Physical Geography Final Exam

How is relative humidity related to saturation and dew-point temperature? How does relative humidity compare with air temperature on a typical day?

When the relative humidity is equal to 100%, the air becomes saturated at the dew point temperature. This is because the amount of water in the air remains pretty constant from day to day but the temperature increases and decreases. As the temperature decreases, the amount of water the air can hold also decreases. If it decreases enough, the relative humidity becomes 100% and the air is saturated.

Plane of the ecliptic

Where planets are held on in relation to the sun

stratified drift

a glacier deposit that has been sorted and layered by the action of streams or meltwater

Pressure Gradient Force (PGF)

air flows from regions of high pressure to regions of low pressure

glacial drift

The general term for all glacial deposits, both unsorted (till) and sorted (stratified drift)

abrasion

The grinding away of rock by other rock particles carried in water, ice, or wind

Thermal equator

The isoline on an isothermal map that connects all points of highest mean temperature.

ice field

The least extensive form of a glacier, with mountain ridges and peaks visible above the ice; less than an ice cap or ice sheet

Westerlies

The predominant surface and aloft wind flow pattern from the subtropics to high latitudes in both hemispheres.

Transparency

The quality of a medium (air, water) that allows light to easily pass through it.

glacier surge

The rapid, lurching, unexpected forward movement of a glacier.

Stratopause

The stratopause is the level of the atmosphere which is the boundary between the stratosphere and the mesosphere. In the stratosphere the temperature increases with altitude, and the stratopause is the section where a maximum in the temperature occurs.

Thermopause

The upper boundary of the thermosphere. Boundary between the thermosphere and the exosphere

Mesosphere

The upper region of the homosphere from 30 to 50 miles above the ground; designated by temperature; atmosphere extremely rarified -shortwave, infrared, and UV are absorbed

Sphericity

Uneven energy receipt -less energy at high altitudes

Polar easterlies

Variable, weak, cold, and dry winds moving away from the polar region; an anticyclonic circulation

glacial ice

Water in the solid state within a glacier; forms as snow partially melts and refreezes and compacts so that it is transforms first to firn and then to glacial ice.

relative humidity

Water vapor content divided by water vapor capacity multiplied by 100

humidity

Water vapor content of air

Polar high-pressure cells

Weak, anticyclonic, thermally produced pressure systems positioned roughly over each pole; that over the South Pole is the region of the lowest temperature on Earth

Perihelion

When Earth is closest to the sun (January 3rd)

Aphelion

When Earth is furthest away from the sun (July 4th)

alpine glaciers

glaciers that form in the mountains

What are the two primary functional layers of the atmosphere and what does each do?

heterosphere-gasses layered by density homosphere- gasses are well mixed

frontal lifting

leading (front) edge of air mass. Air expands and cools

Land-sea breezes

onshore (toward the land) air flows that develop in the afternoon as the land heats faster than neighboring water surfaces.

Zone of ablation

outputs exceed inputs Region in lower part of glacier where more snow/ice melts than accumulates resulting in loss of glacial ice.

firn

snow that has survived one summer and begun the transformation into ice

What is the basic flow of energy from the sun to Earth and vice versa?

sun to earth= mainly shortwave energy earth to space= mainly longwave energy

dew-point temperature

temperature at which 1) air becomes saturated 2)RH=100% 3) Condensation begins

cloud-condensation nuclei

the particles that form for water vapor molecules to condense onto which in turn create raindrops

Mesopause

the transition between the mesosphere and the thermosphere

Leeward

warmer and drier (Rainshadow effect)

Continental Effect

cold winters and hot summers

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion in a body; derived from the vibration of the body's own movement and stated as temperature.

Troposphere

The home of the biosphere the lowest layer of the homosphere, containing approximately 90% of the total mass of the atmosphere; occurring at an altitude of 11 miles at the equator, at 8 miles in the mid-latitudes and at lower altitudes near the poles. Where weather happens and heat is trapped.

o What is specific heat? Compare the specific heat of water and soil.

-the amount of energy required to change the temperature of a substance. -water will have a greater specific heat because it is more transparent and needs more energy to change the temp -waters specific heat is 4 times greater than land -land is opaque

Explain the effect of altitude on air temperature. Why is air at higher altitudes lower in temperature?

