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GEOG 120 > GEOG 120 MIDTERM > Flashcards

GEOG 120 MIDTERM Flashcards

1
Q

What are the Earths four spheres?

A

Abiotic
Atmosphere, hydrosphere (cryosphere), lithosphere

Biotic
Biosphere

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2
Q

2 kinds of rocks in lithosphere?

A

Felsic rocks - aluminum, sodium, potassium, calcium - aluminosilicate minerals

Mafic rocks - magnesium, iron, ferromagnesian minerals

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3
Q

What is albedo?

A

The ratio of reflected solar radiation to incoming solar radiation

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4
Q

List four factors that insolation depends on

A

Latitude
Position of sun in the sky (sun angle)
Time of year
The nature of earths rotation and axial tilt

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5
Q

2 kinds of planets

A

terrestrial (duh)

jovian - gasses

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6
Q

what is the orbit of the earth around the sun called?

A

the plane of the eliptic

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7
Q

Define aphelion and perihelion

A

aphelion - point where earth is farthest from the sun – in July

perihelion - point when the earth is closest to the sun – in January

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8
Q

What is our time system called and how does it work

A

Universal time coordinated (UTC)
24 time zones - 15 degrees/ zone
Relative to prime meridian and the international date line (180th meridian)

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9
Q

What is solar wind?

A

A flux of electrically charged particles that take about 3 days to reach earth

magnetosphere of earth deflects some of this radiation towards poles

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10
Q

Insolation and the curvature of the earth

A

Solar radiation that reaches the earth is called insolation

Thermopause is upper boundary – insolation at the top of the atmosphere is the solar constant 1372 W/m2

Variation of intensity reflects the angle of incidence

High angle at low lat is more intense
Low angle high lat is less intense

Subsolar point is the location where insolation is received perpendicular to the surface and is most intense

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11
Q

Why do we have seasons?

A

Seasons are caused by the combination of Earths revolution about the sun and the tilt of earths rotational axis - Axial parallelism

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12
Q

What is the subsolar point and where is it

A

Point at which insolation if perpendicular to earth surface

At equator on equinoxes

at tropic of cancer / Capricorn for summer/ winter solstice

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13
Q

What makes up the geographic grid?

A

Meridians of longitude - vertical, all great circles
-prime meridian designated as 0 degrees

Parallels of latitude - horizontal, only the equator is a great circle

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14
Q

What is important about maps?

A

Present spatial / temporal information about earths systems and inhabitants
-position size shape boundaries
motion and dispersal
spatial / temporal variations
information associated with specific locations

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15
Q

3 ways of displaying spatial data on maps?

A

Point data
Line data
Polygon data

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16
Q

What is a reference map

A

exactly what one would think it is, location of features and for general use

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17
Q

What is a thematic map?

A

Shows one or a limited number of types of information
Dot maps
-non continuous or discreet data that may vary from one place to another

Isoline maps
- Isolines are lines connecting points of equal value on a map
- Isobars- atmospheric pressure
- Isopachs - sediment thickness
- Isotherms - temp
- Isohyets - precipitation
- Contour lines - elevation

Choropleth maps
- represent data by using different colours or shading intensity
- Useful for data that are sorted into classes

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18
Q

What are the three map scales?

A

Representative fraction - 1:250 000

Written scale - 1cm = 2.5km

Graphic scale - actual line on map showing distance - scales with maps changing in print size

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19
Q

List and explain the 6 types of map projections and provide examples if possible

A

Conformal - true shape
- maintains the true shape of objects but the area is distorted
- Mercator projection
- a straight line drawn on a map represents a line of constant compass bearing - useful for navigation

Equivalent - equal area
- maintains true size/area of objects but the shape is distorted
- more accurate
- Eckert projection

Cylindrical -
- similar to conformal
- poles severely distorted

Conic
- Best suited for landmasses with east west orientations or small countries

Planar - genomic
- meridians are straight lines radiating from a central point
- useful for focusing on single regions
- often used for accurate views of the poles

Interrupted
- Goodes projection
- map is disrupted over ocean basins to minimize distortion of landmasses - and equivalent projection

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20
Q

Two types of satellite orbits?

A

sun synchronous orbit

geostationary orbit

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21
Q

Two broad types of remote sensing

A

Passive sensing - instruments detect energy emitted from the surface of the earth
- cameras and aerial photographs

Active sensing - instruments emit their own radiation and detect and analyze what comes back
- Radar - radio detection and ranging
- Lidar - light detection and ranging

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22
Q

Explain some elements of geographic information systems (GIS) - and some possible data layers

A

Data acquisition
… processing
… management
… manipulation
generate maps

Key is common locational identifiers for all the referencing (georeferencing) commonly acquired with a GPS

Uses map data and attribute data

Layers may include - vegetation, soils, hydrology, road networks, municipal infrastructure etc

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23
Q

Describe light wavelengths from short to long

A

Gamma, X, UV, VIBGYOR, IR, microwaves, radar, radio

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24
Q

What is wrens displacement law?

