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%