-the individual molecules are hot, but they are so spread apart that it causes the temperature to decrease.

How far is Earth from the sun in terms of kilometers and miles?

93 million miles away 150 million km

Why is stratospheric ozone (O3) so important? Describe the effects created by increases in ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface.

-This layer absorbs UV energy and radiates longer wavelengths of infrared radiation as heat. -It sustains life on Earth -Increased UV radiation is affecting the biological systems -Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were put in aerosol cans, electronics, etc, but it does not dissolve or break down in biological processes -Causes increases in skin cancer

What is fog? How is advection fog different than evaporation fog?

-a thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earth's surface that obscures or restricts visibility -Advection fog when hot air from the valleys flows towards the cold air over the ocean -Evaporation Fog when cold air overlies a warm body of water

Describe and explain the extreme temperature range experienced in north-central Siberia between January and July.

-air travels from west to east causing more seasonality - it is in the middle of the continent, thus having more extreme temperature ranges

Describe the effect of cloud cover with regard to Earth's temperature patterns, incorporating the terms cloud-albedo forcing and cloud-greenhouse forcing.

-higher albedo so more reflection out to space so generally cooler, some gas gets through, while the other is trapped in space

Why do we have seasons on Earth?

Because Earth is on a tilt so in June, when northern hemisphere tilted towards sun, more heat and energy -In December, earth tilted away from sun so western hemisphere gets heat and energy. (Sphericity)

Greenhouse Effect

The process whereby radiatively active gases (carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and CFCs) absorb and emit energy at longer wavelengths, which are retained longer, delaying the loss of infrared to space. Thus, the lower troposphere is warmed through the radiation and re-radiation of infrared wavelengths. The approximate similarity between this process and that of a greenhouse explains the name.

Global Warming

a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants.

What is the thermal equator? Describe its location in January and in July. Explain why it shifts position annually.

an imaginary line round the earth running through the point on each meridian with the highest average temperature. It lies mainly to the north because of the larger landmasses and therefore greater summer heating -January it is southern hemisphere's summer -July it is northern hemisphere's summer

Follow water from a solid at 0°C to a vapor at 100°C and then back to a solid, describing what happens along the way. Is energy gained or lost in each phase? Where does this energy come from (or go to)?

at 0 degrees Celsius, water is in solid form. once it is heated, ice turns to water absorbing heat. For water to turn to gas, it absorbs more energy. When condensation occurs, water releases energy. Also when water freezes, it releases energy.

Lapse Rate

rate at which atmospheric temperature decreases with an increase in altitude

Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

-Persistant cloud cover

terminal moraine

-most of solar energy from the sun

Temperature

A measure of how hot (or cold) something is; specifically, a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object.

Subsolar point

A point directly beneath the sun (spot on Earth where sun is directly overhead)

Albedo

Ability of a surface to reflect light

Latitude

Closer to equator (low latitude): high average temp and small temp range)

Describe the segments of the electromagnetic spectrum, from shortest to longest wavelength.

Shorter wavelengths, higher frequencies: Gamma ray~x-ray~Ultra-violet~visible~near infrared~shortwave infrared Longer wavelengths, lower frequencies: Middle infrared~Thermal Infrared~Microwave~Radio

The sun and Earth primarily emit how much radiation?

Sun: 0.5 micrometers Earth: 10 micrometers

phase change

The change in phase, or state, among ice, water, and water vapor; involves the absorption or release of latent heat.

Temperature Range

The difference between maximum and minimum temperature

Tropopause

The home of the biosphere the lowest layer of the homosphere, containing approximately 90% of the total mass of the atmosphere; extends up to the tropopause; occurring at an altitude of 11 miles at the equator, at 8 miles in the mid-latitudes and at lower altitudes near the poles. TRAPS HEAT

rain shadow

The leeward side of a mountain where it is warmer and drier because the rain does not hit this side of the mountain

How is the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) related to the equatorial low- pressure trough? How might it appear on a (visible) satellite image?

most solar energy. low pressure systems need more energy to evaporate

List several types of surfaces and their albedo values. Explain the differences among these surfaces.

