Test 2 Flashcards
what is specific humidity?
the amount of water vapor in grams found in a kg of air
what is relative humidity?
compares the amount of water vapor present in the air to the max amount that the air can hold at that temperature
what is dry adiabatic lapse rate?
the rate which dry air cools by expansion (ascending) or heats by compression (descending)
what is moist adiabatic lapse rate?
the rate at which an ascending air parcel that is moist and saturated cools by expansion
when is the atmosphere stable?
when the environmental lapse rate is less than the MALR and DALR
when is the atmosphere unstable?
when the environmental lapse rate is greater than MALR and DALR
what is the process of cloud formation? (4 steps)
adiabatic cooling by vertical lift, air parcel cools to the dew point temperature, air parcel becomes saturated, and condensation occurs
What are the 4 types of clouds classified by altitude and their sub classifications?
low (strato-, stratus), middle (alto-), high (cirro-, cirrus), and variable (nimbo-, cumulo-, cumulus)
what is an air mass?
a large body of air with fairly uniform temperature and moisture characteristics
what are the 7 different air masses?
maritime (equatorial, tropical, polar), continental (tropical, polar, arctic, antarctic)
what are the 4 different types of air lifting?
convergent, convectional, orographic, and frontal
what are the 4 stages of the life cycle of a mid-latitude cyclone?
cyclogenesis, open stage, occluded stage, and dissolving stage
how do tropical cyclones form
warm air converges and rises, then condenses, forming clouds, warm moist air is pulled upwards growing the clouds, condensation provides latent heat which powers the cyclone (positive feedback loop)
what are components to the hydraulic cycle? (4)
precipitation, evaporation, runoff, and hydraulic storage
what is the equation for the water budget?
inputs = outputs + surplus + change in storage
what different periods can occur regarding the water budget? (4)
water surplus, soil-moisture utilization, soil-moisture recharge, and water deficit
what are the 4 types of drought?
meteorological drought, agricultural drought, hydrological drought, and socioeconomic drought
what are some problems with groundwater management? (3)
often does not meet human demand, GW contamination (dumps, herbicides, etc.), and saltwater intrusion
what are the 7 climate components?
insolation, temperature, humidity, seasonal precipitation, atmospheric pressure and winds, air masses, and cloud coverage
what are the 6 broad climate grounds?
tropical (tropical latitudes), mesothermal (midlatitudes, mild winter), microthermal (mid and high latitudes, cold winters), polar (high latitudes and polar regions), highland (high elevation at all latitudes), and dry (permanent moisture deficits)
what are 6 substances responsible for the greenhouse effect?
carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, ozone, and chlorofluorocarbons
what is soil?
a mixture composes of gas, liquid, minerals, organic matter, and organisms
what are 5 properties of soil?
color, texture (sand, silt, clay), structure (important for drainage and plant roots), porosity, and soil chemistry (pos = cation, neg = anion)
what are 6 soil horizons?
O (organic), A (humus and clay particles), Ae (course sand and silt), B (clays, aluminum, and iron), C (regolith), and R (rock)
What are the 2 different types of species interactions?
competitive and symbiotic (mutualistic - benefit from working together; parasitic - one benefits, one is harmed; commensalism - one benefits, other is neutral)
what are the 6 components to the energy pyramid?
primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumer, tertiary, consumers, and apex consumers
what is net primary productivity?
the net photosynthesis for an entire plant community (carbon per square meter per year)
what 5 things affect net primary productivity (NPP)?
latitude, insolation, temperature, rainfall, and soil moisture
what is primary succession?
when a barren landscape is colonized
what is secondary succession?
colonization after a major disturbance (like fires)
What are the 6 major groups of terrestrial vegetation?
forest, savanna, shrubland, , grassland, desert, and tundra
what is convergent air lifting?
flows towards low pressure area
what is convectional air lifting?
caused by warmer surfaces due to local heating
what is orographic air lifting?
when air is forced to go upslope a mountain
what is frontal air lifting?
caused by temperature differences between two air masses
what is cyclogenesis? (cyclone)
development in a low pressure region
what is the open stage? (cyclone)
counter-clockwise flow draws warm, moist air into low pressure center
what is the occluded stage? (cyclone)
forms an occluded front which pushes warm air up, causing precipitation
what is the dissolving stage? (cyclone)
cold air mass cuts off warm air from its source of energy and moisture
what is a water surplus?
input of precipitation is more than output demand and soil is at full storage capactity
what is soil-moisture utilization?
input from precipitation is less than output demand
what is soil-moisture recharge?
input from precipitation greater than output demand
what is a water deficit?
output demand can not be met by the input from precipitation