A

All objects radiate energy in wavelengths related to their surface temperature –> the hotter the object the shorter the wavelength of maximum intensity emitted. Wavemax = b (2898um) / T (temp in K)

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25
Q

what is tghe Stefan Boltzmann law?

A

Hotter objects emit more radiation thsn cooler ones

Earth emits less radiation than the sun

Small temperature increases result in much larger increases in emitted radiation

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26
Q

Difference between shortwave and longwave radiation?

A

Shortwave
- emmitted by hot objectes
- sun is hot
- includes gamma, x, UV, visible light

Longwave
- emitted by cooler objects
- earth hs a 15 degree surface temperature
- includes the thermal infared part of the spectrum

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27
Q

What type of radiation reaches and leaves earth?

A

Earth receives shortwave radiation fro the sun (insolation) and some of this radiation reahes the earths surface past the ozone and atmosphere where it is absorbed and warms the surface

Earth emits longwave radiation (thermal infared) back into space

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28
Q

What are the four main gasses in the atmosphere?

A

N2 78%, O2, 21%, Ar (1%) – water vapour 0-4%

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29
Q

What are the two broad categories of atmosphere?

A

Heterosphere 80 -480 km
- distinct layers due to gravity
- H2 and He at top of heterosphere
- N2 and O2 in lower

Homosphere - 0 - 80 km
uniformly mixed except for ozone
ozone layer is 19-50km

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30
Q

Name 3 molecules that absorb SW and 3 that absorb LW

A

SW - N2, O2, O3

LW - H2O, CO2, CH4

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31
Q

What are the two outcomes when energy is absorbed?

A

Raise the temp of the matter - sensible heat

Result in matter changing its phase or state - latent heat

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32
Q

What is it called when the atmosphere emits longwave radiation towards earths surface?

A

Counterradiation

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33
Q

Describe the greenhouse effect in 5 steps

A

SW absorbed by surface from sun

LW is emitted back to space

Some LW absorbed by GHG

Some of the absorbed LW goes back to space

Rest of absorbed LW heats earths surface via counterradiation

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34
Q

What does ozone mainly absorb and what are two things that re causing ozone holes?

A

Ozone mainly absorbs UV (SW) light / radiation

chlorofluorocarbons
bromofluorocarbons

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35
Q

Name 3 effects of air particulates (aerosols and solid forms)

A

helps precipitation to form - condensation nuclei

absorbs or reflects energy

negative impact on environment and health effedts

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36
Q

What is conduction?

A

transfer of heat by collision of atoms or molecules (it travels up the cold object, holding the end of a pan)

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37
Q

What is convection?

A

Transfer of heat by movement of fluids in a semicircular pattern (heat rises, cold sinks)

38
Q

What is radiation?

A

Transfer of heat by electromagnetic radiation

39
Q

What percentage of incoming solar radiation reaches earth?

A

25% reaches earth directly
20% is indirectly radiated back down to earth

Bonus - 21% is reflected back into space by clouds

40
Q

What is reflection?

A

The portion of incoming radiation that bounces directly back into space without being absorbed or performing any work

Albedo is the ratio of reflected solar radiation to the incoming solar radiation
Albedo = SWaway / SWin x 100%

41
Q

What is the rayleigh scattering rule and what does it imply?

A

The shorter the wavelength the greater the scattering, the longer the wavelength the less scattering

Hence why when the sun is at a high altitude scattering produces a blue sky and why when it is at a low latitude it produces a red sunset

42
Q

What are 6 things that happen as energy is absorbed at the earths surface?

A

Latent heat
melt snow and ice
thaw permafrost
evaporate water

Sensible heat
heat the ground surface
heat air in contact with ground
heat stored in the ground

43
Q

What is longwave radiation?

A

Longwave (terrestrial) radiation
Directly lost to space (LW out)
absorbed in the atmosphere
emission from the atmosphere to space (LW out)
Counterradiation from the atmosphere to the ground (LW in)

44
Q

What is the total LW radiation lost to space in some way and what is the total shortwave radiation absorbed by earth in some way?

A

69%

45
Q

What are the four distinct layers of the atmosphere?

A

Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere

46
Q

List 5 points about the troposphere

A

Surface to an average altitude of 12km

90% of the mass of the atmosphere

Tropopause at -57 deg –> higher away at the equator

zone where weather occurs

contains majority of organisms

47
Q

What is the environmental lapse rate of the troposphere?

A

Wamed from bottom up by LW out
Temperature decreases with altitude at the environmental lapse rate
6.5c/km

48
Q

What is a temperature inversion?

