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GEO Exam 2
Geography 100 Exam 2
47
Geography
Undergraduate 1
11/07/2011

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Term
Types of solar energy reaching the Earth
Definition
radio, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma
Term
Earth's source of energy
Definition
the Sun
Term
solar constant
Definition
the amount of solar radiation that reaches the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere
Term
insolation
Definition
a measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time
Term
albedo
Definition
the fraction of incoming solar radiation that is reflected back to space
Term
Percentage of solar energy absorbed and reflected by clouds
Definition
reflect 21%
absorb 3%
Term
Percentage of solar energy absorbed and reflected by atmosphere
Definition
reflect 6%
absorb 21%
Term
Percentage of solar energy absorbed and reflected by Earth's surface
Definition
reflect 4%
absorb 48%
Term
Where are sunlight and energy received and lost?
Definition
18% water cycle
.4% recharge ocean waves
50% converted to heat
1.4% atmospheric circulation
.4% plants
30% reflected
Term
What moves heat energy from the equator to the poles?
Definition
circulation cells
Term
Hadly Cell:
Where does air sink and rise?
Definition
hot, moist air rises from equator
shrinking air is dry, creates deserts
Term
Hadly Cell:
Where do high and low pressure occur?
Definition
rising air = low pressure
shrinking air = high pressure
Term
Hadly Cell:
What are the climatic effects?
Definition
before mountain, warm moist air.
cool dry air on tom of mountain.
warm,dry air (deserts) after mountain.
Term
Hadly Cell:
Where do the Trade winds(Easterlies) and Westerlies occur?
Definition
Hadley cells generate trade winds, move toward the equator. From the poles toward polar front are easterlies, subtropical toward polar fronts are westerlies
Term
Hadly Cell:
Why do the Westerlies blow west-to-east instead of north-to-south?
Definition
Coriolis effect - earth's rotation
Term
Specific heat of water and land:
Definition
Water: 1
Land: .2
Term
What creates surface ocean currents (in the top 100 meters)?
Definition
wind and fast circulation
Term
What causes thermohaline circulation and how is it different from surface ocean currents?
Definition
the direction and strength of deep ocean currents are driven by differences in temperature and salinity
Term
Natural causes of climate change
Definition
changes in earth's orbit
changes in the sun's intensity
aerosol emissions
greenhouse gases
feedbacks
Term
Antropogenic causes of climate change
Definition
aerosol emissions
greenhouse gases
feedbacks
Term
timescales at which these changes occur (millennia, decardes, etc.)
Definition
eccentricity - 100,000 years
tilt - 41,000 years
precession - 23,000 years
Term
Why is the solar constant not so constant?
Definition
changes in sun intensity
-solar flares
-sunspots
Term
What is an aerosol?
Definition
particles or droplets in atmosphere
Term
Natural sources of aerosols
Definition
volcanoes, desert dust, sea spray (salt)
Term
anthropogenic sources of aerosols
Definition
sulfates, soot and smoke, dust, greenhouse gases
Term
how do aerosols affect climate?
Definition
reflect short wave radiation = cooling
absorb short wave radation = warming
Term
global pattern of radiative forcing due to aerosols
Definition
warming temperature change
Term
Greenhouse effect
Definition
the atmosphere's ability to absorb reradiated energy with longer wavelengths and convert it to heat
Term
major greenhouse gases
Definition
water vapor
carbon dioxide
methane
nitrous oxide
ozone
CFC's
Term
radiative forcing and residence times
Definition
CFC-12 7,100 116 years
CFC-11 3,400 55 years
nitrous oxide 270 114 years
methane 11 10.5 years
carbon dioxide 1 >10,000
ozone .25 weeks
Term
natural sources of greenhouse gases
Definition
water vapor
volcanoes - carbon dioxide
oceans - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide
vegetation change - carbon dioxide
anaerobic decomp. - methane
animals - methane
soil bacteria - nitrous oxide
Term
anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases
Definition
fossil fuels - carbon, methane, nitrous oxide
land clearing & burning - carbon
industrial activities - nitrous oxide
agriculture - nitrous oxide, methane
refrigerants, foam - CFC's
Term
direction vs. magnitude???
Definition
direction - hotter or colder, wetter or drier?
mag - how much more?
Term
direction
Definition
changes are generally known

raise earth's avg. temp.
influence precipitation
change storm patterns
raise sea levels
Term
magnitude
Definition
changes are uncertain
Term
biome
Definition
a major geographical community of plants and animals with similar life forms and similar environmental conditions
defined by plant structures, leaf types, and climate
Term
limiting factors
Definition
temperature, light, and water

amazon (rainforest) - light
sahara (desert) - water
northern north america & eastern russia (near pole) - temperature
austrialian outback - water
Term
eleven biomes
Definition
Tropical Rainforest
Tropical Dry Forest
Tropical Savanna
Temperate Grassland
Temperate Forest
Temperate Savanna
Mediterranean Scrub
Temperate Rainforest
Boreal Forest
Tundra
Desert
Term
STUDY:
BIOME CHARACTERISTICS
GREENHOUSE GASES
GREENHOUSE GASES RADIATIVE FORCING AND RESIDENCE TIMES
AEROSOLS
Definition
Term
How do different storages in the earth system respond to increased carbon emissions?
Definition
Term
What role do forests (biota) play in carbon sequestration?
Definition
Term
How fast are we using our fossil fuel reserves?
Definition
Term
What is the likelihood of the atmosphere ever returning to pre-industrial carbon dioxide levels?
Definition
Term
Know the major impacts of climate change discussed in the movie
Definition
Term
Climate attribution (also discussed in lecture)
Definition
Term
Particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10)
Where does it come from?
Why is it harmful?
What are safe levels?
Locations that have better/worse levels
Definition
Term
CFC’s and Ozone hole
The distribution of Ozone
The formation of Ozone hole
Why was detection difficult?
Role of chlorine
Effects of Ozone hole
Definition
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