Term
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Definition
| A system is any ordered, interrelated set of things and their attributes, linked by flows of energy and matter, as distinct from the surrounding environment outside the system. |
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Term
| What distinguishes the ESS approach? |
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Definition
| (Earth System Science) This science contributes to our emerging view of Earth as a complete entity (an interacting set of physical, chemical, and biological systems) |
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Term
| What are the Earth's four spheres? |
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Definition
| Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Biosphere |
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Term
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Definition
| Feedbacks are something that can change a system. |
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Term
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Definition
Open- systems were things can go in and out
Closed- no matter coming in and out |
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Term
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Definition
Positive feedback: output works back as input (ex. ice melts -> gets darker - > gets warmer -> ice melts)
Negative feedback: changes stabilize system (ex. Malthusian crisis) |
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Term
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Definition
| loops enhance or amplify, this tends to move a system away from equilibrium and make it more unstable |
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Term
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Definition
| tends to dampen or buffer change; this tends to hold a system to some equilibrium state making it more stable |
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Term
| What is the scientific method? |
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Definition
| Make observations that require explanation -> Propose hypothesis -> Determine a technique to test hypothesis -> Use technique to test hypothesis -> Test supports hypothesis -> Accept hypothesis |
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Term
| Preponderance of Evidence |
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Definition
| When you're evaluating which hypothesis to test your're looking for the one that's most credible. |
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Term
| What is the geographic grid? |
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Definition
| A man-made system used to accurately measure the position of any place on the surface of the Earth (longitude-meridians range north to south, measures east to west; latitude-parallels run east to west, measures north to south) |
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Definition
| when the rates of inputs and outputs in a system are equal |
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Definition
| a system that demonstrates a steady increase or decrease |
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Definition
| earth is a misshapen spheroid |
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Definition
| important to locational, spatial geographic science because this precise technology reduces the need to maintain ground control points for location mapping and spatial analysis |
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Term
| Where does the sun's radiation peak? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the Stephen Boltzmann Equation and what does it tell us? |
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Definition
I=(constant)T^4
Intensity of radiation=constant*(temp^4)
Temperature increases energy rate dramatically (ex. the sun radiates more energy than the earth because it's much hotter) |
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Term
| What is Wien's Law? What does it tell us about the peak emmission wavelengths of the Earth compared to the Sun? |
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Definition
λm=constant/T
The Earth's wavelength is longer because it's cooler |
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Term
| Seasons happen because... |
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Definition
| The Earth is round and tilted. Areas with oblique rays get diffuse radiation. |
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Term
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Definition
| areas that get direct sun beams |
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Term
| What is the tilt of our axis? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| How far up the sun is relative to the horizon? |
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Term
| What is Equinox? When are they? |
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Definition
| When subsolar points are at the equator (12 hrs of light and 12 hrs of sun) |
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Term
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Definition
| When subsolar point is at its most northerly (23.5degreesN) |
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Term
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Definition
| When subsolar point is at its most southern point (23.5degreesS) |
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Term
| What is axial parallelism? |
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Definition
| the Earth is tilted and maintains its tilt during its revolution |
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Term
| Latitudinal Geographic Zones |
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Definition
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Term
| Electromagnetic Radiation Spectrum |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| the distance between corresponding points on any two successive waves |
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Term
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Definition
| the number of waves passing a fixed point in 1 second |
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Term
| Sun's radiated energy is ____ radiation that peaks in the ________ wavelengths. Earth's radiated energy is ____ radiation that peaks in the ______ wavelengths. |
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Definition
-shortwave
-short visible
-longwave
-infrared |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Solar radiation that reaches a horizontal plane at Earth atmosphere and surface (incoming solar radiation) |
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Term
| What is the solar constant? |
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Definition
| Insolation at the top of the atmosphere (thermopause). It is 1372 w/(m^2). |
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Term
| What is the consequence of insolation imbalance? |
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Definition
| surplus at low latitudes, deficit at mid to high latitudes |
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Term
| What is black body radiation? |
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Definition
| A theoretical object that absorbs 100% of the radiation that hits it. Therefore it reflects no radiation and appears perfectly black. |
