Dirt (EV203) Quiz 1
specific heat
amount of energy required to increase temperature of 1 gram of substance 1 degree
Solar altitude
angle where sun hitting the earth
angle of incidence
angle which the sun's rays strike the surface
Isolines
any line that joins points of equal value of something.
adiabatic cooling
cooling by expansion
transmission
electromagnetic waves pass completely through a medium, light waves pass through a pane of clear glass
cocnvection
energy transferred from one point to another by predominantly vertical circulation of a fluid
electromagnetic spectrum
entire range of wavelengths or frequencies of electromagnetic radiation --> extending from gamma rays to longest radio waves, including visible light
Descriptive zones: equitorial
few degrees of equator
air pressure
force/unit area --> weight force exerted by atmosphere above you
trophosphere
heat source is the earth. 99% of weather happens in this layer.
adiabatic cooling/warming
heat/cool w/o loss/gain of energy; changes in atmospheric pressure
albedo
how much an object can reflect, greater albedo: greater amt. of radiation reflected
cultural geography
human endeavor; aka human geography; population, economic activities, languages, religions, food, settlements
where is most of the water on earth
in the oceans
insolation
incoming solar radiation patterns at the surface of earth
spacial patterns
looking at trends over space
Non variable gases
make up most of atmosphere (95%), Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, helium. Required for life.
Particulates
microscopic/ solid/ liquid matter suspended. impacts air quality, increase temperature causes: volcanoes, storms, forest/grassland fires
climate
minimum 30 years of data higher latitude, higher range of temperature, gen circulation of the atmosphere: affects rain, NOT temperature water: temp control --> closer to water, warmer.
multispectral
multiple bands of electromagnetic spectrum
physical geography
natural in origin; land forms, rocks, water, weather/climate, plants, animals
where is air density the greatest?
near earth surface
Descriptive zones: Polar
near the poles
What can we use descriptive zones for
patterns of weather
latent heat
phase change involve exchange in energy evaporation condensation
place
physical/human characteristics of location
Equator latitude
0 degrees
what are the 6 steps to the scientific method?
1. observe phenomenon 2. hypothesis 3. design experiment 4. predict the outcome of the experiment 5. conduct experiment 6. draw conclusion or formulate simple generalized rule based on the results
Descriptive zones: subtropic
23-30 degrees
Tropic of Cancer latitude
23.5 degrees N
tropic of Capricorn latitude
23.5 degrees S
maps
2D representation of 3D earth
Descriptive zones: low
30 degrees and below
Descriptive zones: Mid
30-60 degrees
Descriptive zones: High
60 and above
Arctic circle latitude
66.5 degrees N
Antarctic circle latitude
66.5 degrees S
how many significant lines of latitude are there?
7
North pole latitude
90 degrees N
South Pole latitude
90 degrees S
atmosphere
AIR gaseous envelope that surrounds life (mix of 4 gases)
Biosphere
LIVING parts of earth where living things can exist
What are the 4 major factors that influence Seasons?
Rotation Revolution Inclination of earth's axis Polarity
What is the formula for solar altitude?
SA = 90 - AD
Hydrosphere
WATER; water in all its forms.
Reflection
ability of an object to repel electromagnetic waves that strike it
Climate
aggregate of day to day weather conditions over long period of time. Avg characteristics & variations/extremes of weather
What are the processes of the solar radiation budget?
all the processes that the sun goes through as it interacts with earth
global season patterns
altitude, latitude, land, water, contrasts, ocean currents
absorption
assimilation of electromagnetic waves striking an object, diff materials have diff absorption capabilities
ozone layer
b/t 15 and 48 km up; concentration of ozone relative to other gases
earth's energy budget
balance between incoming and outgoing radiation
ozone
blocks UV rays Montreal protocol
Arc distance (AD)
distance between latitude and declination of the sun
Circle of illumination
dividing line between daylight + nighttime halves of the earth
Radiation/emission
electromagnetic energy emitted from an object
active systems
requires moving mechanical parts (lasers)
Weather
short-term atmospheric conditions that exist for a given time in a specific area (temp, humidity, clouds)
small scale map
shows larger area (i.e. Whole U.S.)
large scale map
shows small area (i.e. Atlanta)
Lithosphere
solid, inorganic material (rocks, earth crust, unconsolidated minerals)
air density
stuff in given amount of space; mass/unit volume
what characteristics do you need for a good map
title, date, legend, scale, direction, location, data source, projection (taking a sphere and making it flat
conduction
transfer heat from one molecule to another w/o changes in relative position
Land/water temperature contrast
transmission: water absorbs solar energy much deeper, mobility: water is mobile, disperse energy, mixing/convection, evaporative cooling: counteract some of warming, evaporation more present on water
scattering
type of reflecting in which gas molecules and particulate matter in air can deflect light waves and redirect them
passive system
using sun's energy of heating/cooling living spaces
what are the components of the atmosphere?
variable/non variable gas, particulates
adiabatic warming
warming by compression
cryosphere
water frozen as snow/ice
variable gases
water vapor, CO2, Ozone (O3), methane influence weather, temp.. absorb UV radiation --> amount differs in time and space
Declination of the Sun
where sun hitting the earth at 90 degrees (aka sub solar point)
advection
wind moving along surface of the earth. energy transferred in horizontal direction
do maps lie?
yes, yes they do
scale
zoom, level of looking at data; you can ask different questions looking at different scales.
