Test 1 Flashcards
What does Geography mean
geo “Earth” and graphein “to write.”
Scientific method
- Assume that the real world exists.
- Make observations and measurements.
- Use your inductive reasoning.
- Make a hypothesis.
- Make predictions.
- Form a “general theory, governing laws.
Systems theory
Ordered, interrelated sets of things and their attribute.
Open system
Receives inputs and outputs.
Closed system
Shut off from the surrounding environment.
System equilibrium
- Steady-state – in/out puts stable as is mass and energy.
- Dynamic – fluctuations around an equilibrium with a trend over time.
- Metastable – new equilibrium reached after passing a threshold (abrupt changes in the system).
Earth’s 4 spheres
Atmosphere
Hydroshpere
Lithosphere
Biosphere
Earth’s shape
Earth is an Oblate spheroid, not perfectly round.
Latitude
Lines measuring angular discourse north and south of the equator. The lines run east and west.
Longitude
Based off of the “Prime Meridian.” Anything east of the Prime Meridian is the eastern hemisphere, west of it is the western hemisphere.
Is Earth an open system or closed system?
Open system.
The short waves of the electromagnetic spectrum
Gama | X-rays | Ultra-violet | Visible violet – blue
The long waves of the electromagnetic spectrum
Visible yellow – red | Infrared | Microwave | Radio Wave
Do short waves have low or high energy?
High energy.
Insolation
Incident solar radiation
5 reasons for seasons
- Revolution
- Rotation
- Tilt of Earth’s axis
- Axial parallelism
- Sphericity
Tilt of Earth’s axis
23.5° from plane of ecliptic.
Axial parallelism
Axis maintains alignment during orbit around the Sun. North pole points toward the North Star (Polaris).
Winter solstice
December 21 or 22. Subsolar point Tropic of Capricorn.
Spring equinox
March 20 or 21. Subsolar point Equator.
Summer solstice
June 20 or 21. Subsolar point Tropic of Cancer.
Fall equinox
September 22 or 23. Subsolar point Equator.
What is air?
a simple mixture of gases that is naturally odorless, colorless, tasteless and formless, behaving as if it were one gas.
What are the three criteria to examine the atmosphere?
- Composition
- Temperature
- Function