geography essentials part 2 Flashcards
Physical processes operating on the earths surface are powered by incoming radiation from the ___
sun
incoming solar radiation=
insolation
quantity of insolation is governed by a complex relationship that depends on
latitude,
posistion of the sun in the sky
time of year
the nature of the earths rotation and axial tilt
solar system
eight official planets and one star in the middle called the sun
Earths orbit is the perfect distance from the sun to support life
Neither to hot nor to cold
terrestrial planets
smaller planets compose of solid materials
jovian planets
the larger composed of gases
earths orbit around the sun is presently _________ a closed oval path
eliptical
plane of earths orbit about the sun is called the
plane of the ecliptic
point where earth is farthest from the sun, (july at the present time) 152 million km
aphelion
point where the earth is closest to the sun; (january at the present time) 147 million km
perihelion
earth rotates on its
axis (an imaginary line extending through the centre of the earth from the north pole to the south pole)
1 full rotation of earth
24 hours
1/2 of earth is always illuminated(day) and the other 1/2 is in shadow(night)
true
what represents the boundary between day and night
circle of illumination
_____ time zones have been established based on the earths rotational cycle
24
24 hours for a full rotation of ____ degrees
360
360 degrees/24 hours =
15 degrees/1 hour
there is 24 time zones - each zone covers ___ degrees; it takes earth 1 hour to rotate through that distance
15
this system is known as
universal time coordinated
In the UTC system, time is calculated relative to how many hours ahead or behind a particular location is relative to the
prime meridian
______________________________marks the beginning and end of each calendar day
international date line
assymetrical time zones are the result of _______
politics
____ time zones distributed across Canada
six
winter and summer differences in zone boundaries reflect.
adjustments for daylight saving times
solar energy is __________ _______ IE radiant light from the sun
radiant energy
solar energy is generated by the nuclear fusion reaction process in which pairs of hydrogen nuclei are joined, forming helium, and emit a _____ amount of ______
large; energy
the flux radiant energy to or from a surface is measured in units of watts per square metre (W/m^2)
________ __________ is a flux of electrically charged particles and takes about three days to reach earth
solar wind
the __________________ of earth deflects the sollar wind toward both of earths poles and only a small portion of it enters the upper atmosphere
magnetosphere
sunspots and ______________ ____________ __________________ also contribute to the flow of materials in the solar wind
coronal mass ejections CME’s
sunspots and CME’s cause _________ in the upper atmosphere
auroras
__________ are caused by magnetic storms on the sun, they are more than 12 times earths diametre
sunspots
the temperature of a sunspot is ____ than the temperatures of their surroundings
less than
CME’s occur around the margins of
sunspots
sunspots have an activity cycle of __ years
11
the shape of the earth
Oblate spheroid: a near-perfect sphere
there is a bulge at the equator and the earth is _______ at the poles
flattened, there is about 42 miles difference in the circumfernce at the equator and the poles, with the poles being the shorter distance
What is the shape of earths orbit around the sun and how do the terms aphelion and perhilion apply
eliptical, aphelion is farhtest from the sun (january), and perihelion is closest to the sun (july)
define the concept of the subsolar point and how it relates to the angle of incodence. describe why it moves on a seasonal basis. what are the four important dates in this movement and how do they relate to latitude
winnipeg manitoba and regina saskatchewan are both located in the central time zone. which of these two cities is first to experience sunrise
winnipeg, it is further to the east, and the sun rises in the east meaning it will see sunrise before regina
