
the change in elevation between two locations
66
what is aspect?
the direction that a slope is facing
67
the suns rays strike south facing slopes (more/less) directly than north facing slopes in the northern hemisphere
more
68
in low temp regions in the N. hemisphere, north facing slopes receive _________ snow. Why?
more, they are shaded from direct sunlight during the winter
69
do northern or southern slopes in the N. hemisphere facing slopes have more trees in the winter?
Northern facing slopes because they get more snow because they are shaded from direct sunlight
70
during the winter, southern facing slopes in the N hemisphere receive more _______ in the winter. This makes them _________
insolation, hotter and drier, supports only smaller, woody plants that are adapted to desert like conditions
71
neighboring environments can have vastly different vegetation covers due to
the of their surfaces
aspect
72
during the day, air above the slopes along valley sides is heated ________ than air above the central valley, therefore air moves ________. This type of wind is ________
more, upslope, anabatic wind
73
urban heat island is an _____________
unintentional modification
74
why does water leave quickly in an urban heat island environment?
runoff
less water available, lower evaporation
75
how to measure urban heat island?
temp in city compared what temp would be without the city (use temp from rural area nearby)
76
form of the urban heat island is determined by:
height and width of roughness elements, materials they are made of, amount of vegetation (aka surface conditions)
77
describe how urban heat island changes from day to night
night time the surface and air temp is close to the same, no incoming K, comes from energy stored at the surface from the day
during the day time, we have influx of K, urban canopy separates surface from atmosphere, surface layer and atmosphere have different temps
78
urban areas _______ slower than rural areas at night
slower
key to this: reduced sky view factor
longwave radiation loss from canyons is slow
79
overall temp variation is _______ in urban areas than in rural ones
smaller
80
affect of canyon geography: increase K * with
Decrease longwave radiation with
multiple reflections
reduction of sky view factor (urban canopy)
81
wider streets would cool faster or slower than narrow?
cool faster
82
in a very deep canyon with hight/width ration there, ________ heat is trapped
more
83
the problem with urban heat waves is that energy is not _______ the system at night
leaving
84
primary air pollutants definition
and examples
materials that pose health risks in their unmodified
forms, or those emitted directly from identifiable sources.
Carbon monoxide
* Sulfur dioxide
* Nitrogen oxides
* Hydrocarbons
* Particulate matter (i.e. dust, smoke, soot, ash, etc.)
85
Secondary air pollutants definition and examples
when primary pollutants interact with one another,
sunlight, or natural gases to produce new, harmful compounds, such as:
* Ozone
* PAN (peroxy acetyl nitrate)
* Aerosols and mists (H2SO4)
* Photochemical smog
86
how is smog created?
interaction of some hydrocarbons and oxidants under the influence of
sunlight giving rise to dangerous peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN).
87
what is photochemical smog?
mixture of pollutants which includes particulates, nitrogen oxides, ozone,
aldehydes, peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN), unreacted hydrocarbons, etc. The smog often has a brown
haze due to the presence of nitrogen dioxide.
88
impacts of NOx
acid rain
ground level ozone
visibility
global warming
particles (cause health risks)
travel long distances
89
effects of atmospheric pollution on humans
respiratory probs
skin conditions
reduction in immune system effectiveness
90
negative effect of atmospheric pollution on plants
changing the soil pH
particulate matter falls on plants and blocks ability for them to take in energy, interrupting photosynthesis
91
describe positive feedback loop involving plants and atmospheric pollution
pollution reduces plant productivity
reaction in plant productivity reduces the removal of atmospheric pollution
92
_____ % of particulates are from natural sources (solids and liquids)
90
93
Excess nitrogen from air pollution impacts high elevation lakes, forests, and alpine
plant communities in the parks, which ultimately leads to a loss in biodiversity.
94
Toxic airborne contaminants, including mercury and pesticides, deposit onto park
waters and lands, accumulating in fish and possibly presenting a wildlife and human
health concern.
95
Ground-level ozone often reaches harmful levels in the park. Exposures injure
ozone sensitive plants and may also impact the respiratory health of park visitors
and employees.
96
Fine particles of air pollution create haze in parks, which affects the quality and
depth of vision of the park visitors. Haze dims the colors and textures of scenic
vistas and obscure distant landmarks.
97
two factors that determine amount of pollutants in a location
1. The nature of the relevant emission.
2. The state of the atmosphere; hence climate is important.
98
the only fundamental form of atmospheric pollution control is to
curb emissions at their source
99
There are two major types of pollutants:
particulate and gaseous.
100
There are two types of pollution sources:
natural and anthropogenic
101
example of anthropogenic gaseous pollution source
agricultural spraying
102
examples of Anthropogenic particulate and gaseous pollution source:
agricultural fires.
industrial smokestacks
combustion engines (cars)
103
Natural particulate pollution source:
dust storms
volcanos
104
how do pollution and atmospheric stability relate?
nfluences the rate of transport and thus the concentration of
atmospheric pollution.
During stable conditions, horizontal and vertical dispersion of pollutants are
delayed.
This is influenced by:
* Time of year
* Topography
* Presence of water
* Time of day
During stable conditions, horizontal and vertical dispersion of pollutants are
delayed.
105
atmospheric stability is influenced by
- Time of year
* Topography
* Presence of water
* Time of day
106
Most pollution episodes occur
during _______ atmospheric
conditions, especially inversions.
stable
Stability reduces mixing and
transport.
107
describe the types of inversions
when warm air masses get advected over colder air masses, as will
occur during the passage of a warm front. Since the whole system is moving, these
frontal inversions tend to be short-lived
inversions that result from warm air flowing over colder surfaces, so
the bottom of the air mass cools while the top remains warm.
108
Pollutants are removed from the air through:
* Photosynthesizing vegetation
* Uptake by the oceans
* Gravitational settling
* Dry deposition (adsorption)
* Scavenging (creates acid rain)
109
oceans take in what percent of CO2 that we release
This process happens on a massive scale across the global ocean
and extracts approximately 25% of the CO2 that humans release
into the air.
110
Gravitational settling is the process of:
gravity pulling sediment and other
particulate matter to the earth’s surface.
The particles floating in the air are heavier than the air (note: they are not gas) and
eventually just fall out of the air when winds become calm
111
Scavenging is :
(aka wet deposition, rainout, or washout) is the process of pollutants
being filtered out of the air by precipitation.
112