A

A layer of the troposphere where the air warms rather than cools with altitude

Can happen in cities

49
Q

List 4 points about the stratosphere

A

18-50km
Stratopause located at 50km

Contains the ozone layer that absorbs UV

Temperature increases with altitude because of the absorption of UV radiation by the ozone

50
Q

List 4 points about the mesosphere

A

50-80km

mesopause at 80km

Temp decreases with altitude

Noctilucent clouds can occur

51
Q

List 4 points about the Thermosphere

A

same as the heterosphere

80km+

Thermopause at 480km

Solar radiation interacts with oxygen molecules causing an increase of temperature with altitude

52
Q

What is the difference between heat and temperature?

A

HEat is the flow of energy from one system or object to another due to temperature differences

temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of individual molecules in matter, the higher the temp the faster they move

53
Q

What are 5 factors that control air temperature

A

Latitude
Season
Altitude
Cloud cover
Maritime vs continental

54
Q

Why does altitude affect air temp?

A

Because air density decreases with increasing altitude, and thinner air has a low capacity to absorb radiation and generate heat

55
Q

What is the maritime vs continental effect?

A

Maritime effect – describes locations that exhibit the influences of the ocean , usually along coastlines – more consistent temperatures year round – water has a high evaporation rate and a high specific heat capacity

Continental effect refers to areas less affected by sea and therefore having a greater range between maximum and minimum temps on both daily and yearly basis

56
Q

What is atmospheric pressure?

A

The force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of the air on that surface

air pressure decreases with increasing altitude

Wind results from a horizontal difference in air pressure

57
Q

What does convection refer to in terms of the atmosphere?

A

vertical motion in the atmosphere

updrafts and downdrafts

58
Q

What are the three driving forces within the atmosphere?

A

Pressure gradient force
Coriolis force
friction force

59
Q

What is the pressure gradient force?

A

Results from atmosphere that is directed from a high pressure area to a low pressure area
Responsible for initial movement of air

F = -1/p (deltaP/deltan)

60
Q

What is the Coriolis force?

A

an effect of the earths roation

deflects a moving object to the right of its moving direction in the north and to the left in the south

force increases as object travels faster

effect strongest near the poles

61
Q

What is the frictional force in the atmosphere?

A

strongest at ground level
friction
causes wind to slow down and move at an angle across isobars

62
Q

What is geostrophic wind?

A

Sorta like a figure 8 of cyclones

Occurs with a wombo combo of the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force

63
Q

4 points about low pressure systems

A

A circulating body of air where relatively low atmospheric pressure is created as air rises away from the surface

Referred to as a cyclone

Horizontal flow of air is counterclockwise in the north and clockwise in the south

surface air flow converges towards low pressure systems

(warm air ascends and cools)

64
Q

4 points about a high pressure system

A

A circulating body of air that exerts relatively high atmosphereic pressure as air sinks towards surface (warms and lowers)

referred to as an anticyclone

horizontal flow of air is clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the south

surface air flow diverges away from high pressure systems

65
Q

What are the three levels of wind circulation

A

Primary circulation refers to general global circulation.
- Meridional f lows move north or south along meridians.
- Zonal f lows move east or west along parallels of latitude.

Secondary circulation is related to migratory high-pressure
and low-pressure systems.

Tertiary circulation includes local winds and temporal
weather patterns.

(winds are named from the direction they originate)

66
Q

What is the ITCZ

A

The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone appears as a band of clouds , that encircles the globe near the equator.

It exists because of the convergence of the trade winds. In the northern hemisphere the northeast trade winds converge with southeast winds from the Southern Hemisphere. The point at which the trade winds converge forces the air up into the atmosphere, forming the ITCZ.

ITCZ migrates with seasons / axial tilt – Winter = south, summer = north

67
Q

Where are the great deserts located in terms of tropical circulation?

A

Beneath the descending limbs of Hadley cells

68
Q

List and define 4 key points (terms w definitions) about midlatitude circulation

A

Ferrel Cells are convection loops that mix cool polar air with warm tropical air

the Polar Front is the line of contact between the 2 contrasting air masses –located at about 60N and 60oS
- air moved by the Westerlies is forced aloft along the Polar Front
- associated with midlatitude wave cyclones

Polar Jet Stream consists high velocity (350-450 km/hr) high-altitude winds that are formed in response to steep temperature/pressure gradients

Rossby Waves develop as undulations in the Polar Front linked to energy exchange in the mid-latitudes

69
Q

What is a jet stream?

