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Definition
| any part of the universe that can be isolated so that it can be observed and measure change. |
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| the boundary of closed systems completely prevents both matter and energy exchange. |
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Definition
| closed systems allow energy to exchange between boundaries, but not matter. |
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| an open system allows the exchange of both matter and energy. |
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| Earth can technically be considered an open system, but it is more useful to think of it as a closed system since the exchange of matter (like meteorites) is very rare. |
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Term
| contour lines: what are they? |
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Definition
| Contour lines are lines which describe the elevation on a topographical map. These points are drawn at a uniform vertical distance. Bold contour lines that are labeled with elevation are index contours. |
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| contour lines: What do diferant types of terrain features look like on a topographic map? |
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Definition
| a steep slope is depicted by close contour lines while a gentle slope has contour lines which are farther apart. Furthermore, river valleys are depicted with “V” contour lines to depict an upstream flow. |
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Definition
| Latitude is measured in degrees N or S of the equator. The range of possible values (in degrees)for latitude is -90 to 90. |
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| Longitude is measured in degrees W or E of the prime meridian which is located at 0 degrees. The range of possible values (in degrees) for longitude is from -180 to 180. |
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| Why does the US have north latitude and west longitude? |
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Definition
| because we are north of the equator (latitude) and west of the prime meridian (longitude). |
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Term
| Earth's resevoirs in order of size |
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Definition
| Oceans, Icecaps/glaciers, groundwater, rivers, lakes/rivers, atmosphere |
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Term
| Fluctuations in the global water cycle |
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Definition
| Precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, infiltration, runoff |
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Definition
| the change of atmospheric water vapor to liquid (rain) or solid (snow) |
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Definition
| the change of water from a liquid resevoir to atmospheric water vapor |
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Definition
| the release of water into the atmosphere by plants and animal cells. |
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Definition
| the movement of liquid water downward from the land surface into and through the soil and rock. |
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Definition
| amount of water flowing in a stream |
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| depends strongly on national wealth a degree of industrialization. For example, US has highest water consumption. |
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Definition
1 agriculture
2 Industrial use
3 Domestic use |
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Definition
| water used without being withdrawn from its source |
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Definition
| use of water that either diverts or removes water from its source. |
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Definition
| legal right to use water dictated by law, not a legal title to water. |
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Term
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Definition
| surface water regulation that the right to use water is restricted to landowners immediately adjacent to the stream. Reasonabe use that does not remove the water and is legal property. |
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| prior appropriation doctrine |
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Definition
| separate from other property rights. The first person to divert and use water has the primary right. The right is appropriated (divied up) among different interests. |
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Definition
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Term
| Stream property: discharge |
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Definition
| volume of water carried per unit time |
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Term
| Stream property: gradient |
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Definition
| is the elevation change along the course of a stream. Rise over run. |
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Term
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Definition
| the lowest point to which a river can flow or erode. |
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Term
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Definition
| a mature stream with a low gradient. Erodes the outside of the bends and depositing inside the bends. low elevation change, close to their base level |
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Definition
| a stream with multiple and interconnected channels resulting from varying levels of sediment load and abundant course sediment |
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Term
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Definition
| a stram with a steep gradient. Erosion by a young stream is rapid due to the high velocity caused by elevation. Young streams are incised deeply into their enviornment and have a large drop in elevation from their base level. |
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Term
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Definition
the interrelated properties of a channels width, depth, velocity and discharge. Q= A*V
Q=dischrge
A= cross section of width by height
V+velocity |
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Term
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Definition
| coarse clastic matierials moved along the channel bed by rolling, sliding or bouncing |
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Term
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Definition
| clastic matierials carried within water column by turbulent flow. Gives water muddy appearance and is 90% of the total sediment load |
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Term
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Definition
| the chemca weathering products carried in dissolved form by chemical solution. Gives ocean its saltiness and in closed basins evaporates to form salt deposits |
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Term
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Definition
| the flat area adjacent to a stream channel. Floodplains develop where streams periodically over top their banks consistantly |
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Term
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Definition
| abandoned floodplain when a river cuts down to a new base level in response to gradient and sediment load. |
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Term
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Definition
| form when adjacent meanders erode completely through their outside bends resulting in a straighter shorter channel |
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Term
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Definition
| where channel is deeper and often form at bends in the channel |
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Definition
| places where the channel is shallower and often develop along straighter parts of the channel |
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Term
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Definition
| piles of coarse sediment deposited where a stream emerges from a narrow canyon into a broad valley due to drop in velocity as the channel, no longer confined, spreads out. |
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Definition
| forms as sediment is deposited where river velocity drops rapidly as it enters the ocean. |
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Term
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Definition
| total dissolved ion content of water |
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Term
| 8 major ions which cause salinity |
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Definition
| Cloride, Sodium, Sulfate, Magnesium, Calcium, potassium, bicarbonate bromide, (CSSMCPBB) |
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Term
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Definition
| chemical weathering, wind blown dust, and volcanic degassing |
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Term
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Definition
| processes which remove dissolved ions.Removal by creatures in the creation of shells, absorption by clay |
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Definition
| becuase of differant rates of evaporation and precipiation, addition of fresh water via rivers and the freezing and melting of sea ice. |
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Definition
| where evaporation exceeds precipitation. Water evaporates quickly in the subtropics leaving salts behind. |
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Term
| high salinity in the atlantic |
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Definition
| water vapor does not encounter the mountanous barriers that the pacific does and so therefore does not encounter topographic lifting of air masses which produce precipitation |
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Definition
| the separation of liquids into layers based on density that are prevented from mixing. SALINITY DENSITY AND TEMPERATURE |
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Definition
| large circular ocean current systems dependant on the corolis force. |
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Term
| Western Boundary Currents |
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Definition
| the poleward component of the ocean gyres flowing from the equator to high altitudes. eg. The gulf stream carries warm water to northern europe |
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Definition
| Wind causing frictional drag due to the rotation of the earth. |
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Term
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Definition
| Very dense, cold and salty water sinks and spreads. |
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Term
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Definition
| the overturning circulation which distributes and redistributes warm and cold water across the globe through upwelling. |
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Term
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Definition
1. Wave height
2. wavelength
3. wave period |
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Term
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Definition
| wave length and velocity decreases while wave height increases. |
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Term
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Definition
| when wave crests bend as they approach a coastline.Waves encounter shallow water at headland and slow, releasing high amounts of energy with higher crests. |
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Term
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Definition
| when a series of waves strike a shoreline at an angle, they generate a current parallel to the shoreline. Redistributes sediment along beach. |
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Term
| Eustatic sea level change |
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Definition
| global change in sea level due to changing volume of water in the ocean or the volume of the ocean basins. |
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Term
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Definition
| changes include: continental uplift, response to previous iceage. |
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Term
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Definition
| Earthquakes, submarine volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides, meteorite impact. |
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Term
| wind generated waves vs. Tsunami |
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Definition
| Tsunami have long periods, wave lengths of 100 km, doesnt easily loose energy and water moves straight-not circular. |
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Term
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Definition
| high concentrations of nutrients result in accelarated growth of plant life. 1. algae grows fast using up lots of oxygen and blocking sunlight. 2. aquatic plants die3.) dead matter provides food for microbes 4. increasing the competition for oxygen. 5.) water becomes doxygenated. |
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Term
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Definition
| the probability that a flood will exceed or equal a given discharge during any single year. |
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Term
| effects of land use changes |
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Definition
forest converted to farmland- excess sediment clogs channel, diminishing water capacity.
urbanization. |
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