Geography 3 Vocab

kinetic energy

energy of motion

what causes winds

differences in air pressure; winds move from high to low areas of pressure

electromagnetic spectrum of radiation

e-m, The electromagnetic spectrum gives the different types of electromagnetic radiation in order of wavelength and frequency. EMR is energy that travels thru space as waves.

5 layers in order from bottom to top

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere

September equinox (called the autmnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere)

on or about September 21.

functional layers

ozone and ionsphere (where radio waves are transmitted)

Tropic of Cancer

pg. 47

Tropic of Capricorn

pg. 47

mesosphere

"middle" layer; lowest atmospheric temperature

stratosphere

"ozone layer"; temperature increases with altitude; strato means "layer"; absorbs UV rays

Ecliptic Plane

...

Greenhouse Effect

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Mie

...

Rayleigh

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Transmission of solar radiation

...

electromagnetic radiation

...

What is the Montreal Protocol

1984- some countries made it illegal to make products with CFCs

Isotherm

A line on a weather map connecting points of equal temperature.

formula to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius

C=5/9 (degrees F -32)

On what day of the year is the subsolar point located at 23.5° south latitude?

December solstice

Aphelion

Earth is farthest from the Sun on or about July 3.

Perihelion

Earth is nearest the Sun on or about January 3.

Latent Heat

Energy required to change the phase of a substance. Ex: solid to liquid or liquid to gas.

Absorption

Energy transfer to the absorber.

last atmospheric layer, farthest from the earth surface

Exosphere ("outer)

Radiation

How we get energy from sun. Anything with temperature radiates energy. Requires no medium through which to pass. Only energy transfer mechanisms that can be propagated without a transfer medium.

amplitude

In case of radiation, quantity is associated with the HEIGHT OF THE WAVE. The quantity of energy radiated by a body is associated with the height of the wave, also known as its amplitude. The height of a wave of radiated energy is called the wave's amplitude.

Insolation

Incoming solar radiation.

March equinox (also called the vernal or spring equinox for the Northern Hemisphere)

Intermediate between the two solstices on or about March 21

What is the Kyoto protocol

Limitations on Co2

Polaris (the North Star)

No matter what time of year it is, the axis is always tilted in the same direction and always pointed to this star.

June solstice (also called the summer solstice according to the corresponding Northern Hemisphere season)

On or about June 21, the Northern Hemisphere has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. Represents the day on which the Northern Hemisphere has its greatest availability of insolation. First day of summer in Northern and first day of winter in Southern.

Overcast conditions tend to ________ daily temperature ranges.

Overcast conditions tend to minimize (lower) daily temperature ranges by minimizing daytime warming and minimizing nighttime radiative cooling.

Albedo

Percentage of insolation reflected by an object or surface.

Reflection

Process whereby radiation making contact with something is redirected away from that object without being absorbed.

Scattering

Radiation disperses as weaker rays go in many different directions.

Whose research made it illegal to make CFCs?

Rowland and Molina

December solstice (winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere)

Six months later (on or about December 21), the Northern Hemisphere has its minimum availability of solar radiation. First day of winter in Northern Hemisphere and first day of summer in Southern Hemisphere.

Wien's law

Tells us that hotter objects radiate energy at shorter wavelengths than do cooler bodies. Hot objects, possessing more thermal energy, necessarily radiate a higher proportion of energy at those shorter, more energetic wavelengths. Ex: solar radiation is most intense in the visible portion of the spectrum, though it emits over a wide range of wavelengths.

Convection

The transfer of heat by the mixing of a fluid. Accomplished by movement of the liquid or gas in which the process occurs.

Specific Heat

The amount of energy needed to produce a given temperature change per unit mass of a substance

Specific Heat

The amount of energy needed to produce a given temperature change per unit mass of a substance.

wavelength

The distance between any two corresponding points along the wave (crest-to-crest, trough-to-trough, etc).

Advection

The horizontal movement of atmospheric properties such as temperature and moisture.

Solar Declination

The latitudinal position of the subsolar point, which can be visualize as the latitude at which the noontime Sun appears directly overhead.

Free Convection

The mixing process related to buoyancy in a fluid.

Conduction

The movement of heat through a substance without appreciable movement of molecules. ex: metal rod placed next to campfire. Helps transfer energy to surface (downward) during the day.

Subsolar point

The point of Earth where the Sun's rays meet the surface at a right angle-and where the Sun appears directly overhead.

Laminar Boundary Layer

Warming of the ground during the day.

air pressure

a measure of the mass of atmosphere above a given point at a give time.

atmosphere

a very thin layer of gasses that surrounds the earth's surface that keeps everything in place with gravity; traps UV rays; mixture of gas molecules, solid and liquid particles, and falling participation

density

amount of stuff in a given space; mass/volume; density also decreases with altitude

trace gasses (5)

carbon dioxide, water vapors, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, carbon monoxide

What causes an excess in carbon dioxide

deforestation and burning of fossil fuels

ozone hole

depletion of ozone caused by CFCs in the atmosphere that come from aerosols, air conditioning, refrigeration; needs cool temperature and sunlight

what and where are permanent gasses

found in homosphere: 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon

why has co2 increased over past century

humans putting more

What lines on a weather connect points with equal pressure

isobars

temperature

the measure of average kinetic energy; the energy in molecules decreases with altitude

thermosphere

thermo means "temperature"; temperature increases

How are aerosols beneficial

they act as condensation nuclei and allow for the formation of clouds and precipitation

first atmospheric layer from the bottom

troposphere (mixing or weather layer)

What is a front

when a substantial temperature difference appears over a short distance or short period of time.