-Earth and its atmosphere=31% albedo -Full Moon= 6%-8% -Land/Water surfaces= aborb about 45% -Atmospheric gases, clouds, etc.= about 24%

Which wavelengths are principally radiated by Earth to space?

-Earth radiates nearly all of the energy it absorbs -Cooler at surface so emits less energy and at longer wavelengths, usually in the infrared portion

Explain the physical aspects of land and water that produce their different responses to heating from absorption of insolation.

-Land is opaque so it heats up faster and cools down faster -water is transparent, lower albedo, takes 4 times as much to heat up as land

Describe conditions at each of the four key seasonal anniversary dates during the year. What is the Sun's declination at these times? What are the names of the solstices and equinoxes?

-Spring Equinox (March 21st) - 0 degrees ; 12 hours of sunlight for everyone -Winter Solstice (December 21st)- 23.5 degrees S -Summer Solstice (June 21st) 23.5 degrees N -Autumnal Equinox(September 22nd)- 0 degrees ; 12 hours of sunlight for everyone NEED SUN'S DECLINATION

What wavelengths are mainly produced by the Sun?

-Ultraviolet, X-Ray, Gamma, Visible, and Short Infrared -radiates shorter wavelength energy than earth

Differentiate between marine and continental temperatures. Give geographical examples of each.

-water moderates temperature -on a super hot day, the air going over the water is going to be cooler -on the coast is cooler temperature, than those more inland

Why is there an energy imbalance?

1) Spherical=beam spreading 2) Atmospheric Effects (Absorption, Reflection, Scattering) 3) Poles=high albedo=reflection

ice age

A cold episode with accompanying alpine and continental-like accumulations, that has repeated roughly every 200-300 million years since the late Precambrian era, most recent in Pleistocene era (1.65 million years ago)

continental glacier

A continuous mass of ice covering that blankets 81% of Greenland and 90% of Antarctica

ice sheet

A continuous mass of unconfined ice, covering at least 50,000 km. The bulk of glacial ice on Earth covers Antartica and Greenland into two ice sheets.

drumlin

A depositional landform related to glaciation that is composed of till (unstratified, unsorted) and is streamlined in the direction of continental ice movement--blunt end upstream and tapered end downstream with a rounded summit

Dust Dome

A dome of airborne pollution associated with every major city; may be blown by winds into elongated plumes downwind from the city

Heat

A form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature.

glacier

A large mass of perennial ice resting on land or floating shelflike in the sea adjacent to the land; formed from the accumulation and recrystallization of snow, which then flows slowly under the pressure of its own weight and the pull of gravity

ice cap

A large, dome-shaped glacier, less extensive than an ice sheet, although it buries mountain peaks and the local landscape; generally less than 50,000 km

Ionosphere

A layer in the atmosphere above 50 miles where gamma rays, x-rays, and some ultraviolet radiation are absorbed and converted into longer wavelengths and where the solar wind simulates the auroras

Marine Effect

A quality of regions that are dominated by the moderating effect of the ocean and that exhibit a smaller range of minimum and maximum temperatures, both daily and annually, than do continental stations.

Subpolar low-pressure cells

A region of low pressure centered approximately at 60 degrees latitude in the North Atlantic near Iceland and in the North Pacific near the Aleutians as well as in the Southern Hemisphere. Airflow is cyclonic; it weakens in summer and strengthens in winter

Thermosphere

A region of the heterosphere extending from 50 to 300 miles in altitude, contains the functional ionosphere layer -Gamma rays and x-rays absorbed

cirque

A scooped-out, amphitheater-shaped basin at the head of an alpine glacier valley; an erosional landform

arête

A sharp ridge that divides two cirque basins

esker

A sinuously curving, narrow deposit of coarse gravel that forms along a meltwater stream channel; developing in a tunnel beneath a glacier

tarns

A small mountain lake, especially one that collects in a cirque basin behind risers of rock material or in an ice-gouged depression.

moisture droplet

A tiny water particle that constitutes the initial composition of clouds. Each droplet measures approximately 0.002 cm in diameter and is invisible to the naked eye

crevasses

A vertical crack that develops in a glacier as a result of friction between valley walls, or tension forces of extension on convex slopes, or compression forces on concave slopes

