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climatology and hydrology > FInal exam prep > Flashcards

FInal exam prep Flashcards

1
Q

What is Meteorology?

A

the scientific study of weather. short term atmospheric weather events

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2
Q

What is Climatology?

A

the scientific study of the behaviour of the atmosphere over longer time scales (usually 30years)
- frequency of events
-climate extremes

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3
Q

know the terms Normal, Extremes, and frequency

A

Normal - Average over time
Extremes - Max. Min
Frequency - how often an event occurs

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4
Q

What are the scales of climate (MLMSP)

A

Micro scale < Local scale < Meso scale < synoptic scale < Planetary scale
- scales are for geographic range and temporal range.

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5
Q

what are the 3 sources of energy that power the earths systems

A

Solar, gravitational, and radioactive(earths internal heat) Energy

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6
Q

Define the Lithosphere

A

the soft outer shell of the earth (crust and upper mantle)

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7
Q

the difference between Oceanic and continental crust

A

Oceanic crust is more dense than Continental crust

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8
Q

Where is water stored in the Hydrosphere? and what is the relative size of the storages?

A

Ocean > Cryosphere > groundwater > Lakes > Atmosphere > rivers and streams

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9
Q

Types of permafrost

A

Continuous permafrost stays year round, Discontinuous permafrost covers 50 - 90% of the surface area depending on temperature

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10
Q

how does snow become glacial ice

A

Snow flake –> Fern –> Glacial ice

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11
Q

What keeps the atmosphere in place

A

buoyancy forces keep it up, Gravity keeps it down.

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12
Q

what causes atmospheric Circulation

A

pressure and temperature differences in the atmosphere. 2nd law of thermodynamics, areas of high energy and density flow into areas of low energy and density

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13
Q

what did the early atmosphere look like?

A

mostly H2 and He.

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14
Q

what allowed for the creation of our modern atmosophere

A

Outgassing and photosynthetic plant life.
build up of oxygen led to 03 forming that reflects UV light

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15
Q

What are the three different categories of atmospheric molecules and give two examples of each one

A

Constant gases(1), Variable Gases(2), Aerosols(3)
1. Nitrogen, Oxygen, argon
2. CO2, water vapour, CH4, CFC’s, O3, Nitrous Oxide
3. ice crystals, soot, salt, clouds, fog droplets.

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16
Q

what drives glacial and interglacial periods

A

Milankovich cycles

17
Q

what is the vertical structure of the atmosphere

A

Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

18
Q

Facts about the troposphere

A
  • thinnest layer
  • most dense layer
  • where weather occurs
    Temperature and pressure sure decreases with height
19
Q

Facts about the Stratosphere

A
20
Q

What is the main source of energy in the climate system

A

The sun

21
Q

where does solar energy come from

A

Solar fusion within the suns core

22
Q

Why and how does atmospheric energy travel around the Globe

A

differential heating (wpoles vs equator )

23
Q

what are the different atmospheric cells in order from equator to the poles

A

Equator - Hadley cell - ferrel cell - polar cell - pole

24
Q

what is the difference between kinetic and potential energy

A

Kinetic energy is energy in motion
potential energy is stored energy.

25
Q

What is Electromagnetic Radiation

A

it has wave and particle like properties
can travel through a vacuum
all travels at the same speed

26
Q

what is the Difference between temperature and Heat

A
  • temperature is the measure of the average speed of atoms and molecules making up that substrate.
  • Heat, energy in the process of being transferred from a substrate with higher temperature to lower temperature (sensible heat)
27
Q

what are the three forms of heat transfer

A

Convection, conduction, Radiation

28
Q

what does the Stefan - Boltzman law calculate?

A

the amount of energy emitted by a blackbody

29
Q

What two variables do Weins law Relate?

A

Relates Temperature to wavelength

30
Q

What is conduction?

A

Movement of heat across adjacent/touching molecules, no movement

31
Q

What is Convection?

A

Movement of heat through mixing of fluid or moving mass

32
Q

What is Qh

A

Sensible heat, heat felt in the transfer of energy from one place to another

33
Q

What is Qe

A

Latent heat , Heat used and stored in the phase change of water

34
Q

what is Qg

A

ground heat, Heat stored in the ground based on the thermal conductivity of the soil

35
Q

what does K* represent?

A

the net incoming and outgoing shortwave radiation

36
Q

what are three ways incoming solar radiation interacts with the atmosphere

A

Transmission, absoption, scattering

37
Q

Define Albedo

A

the reflectiveness of a surface value between 0-1

38
Q

what is Q*

A

Surface Net radiation
- the difference between incoming solar radiation absorbed at a particular point at the earths surface

climatology and hydrology (1 decks)

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