A

Irregular and concentrated band of westerly winds

70
Q

What are rossby waves? this one is so fucking long holy

A
  • air flow at high altitudes exhibits zonal circulation (W to E)
  • temp contrast on either side of polar front increases and rossby waves develop
  • circulation shifts from west to east to become more north and south (meridonial circulation)
    — warm front of midlatitude cyclones (warm moves south)
    — cold front of midlatitude cyclones (cold air moves south)
  • mass of cold air is pinched off of main polar mass and mass of warm air is pinched off of main midlatitude air mass
  • zonal flow is reestablished
71
Q

What is the polar cell?

A

circulatory loop in the polar regions

72
Q

What is polar high pressure circulation?

A

– air flowing northward from midlatitudes is forced aloft on the polar front then sinks above the polar region producing a weak high pressure system

– consists of the masses of rotating descending cold dry air that diverges towards the polar front — polar easterlies

73
Q

List 3 points on oceanic circulation

A

heat energy is also exchanged via ocean circulation

ocean surface currents are driven by winds through the transfer of energy winds to water via friction

large circulation loops known as gyres form as continents block the movement of water
– driven by winds associated with subtropical high pressure systems, trade winds and westerlies

74
Q

How much of the hydrosphere is freshwater available for human and animal consumption?

A

0.02%

75
Q

What are the three energy absorbing processes and three energy releasing processes of water?

A

Absorbing –, melting, evaporation, sublimation

Releasing – freezing, condensation, deposition

76
Q

Define humidity?, the saturation curve, specific humidity and relative humidity

A

The concentration of water in air, warm air can hold more water than cold air

saturation is the point where the air cannot hold any more water at its current temperature, graph go wee – relative humidity = 100% for temp

Specific humidity is how much water is actually in the air

Relative humidity is the ration of specific humidity to maximum humidity

77
Q

What is the dew point temperature?

A

The temp at which a given mass of air becomes saturated and net condensation begins to form water droplets

78
Q

What does adiabatic processes refer to?

A

Temperature changes resulting from expansion and compression of air due to pressure fluctuations

Air cools and rises as it expands
Air warms and sinks as it compresses

79
Q

What is DAR and SAR?

A

DAR is rate at which dry air cools by expansion if ascending or heats by compression if descending
Dry means less than saturated (RH less than 100)
= 10degC/1000m

SAR is rate at which ascending parcel is cooled by expansion – saturated
5degc/1000m

80
Q

When does air become 100% saturated?

A

At the lifting condensation level, RH = 100%, also the dew point temperature

81
Q

What are the two criteria for cloud formation?

A

Air must be saturated
Must be a substantial quality of small airborne particles for water to collect on - condensation nuclei

82
Q

What are the three cloud types classified by form or shape?

A

Cirroform – hairlike / feathery
Stratiform– horizontal and layered
Cumuliform – vertical and dense

83
Q

What are the two kinds of fog?

A

Advection fog – when warm and moist air overlays coolo ocean currents the layer becomes chilled to its dew point temp

Radiation fog – cooling of ground surface during evening cools air to dew point temp

84
Q

What are the two possible processes for precipitation to fall from clouds?

A

Drop collision - collision coalescence
Ice crystal growth - Bergeron ice crystal process

85
Q

What are the four types of lifting that facilitate cloud formation and precipitation?

A

convergent lifting
convectional lifting
orographic lifting
frontal lifting (cold and warm fronts)

86
Q

Name 2 high pressure systems and 2 low pressure systems

A

High pressure systems
- subtropical high - warm/dry
- polar high - cold dry

Low pressure systems
- ITCZ - warm/ moist/ convergent lifting
- Mid latitudes - cool, moist, frontal lifting

87
Q

What are the three criteria for classifying air masses?

A

Moisture - m for moisture (maritime) and c for continental/dry

Temperature - A for arctic, P for polar, T for tropical, E for equatorial and AA for Antarctic

Source regions – see above

88
Q

List differences between cold and warm fronts

A

Warm front
warm air advances, warm air lifted slowly, light rain or snow
1000km wide
precipitation occurs ahead of front

Cold front
cold air advances, warm air lifted vigorously, intense precip
400km wide
precipitation occurs behind front

89
Q

Define high pressure ridges and low pressure troughs

A

High pressure ridges form when altitude of pressure surface is higher and anticyclones occur

Low pressure troughs when altitude of pressure surface is lower and cyclones occur

90
Q

explain the process of cyclogenesis and the stages of cyclones

A

process that forms midlatitude cyclones
conditions in upper atmosphere and surface are significant
upper level convergence sends air to the surface creating higher pressure
upper level divergence allows air to rise creating low pressure

Cyclogenesis – convergence of cold and warm air masses - starts with stationary fronts

Open stage - warm air moves north and cold air moves south

Occluded stage – cold front overtakes warm front

Dissolving stage – cold air mass completely cuts off warm air mass from its source of energy and moisture - cyclone ends

GEOG 120 (2 decks)

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