Geostrophic winds

A wind moving between areas of different pressure along a path that is parallel to the isobars. It is a product of the present gradient force and the Coriolis Force

Heterosphere

A zone of the atmosphere above the mesopause, from 50 miles to 300 miles in altitude; composed of rarified layers of oxygen atoms and nitrogen molecules; includes the ionosphere

Homosphere

A zone of the atmosphere from Earth's surface up to 50 miles, composed of an even mixture gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, and trace gases

Atmosphere

Absorption of high energy charged particles and very shortwave radiation

Clouds

Aggregation of tiny water droplets small enough to be suspended in the atmosphere

convergent lifting

Air masses come together over a large scale Ex:

lifting condensation level

Altitude at which rising air cools to the dew point temperature and condensation begins causing clouds to form

Specific Heat

Amount of energy required to increase temperature of a substance -high=lots of energy absorbed -low=little energy

cloud

An aggregate of tiny moisture droplets and ice crystals; classified by altitude of occurrence and shape

Differentiate between an alpine glacier and a continental glacier. What is similar about them? What is different about them?

An alpine glacier is formed on top of a mountain, while a continental glacier is a continuous mass of ice that covers large parts of continents

Monsoon

An annual cycle of dryness and wetness, with seasonally shifting winds produced by changing atmospheric pressure systems; affects India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, northern Australia, and portions of Africa.

outwash plains

Area of glacial stream deposits of stratified drift with meltwater-fed, braided, and overloaded streams; occurs beyond a glacier's morainal deposits.

Ozonosphere

Atmospheric circulation occurs here -part of the O3 layer -emits shortwave radiation

What is the difference between capacity and content in regards to water vapor?

Capacity: what could be there Content: what is actually there

Urban Heat Island

Causes temperature to rise where there are cities and urban areas with lots of asphalt and dark buildings that absorb heat

What role do clouds play in the Earth-atmosphere radiation balance? Compare high, thin cirrus clouds and lower, thick stratus clouds.

Clouds can reduce insolation by 75%, which cools Earth's surface and can act as insulation by absorbing and radiating longwave radiation from Earth, warming the surface

periglacial

Cold-climate processes, landforms, and topographic features along the margins of glaciers, past and present; periglacial characteristics exist on more than 20% of Earth's land surface; includes permafrost, frost action, and ground ice.

saturation

Condition of amount where content equals capacity and condensation can begin

Windward

Cooler and wetter

lateral moraine

Debris transported by a glacier that accumulates along the sides of the glacier and is deposited along these margins.

medial moraine

Debris transported by a glacier that accumulates down the middle of the glacier, resulting from two glaciers, merging their Lateral Moraine; forms a depositional feature following glacial retreat.

Thermohaline circulation

Deep ocean currents produced by differences in temperature and salinity with depth; Earth's deep currents

convectional lifting

Density differences causes air to rise over smaller scales Ex:

till

Direct ice deposits that appear unstratified and unsorted; a specific form of glacial drift.

Altitude

Elevation above sea level

Air Pressure

Force per unit area

kettle

Forms when an isolated block of ice persists in a ground moraine, an outwash plain, or a valley floor after a glacier retreats; as the block finally melts, it leaves behind a steep-sided hole that frequently fills with water

permafrost

Forms when soil or rock temperatures remain below 0 degrees C (32 degrees F) for at least two years in areas considered periglacial; based on temperature and not on whether water is present.

Ocean Currents

Gulf stream carries warm water from tropics to the poles (up north)

latent heat

Heat energy is stored in one of three states--ice, water, or water vapor. The energy is absorbed or released in each phase change from one state to another. Heat energy is absorbed as as the latent heat of melting, vaporization, or evaporation. Heat energy is released as the latent heat of condensation and freezing.

Describe the two divisions of the atmosphere on the basis of composition.

Heterosphere- reaching from 50 miles up to the end of the atmosphere. Gases here are sorted by gravity into layers based on density. Upper portions= hydrogen and helium. Lower layers=oxygen and nitrogen Homosphere- Layer from Earth's surface to 50 miles up. Air pressure decreases rapidly. Ozone layer here.