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Term
| What is diffuse radiation? |
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Definition
| sunlight that has been scattered by molecules and particles in the atmosphere but that has still made it down to the surface of the earth |
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Term
| What is the energy balance? |
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Definition
| It describes the incoming and outgoing thermal radiation. |
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Term
| What happens to incoming solar radiation? |
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Definition
1. Absorption: transforms energy (ex. photosynthesis)
2. Scattering:redirects energy but it doesn't change form
3. Reflection: Energy is returned |
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Term
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Definition
| How we measure returning energy. Snow and Ice have high albedo. Black asphalt has low albedo. |
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Term
| What happens to outgoing longwave radiation? |
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Definition
1. Returned to Space
2. Latent/ sensible heat transfer
3. Absorbed and re-radiated |
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Term
| What is the greenhouse effect? What are greenhouse gases? What role do they play in the Earth's energy balance |
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Definition
| -The absorption of longwave radiation by Carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane -This absorption and emission of energy are an important factor in warming the troposphere |
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Term
| How do clouds affect the Earth's climate? |
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Definition
| They can contain longwave radiation and reflect shortwave radiation back into space. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Definition
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Definition
-absorbs cosmic rays, gamma rays, x-rays, and shorter wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation
-charges particles |
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Term
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Definition
-absorbs UV radiation from sun
-location of ozone holes |
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Term
| Why is the ozone hole concentrated over Antartica? |
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Definition
1. Chlorofluorocarbon gases (CFCs) take six or seven years to move up to the stratosphere and the winds spread them all round the world.
2. Extreme cold, a freezing vortex wind, frozen stratospheric clouds and 6-month darkness over Antarctica all provide ideal conditions for chlorine to break from the CFCs.
3. The chlorine (and bromine) gases destroy the ozone during spring (Sept to Dec) and this is what causes the ozone hole. |
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Term
| What creates ozone depletion? |
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Definition
| Chlorofluorocarbon gases (CFCs) and related halocarbon gases are the main cause of ozone depletion all over the world. CFCs released from Western countries take several years to reach the stratosphere where the ozone layer is. During that time winds spread them all over the world. In the presence of ultraviolet light these gases release chlorine and bromine atoms which destroy some of the ozone in the ozone layer. This is called ozone depletion. The ozone hole is a related but different phenomenon. |
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Term
| What did the Montreal Protocol do? |
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Definition
| An international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. |
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Term
| How do we divide up the atmosphere? |
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Definition
1. By temperature
-troposphere
-stratosphere
-mesophere
-thermosphere
2. structure by composition
-homosphere-very dense
-heterosphere-transition to outer space
3. By function
-ozonosphere
-ionospehere |
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Term
| Why does pressure vary with height? |
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Definition
| Gravity towards Earth pulls down molecules to be denser closer to the surface. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide |
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Term
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Definition
| the average decrease in temperature with altitude through the troposphere. The normal lapse rate averages .65degreesC /100 meters. |
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Term
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Definition
| +insolation-reflection-infrared+infrared |
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Term
| Distribution of Earth's water |
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Definition
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Term
| What is special about Earth's water? |
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Definition
| It's at just the right temperature to contain water in solid,liquid, and gas form. |
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Term
phase changes:
solid to liquid
liquid to solid
liquid to gas
gas to liquid
solid to gas |
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Definition
melting
freezing or fusion
vaporization, which includes boiling and evaporation
condensation
sublimation |
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Term
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Definition
| the amount of energy required per kilogram of a substance required to change its state |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| (amount of water vapor actually in the air)/(maximum water vapor possible in the air at a given temp) x 100 |
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Term
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Definition
| air is at saturation at 100% relative humidity, when the rate of evaporation and the rate of condensation reach equilibrium. (clouds, fog, or precipitation) |
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Term
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Definition
| The temp at which a given mass of air becomes saturated and net condensation begins to form water droplets |
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Term
| saturation specific humidity |
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Definition
| the maximum specific humidity that can exist |
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Term
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Definition
| expresses the mass of water vapor existing in a given mass of air |
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Term
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Definition
| A metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities. Urban heat islands happen because there is a lack of high albedo surfaces in big cities. Most buildings have black rooftops and most roads are made of asphalt. Runoff of water also deprives cities of a valuable reflective resource. Another problem facing urban environments is the lack of wind circulation required to regulate and disperse heat. Tall buildings prevent wind from passing between them. |
