Midterm Flashcards
Physical geography
Study of the physical world
Geography
Literally means description of the earth and relationship between physical and human characteristics
Lithosphere
Outer shell of the earth just below land surface and ocean floor
Atmosphere
Blanket of air that contains gases (CO2,CH4,H20) around the earth
Map scale
Ratio of a distance on a map and the real world
Map projection
Distorts the spherical earth and all the meridians and parallels to be projected ( how the earth is represented in a 2-D form)
Geoid
Shape of oceans without tides and winds
Geomorphology
Describes the forms and landscape of earth and studies evolution of the landscape
Perihelion
Time when earth is closest to sun
Jan 3rd
Environmental Lapse rate
The HIGHER you get the COOLER you are
- 5 degrees f per 1000 ft
- 4 degrees c per 1000m
Isoline maps
Maps that show contours of equal value
Example: isotherm = temp
Isohyett = precipitation
Albedo
Fancy word for reflection of energy
Aphelion
When the earths farthest from sun
July 4th
Prime meridian
Zero degrees in longitude
In greenwhich England
UTM (universal transverse Mercator)
Coordinate system (or grid) that gives locations on earths surface
Troposphere
First layer
Where weather occurs
0-11 miles
Stratosphere
Second layer
Has ozone layer
11-30 miles
Mesosphere
Third layer
30-50 miles
Thermosphere
Fourth layer
50 miles and up
GIS (geographical info system)
Use of maps to give us info
Latent heat
Energy required to make a state change
“Latent heat of…..”
Sensible heat
Energy that you can sense
Basically heat you can feel
Maritime climate
Around ocean
Temp does not flux that much through year
Specific heat
Amount of energy needed to change temperature of a substance by 1 degree Celsius
Continentality climate
More inland temp flux greatly throughout year
Conduction
Energy transfer through direct contact
Convection
Energy transfer through fluid motion
Radiation
Energy transfer cause you can fucking feel it
Example: you can feel fire
Solstices
Longest and shortest day of year
December 21st shortest day
June 20th longest day
Equinox
Equal day and night
March 21
September 22nd
Coriolis effect
Right in north
Left in south
We talkin bout wind
Pressure gradient force
Example: shorter distance form high pressure to low pressure = faster wind and vis versa
Pressure + Coriolis effect + friction
= wind
Who’s the shit, stacks mad paper, and is about to kill this midterm?
You are homie
