quiz 1
what is radiation
energy in the form of waves or particles
where do convergent winds flow from
low pressure centers
what is an upwelling
deep ocean water rises to the surface at sites of divergence of surface waters
how does density change as altitude changes
density decreases w/ altitude
what are astronomical distances measured in terms of
distance traveled by light per unit time
what are the three types of plate margins
divergent , convergent , transform
what do high altitude clouds do
enhance atmospheric warming
what do low altitude clouds do
enhance cooling
what is an earth energy input
insolation
how is ocean temp determined
insolation patterns
what has a higher albedo , darker and rougher surfaces or lighter and smoother surfaces
lighter and smoother surfaces
what type pf wavelength does earth mostly emit
longwave (infared)
what is an earth energy output
longwave radarion emissions and shortwave reflection
what is the troposphere
lowest layer, top is tropopause, temp decreases w/ altitude
what is the Coriolis force
makes wind that travels in a straight line appear to be deflected relative to the earth's rotating surface , deflected to the right in the Northern hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
what moves the plates
mantle flow
what are jet streams
meandering fast moving westerly winds flows in the upper troposphere
what are autogenic engineers
modifies environment via its own physical structures (just existing) trees, corals, etc
what are polar high pressure regions
where cold dry air descends on the poles, high pressure polar deserts
what is the intertropical convergence zone
where warm air rises at the equator, causing low pressure at the surface , results in warm, wet, humid climate
what is the pelagic realm
within the water column (contains the neurotic and oceanic providence )
does seawater salinity change with depth
yes
does seawater temp decrease with depth
yes
what are global winds
-drive pressure differences, cool air depending creates high pressure and warm air rising creates low pressure -air is forced to go from high pressure to low creating wind
what percent of the ocean is salt ions
3.5%
where is net energy balance
about 36 degrees latitude
what are the layers to earth's interior
crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
where is high tide even higher
when moon and sub align
where do divergent winds flow from
high pressure centers
what are the three cells per hemisphere
Hadley, ferrel, and polar
what is diurnal variation
It is the change in temperature from day to night brought about by rotation of the Earth.
What is the photic zone?
Supports photosynthesis, shallow water near shore, upper layer of water away from shore
what is spatiotemporal variation in ecosystem engineering
The diversity and abundance of ecosystem engineers (and thus their environmental effects) varies over space and time.
What is the epicontinental sea?
a shallow sea that covers central areas of continents during periods of high sea level that result in marine transgressions
what is a scientific theory
a well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations
about how much of incoming solar radiation is reflected by clouds
about 21%
about how much solar radiation is absorbed
about 24%
how much of incoming solar radiation is reflected
about 31 %
transform plate margins
adjacent plates grind past each other w/o subjecting (shallow focus earth quakes)
What is the aphotic zone?
an area where sunlight is unable to penetrate
what is the benthic realm
at the seafloor (has the self , bathyal, and abyssal zone)
what is the solar constant
average amount of insolation that reaches the top of earth's atmosphere
what is the subtropical high pressure belt
between 20-35 degrees latitude , air moving away from the equator descends back to the surface, warms, calm windless, hot dry air
what does cooling or net evaporation do to surface water
causes surface water to become dense enough to sink (downwelling; deep water formation)
what is a polar front
cold dry air descending on the poles, high pressure polar deserts
what is terhmohaline circulation
cold or salty water flows sluggishly around bottom of ocean basins
what are denser waters
colder and saltier
what are the three parts of the seafloor profile
continental shelf. continental slope, and abyssal plain
what is ecosystem engineering
creation, modification, maintenance, or destruction of a habitat by organisms
What is the lithosphere?
crust + upper mantle, broken into plates
what are oceanic effects on climate
evaporation (water surfaces absorb energy when evaporating), transparency (land is opaque, only the surface absorbs heat), specific heat capacity (water has a higher specific heat capacity than land), and fluid flow (water loses heat less rapidly than land)
what does the theory of plate tectonics do
explains geological phenomena and features
what is the continental shelf
flooded portion of continent
what is absorbed in the ionosphere
gamma rays, x-rays, and short ultraviolet waves
how is poleward meridional transfer of energy and mass achieved
global winds, ocean currents, and dynamic weather systems
how do tides form
gravitational pull of the moon on earth produces high tides in the ocean, the earth's rotation results in each location experiencing 2 high tides per day
how does the incoming energy that is absorbed affect the earth
heats
divergent plan margins
hot buoyant magma rises through asethensphere and is injected into lithosphere above upwelling portion of mantle convection cell (volcanism, shallow focus earthquakes)
What is insolation?
incoming energy from the sun
what is conduction
molecule to molecule transfer of heat energy as it diffuses through a material
are the polar regions a net energy surplus or deficit
net energy deficit
are the tropics a net energy surplus or deficit
net energy surplus
what is the mesosphere
next layer, top is mesopause, temp decreases w/ altitude
what is the stratosphere
next layer, top is stratopause, temp increases with altitude, ozone layer
what is the atmosphere mostly composed of
nitrogen and oxygen
does all incoming solar radiation reach earth's surface
no
does the earth have simple convection cells
no, these are on non-rotating planets
convergent plate margins
older, colder oceanic lthoshoere sinks down into asthenpshoere at downwelling site if mantle convection cell (ocean trenches, earthquakes, explosive volcanoes)
what is the thermosphere
outermost layer, top is thermopause, temp increases w/ altitude , part of ionosphere
over the long term, what happens to all incoming energy
re-emitted as longwave (inferred), highest emission at low altitudes
whats the difference between a coral reef and a coral bank
reef is in photic zone bank is in aphotic
what happens when seawater evaporates
salt ions are left behind
how does axil tilt affect variations in insolation
seasonal variation in sun's declination and in daylight length
what is Rayleigh scattering
shorter wavelengths re scattered more than red
how has tidal friction affected Earth's rotation
slowed it
how does earth's curved surface effect insolation
stronger insolation at sub solar point and higher surface insolation at low latitudes
what is the density profile of ocean water determined by
temp and salinity profiles
what is the climate of mountain environments
temp decreases w/ altitude
what is the maritime effect
temp variation is moderated on and near water masses
what is the plane of the ecliptic
the plane containing all points of Earth's orbit
what is albedo
the reflective quality of a surface
what are waves driven by
the wind blowing over a fluid surface
what is the steepest part of the temp gradient called
thermocline
how do clouds effect temp
they have a cooling effect by reflecting and also a greenhouse warming effect by trapping long wave radiation
what are allogenic engineers
transform by doing something (beavers, prairie dogs , etc)
what is the Hadley cell
tropical, trade winds ,
what is absorbed in the ozonosphere
ultraviolet
what is the effect of an imbalance of energy
vast global circulation of energy and mass
what is convection
vertical and/or lateral motion of the heat medium
what wavelengths reach the surface
visible and infrared
what is El Niño
weakening of trade winds results in decreased upwelling
what is scattering
when gas molecules in the atmosphere absorb and re-emit radiation , changing its direction with out altering its wavelength , redirects abt 7%