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Term
| What is the difference between tropospheric and stratospheric ozone? |
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Definition
| Stratospheric ozone exists naturally, though it is being damaged by humans, and has a positive impact for humans by blocking UV rays. Tropospheric ozone can be natural, but is largely generated by humans. It is a secondary pollutant, meaning other pollutants (like NO2) are emitted and ozone is then formed by a chemical reaction with solar radiation. This type of ozone is very damaging to human health as well as plant life. |
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Term
| relationship between wind and pressure |
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Definition
| differences in air pressure (density) between one location and another produce wind |
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Term
| Driving forces of Atmospheric Circulation |
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Definition
-Pressure of Earth's gravitational force
-Pressure gradient force-drives air from areas of higher barometric pressure (more dense air) to areas of lower barometric pressure (less dense air)
-coriolis force-makes wind that travels in a straight path appear to be deflected in relation to Earth's rotating surface
-friction force-drags on the wind as it moves across surfaces |
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Term
| What does the Ideal Gas Law tell us about Earth's atmospheric pressure? |
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Definition
Pressure=density*constant*temp
Pressure increases by density and/or temp |
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Term
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Definition
| lines connecting equal pressure - closely spaced isobars means change in short area, which means strong winds |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| How does wind flow around low and high pressure cells? |
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Definition
| Winds Around Low pressure Systems Turn in the Direction of the Earth's Rotation and Winds Around High Pressure Systems Turn in the Opposite Direction of the Earth's Rotation. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| global precipitation patterns |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a pattern of atmospheric circulation in which warm air rises near the equator, cools as it travels poleward at high altitude, sinks as cold air, and warms as it travels equatorward |
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Term
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Definition
| (intertropical convergence zone)Formed by the combination of heating which convergence forces air aloft. Low pressure. |
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Term
| high and low pressure order from top to bottom of wind belts |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a body of air that has specific temperature and humidity characteristics. in a given volume, warm air produces a lower density and cold air produces a higher density. |
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Term
| two opposing forces that work on a body of air |
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Definition
| upward buoyant force and downward gravitational force |
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Term
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Definition
| refers to the tendency of an air parcel to remain in place or to change vertical position by ascending or descending (stable resists movement nad unstable if it continues to rise or fall) |
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Term
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Definition
| Describes the warming and cooling rates for a parcel of expanding or compressing air. An ascending parcel of air tends to cool by expansion. Descending air tends to heat by compression. |
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Term
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Definition
| the rate at which "dry" air cools by expansion (if ascending) or heats by compression (if descending). The average DAR is 10degreesC/1000m. |
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Term
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Definition
| the rate at which an ascending parcel that is moist cools by expansion. The average MAR is 6degreesC/1000m. |
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Term
| Why are DAR and MAR different? |
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Definition
| Latent heat of condensation. As water vapor condenses in the saturated air, latent heat is liberated, becoming sensible heat, thus decreasing adiabtic heat. The release of latent heat varies with temp and water-vapor content. |
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Term
| What are the different ways an air mass can be cooled? |
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Definition
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Term
| Major controls of global temperature patterns |
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Definition
| latitude, continental vs. maritime, west coast vs. east coast, topography and elevation, landcover |
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Term
| Why do land surfaces heat and cool faster than oceans? |
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Definition
| This is because the mean specific heat capacity of land is very less in comparision to that of water. |
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Term
| climate classification categories |
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Definition
| tropical, mesothermal, microthermal, polar, dry |
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Term
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Definition
(tropical latitudes)
-rainforest, monsoon, savanna
-winterless
-consistently wet and warm |
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Term
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Definition
(midlatitudes)
-mild winters
-seasonal contrast
-weather variability |
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Definition
(mid and high latitudes, cold winters)
-temp ranges greatly |
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Term
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Definition
(high altitudes and polar regions)
-10 mths of snow
-temp: 0degreesC |
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Term
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Definition
| based on moisture efficiency as well as temperature |
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Term
| Mechanisms Causing Clouds & Precipitation |
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Definition
-convergent lifting-air flows toward an area of low pressure
-convectional lifting-air is stimulated by local surface heating
-orographic lifting-air is forced over a barrier such as a mountain range
-frontal lifting-air is displaced upward along the leading edges of contrasting air masses |
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