geo chat Flashcards
What is the primary driver of Earth’s weather systems?
The Sun’s energy
What is the role of the Coriolis effect in weather systems?
It causes winds to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
What are the four main types of atmospheric lifting?
Convectional, orographic, frontal, and convergent
Which clouds are typically associated with stable weather?
Stratus clouds
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is the short-term atmospheric condition; climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a region.
What is the process called when precipitation lands on vegetation and doesn’t reach the soil?
Interception
What is infiltration?
The process by which water soaks into the soil.
What is the name for water that flows overland to join streams or rivers?
Overland flow
What is an aquifer?
A porous rock layer that stores groundwater.
What defines a watershed?
An area of land where all water drains to the same point.
What is physical weathering?
The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without chemical change.
What is the main agent of erosion in deserts?
Wind
What is a moraine?
A deposit of glacial till that forms ridges.
What is a V-shaped valley an indicator of?
River erosion
What is a U-shaped valley an indicator of?
Glacial erosion
Which biome is characterized by high biodiversity and nutrient-poor soils?
Tropical rainforest
Which biome has cold winters, warm summers, and is dominated by grasses?
Temperate grasslands
What is permafrost?
A layer of permanently frozen soil found in the tundra.
What is the primary productivity of an ecosystem?
The rate at which energy is stored by plants through photosynthesis.
What are the Milankovitch cycles?
Periodic changes in Earth’s orbit, axial tilt, and wobble that influence climate.
What is the primary cause of desert climates?
High pressure and descending air that inhibits precipitation.
What is potential evapotranspiration?
The amount of water that could evaporate and transpire if sufficient water was available.
Which type of feedback loop occurs when warming leads to increased evaporation and low cloud cover, cooling the Earth?
Negative feedback loop
What is thermohaline circulation?
The global movement of ocean currents driven by temperature and salinity differences.
What is an estuary?
A partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater mixes with seawater.
What causes tides?
The gravitational pull of the moon and sun on Earth’s oceans.
What type of volcano is characterized by explosive eruptions and steep slopes?
Stratovolcano
What causes a tsunami?
Underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.
What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
Weathering breaks down rocks in place, while erosion transports materials.
What is groundwater mining?
The removal of groundwater faster than it can be replenished.
What is the urban heat island effect?
The phenomenon where urban areas are warmer than surrounding rural areas due to human activities.
How does deforestation affect the hydrologic cycle?
It reduces evapotranspiration and increases surface runoff.
What is the equilibrium line on a glacier?
The point where accumulation equals ablation.
What is a drumlin?
An elongated hill formed by glacial ice movement.
What are erratics?
Large boulders transported and deposited by glaciers.
