Lecture 1

Question 1

What are the components of the earth system?

Answer 1

Atmosphere, Biosphere, “solid” earth, oceans/hydrosphere

Question 2

The Atmosphere Effect

Answer 2

Greater the angle of the sun’s energy entering the atmosphere the more energy is lost in the atmosphere’s absorption and reflection of the beam.

Question 3

What are the distinguishing characteristics of earth’s atmosphere?

Answer 3

Oxygen, water, nitrogen and methane

Question 4

What elements on earth account for most of the elements in our solar system?

Answer 4

Sodium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Silicon and Phosphorous

Question 5

Perihelion

Answer 5

When earth is closest to the sun, occurs on January 3rd

Question 6

Aphelion

Answer 6

When earth is farthest from the sun occurs in early July.

Question 7

What are the three reasons earth’s tilt causes cold winters and warm summers?

Answer 7

Beam spreading (larger angle of incidence, the more energy is spread)
Atmosphere effect
length of day(shorter in winter, less light=less heat)

Question 8

natural cause

Answer 8

a process that occurs outside of human society

Question 9

anthropogenic

Answer 9

process caused by human activities