What is the inverse relationship when it comes to radiation?

High temp objects emit shorter wavelength radiation and low temp objects emit longer wavelength radiation

Wavelength

Horizontal distance between the crests or between the troughs of two adjacent waves

Advection Fog

Horizontal flow of air -along CA coast -central valley warms up, air rises, a pressure gradient is established hot, dry conditions from central valley mix with cold, humid air from ocean -warm, moist air offshore pulled to coast -fog condenses over cold water on CA coast

Define wind. How is it measured? How is its direction determined?

Horizontal movement of air across the surface. Millibars.

Insolation

Incoming solar radiation (intercepted)

Observe trends in the pattern of isotherms over North America and compare the January average temperature map with the July map. Why do patterns shift locations?

Isotherms deal with temperatures at a certain latitude In January the temperatures are colder and eventually decrease as July comes around

Isobar

Lines connecting points at same air pressure

Name the four most prevalent stable gases in the homosphere. Is the prevalence of any of these changing at this time?

Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide. Carbon dioxide has increased rapidly and scientists attribute this to human causes.

Describe the overall temperature profile of the atmosphere and list the four layers (and zones of transition) defined by temperature.

Overall temp profile: Thermosphere - temps rise sharply to 1200 degrees C (2200 F) and higher Mesosphere - Stratosphere- temps increase with altitude from -57 C (-70 F) at the lower limit to 0 degrees C at 50 km Troposphere - temperatures decrease rapidly at an average of 6.4 C per kilometer

orographic lifting

Physical barrier causes air to rise Ex: air reaches a mountain and must go up and over. The air rises, cools, saturates, and forms clouds

What are the basic processes by which air is forced to rise? In terms of temperature and humidity, why is rising air so "interesting"?

Pressure Gradient Force causes air of high pressure to rise and air of low pressure to sink

What is air? Where did the components in Earth's present atmosphere originate?

-natural variable gases -volcanic eruptions -waves breaking (refraction)

What is a cloud? What are the main types of clouds in our atmosphere?

-An aggregate of tiny moisture droplets and ice crystals; classified by altitude of occurrence and shape -Stratoform -Cumuliform -Cirroform

Radiation Fog

(Tulee fog) "pea soup fog" Nights cold surface hot during day creates thick fog with low visibility

Evaporation Fog

(steam fog) Fog forms when cold air overlies a warm body of water

Compare the amount of energy received each month throughout the year at 30° north latitude to the amount received at the Equator. Compare this to the amount received at the North Pole.

-Beam spreading causes the poles to receive less energy -The equator receives high amounts of energy year round

What are the similarities and differences between an actual greenhouse and the gaseous atmospheric greenhouse? Why is Earth's greenhouse effect changing?

-Both allow heat and gases in, but don't allow them to escape

Explain the condensation process: What are the requirements for condensation to occur?

Temperature drops and the water vapor reaches it's relative humidity (100%), air reaches its dew point temperature which causes the air to become saturated and condensation begins

Axial Parallelism

The Earth remains in a fixed alignment, with polaris directly overhead at the North Pole throughout the year. -Parallel to the plane of ecliptic

Coriolis force

The apparent deflection of moving objects (wind, ocean currents, missiles) from traveling in a straight path, in proportion to the speed of Earth's rotation at different latitudes. Deflected to the right at Northern Hemisphere. Deflected to the left at Southern Hemisphere. Maximum at poles and zero along the equator

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The arrangement of waves of radiant energy in order of wavelength and frequency.

Trade winds

Winds from the northeast and southeast that converge in the equatorial low-pressure trough; forming the intertropical convergence zone.

Stratosphere

The portion of the homosphere that ranges from 12.5-30 miles above Earth's surface. The functional ozonosphere is within the stratosphere.

vapor pressure

The portion of total air pressure that results from water vapor molecules, expressed in millibars. At a given dew-point temperature, the maximum capacity of the air is termed its saturation vapor pressure.

What is latent heat? How is it involved in the phase changes of water?

The energy required to change water to a different form, from solid to liquid to gas, without increasing the temperature of the surrounding air.