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mid term review > geo chat > Flashcards

geo chat Flashcards

1
Q

What is the primary driver of Earth’s weather systems?

A

The Sun’s energy

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2
Q

What is the role of the Coriolis effect in weather systems?

A

It causes winds to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

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3
Q

What are the four main types of atmospheric lifting?

A

Convectional, orographic, frontal, and convergent

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4
Q

Which clouds are typically associated with stable weather?

A

Stratus clouds

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5
Q

What is the difference between weather and climate?

A

Weather is the short-term atmospheric condition; climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a region.

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6
Q

What is the process called when precipitation lands on vegetation and doesn’t reach the soil?

A

Interception

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7
Q

What is infiltration?

A

The process by which water soaks into the soil.

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8
Q

What is the name for water that flows overland to join streams or rivers?

A

Overland flow

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9
Q

What is an aquifer?

A

A porous rock layer that stores groundwater.

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10
Q

What defines a watershed?

A

An area of land where all water drains to the same point.

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11
Q

What is physical weathering?

A

The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without chemical change.

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12
Q

What is the main agent of erosion in deserts?

A

Wind

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13
Q

What is a moraine?

A

A deposit of glacial till that forms ridges.

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14
Q

What is a V-shaped valley an indicator of?

A

River erosion

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15
Q

What is a U-shaped valley an indicator of?

A

Glacial erosion

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16
Q

Which biome is characterized by high biodiversity and nutrient-poor soils?

A

Tropical rainforest

17
Q

Which biome has cold winters, warm summers, and is dominated by grasses?

A

Temperate grasslands

18
Q

What is permafrost?

A

A layer of permanently frozen soil found in the tundra.

19
Q

What is the primary productivity of an ecosystem?

A

The rate at which energy is stored by plants through photosynthesis.

20
Q

What are the Milankovitch cycles?

A

Periodic changes in Earth’s orbit, axial tilt, and wobble that influence climate.

21
Q

What is the primary cause of desert climates?

A

High pressure and descending air that inhibits precipitation.

22
Q

What is potential evapotranspiration?

A

The amount of water that could evaporate and transpire if sufficient water was available.

23
Q

Which type of feedback loop occurs when warming leads to increased evaporation and low cloud cover, cooling the Earth?

A

Negative feedback loop

24
Q

What is thermohaline circulation?

A

The global movement of ocean currents driven by temperature and salinity differences.

25
Q

What is an estuary?

A

A partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater mixes with seawater.

26
Q

What causes tides?

A

The gravitational pull of the moon and sun on Earth’s oceans.

27
Q

What type of volcano is characterized by explosive eruptions and steep slopes?

A

Stratovolcano

28
Q

What causes a tsunami?

A

Underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.

29
Q

What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

A

Weathering breaks down rocks in place, while erosion transports materials.

30
Q

What is groundwater mining?

A

The removal of groundwater faster than it can be replenished.

31
Q

What is the urban heat island effect?

A

The phenomenon where urban areas are warmer than surrounding rural areas due to human activities.

32
Q

How does deforestation affect the hydrologic cycle?

A

It reduces evapotranspiration and increases surface runoff.

33
Q

What is the equilibrium line on a glacier?

A

The point where accumulation equals ablation.

34
Q

What is a drumlin?

A

An elongated hill formed by glacial ice movement.

35
Q

What are erratics?

A

Large boulders transported and deposited by glaciers.

mid term review (12 decks)

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