Geography 101! exam 1

Understand the concept of Earth's global radiation budget, and know which general areas of latitude have a radiation surplus and which have a radiation deficit.

69 % of radiation absorbed. energy is balances, so energy is absorbed more at the equator then at the poles.

Describe how and why net radiation varies spatially across the Earth

69% of earths energy is absorbed, and energy is balanced everywhere on earth. the earth absorbs more at the equator than at the poles

Chloroflurocarbons

A compound causing ozone depletion. This reaction occurs in Antarctica causing a hole in the ozone layer

Name and explain the three things that can happen when solar radiation reaches the atmosphere

Absorption, reflection, scattering

electromagnetic spectrum

All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation

how do seasons work.

Earth's tilt: 23.5* Seasons depend on tilt towards the sun -Northern hemisphere tilted towards sun: summer -Southern Hemisphere tilted towards sun: winter -Light equally obtained: spring/fall

Explain how the amount of radiation differs between hotter and colder objects.

Hotter objects emit greater amounts of radiations cooler objects emit a smaller amount of radiation

Know the components of the geographic grid, such as longitude and latitude, and where all of the important lines of latitude and longitude

Longitude: measure E to W but run Up and down - 0*: prime meridian -180*: international date line Latitude: measure N to S but run side to side

Meridian (Longitude Lines)

Run N to S, but measure E to W of the prime meridian. (Intersect at poles)

what happens to the suns angle at the poles

The angle is more spread out causing indirect sun radiation and causing cooler temperatures

Describe what windchill and heat index are, why we have those measurements, and what items are used to calculate them.

Winchill: combines air temperature and wind speed. -uses wind chill index Heat index: combines actual air temp and relative humidity -uses heat index

auroras

a natural electrical phenomenon characterized by the appearance of streamers of reddish or greenish light in the sky, usually near the northern or southern magnetic pole.

where are remote sensing images taken from

above, but the angles don't matter

absorption

absorption of suns radiation

Explain what air pressure is, what causes differences in air pressure across Earth, and how it affects the flow of air

air pressure: weight of air -what causes diff? -air density: greatest near earths surface because of gravity - Air temp: causes pressure changes at the surface Hot air rises, cold air sinks

Physical Geography

branch of geography dealing with natural features and and processes

what does the suns angle do

causes a spread of radiation

perihelion

closest point to the sun

coriolis effect

created by earths rotation; northern hemisphere objects pulled to the Right; Southern Hemisphere objects pulled to the Left

montreal protocol

eliminate CFC's from aerosol cans

shortwave radiation

emitted by the sun; warmer objects

longwave radiation

emitted from earth; cooler objects

equinox

equal hours of light and dark (12/12)

plane of the ecliptic

flat plane that lines the planets with the sun

frictional force

forces causes air to slow down and move in irregular patterns

aphelion

furthest point from the sun

greenhouse gases

gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing inferred radiation (CO2, CFC's)

latent heat

heat energy stored in molecular bonds

sensible heat

heat energy that can be felt or measured

anticyclone

high pressure system that moves clockwise (to R)

advection

horizontal movement of air (Air moves in from the side)

Wien's law

hotter objects emit more of their energy at shorter wavelengths

Stefan-Boltzmann Law

hotter objects emit more radiation

insolation at the equator

insolation more concentrated because more direct radiation from sun

insolation at the poles

insolation more spread out due to the indirect rays having a wider space to cover.

what happens to the suns angle at the equator

it is a straight angle, so direct radiation from the sun

pressure gradient force

known as wind, air flows from high to low causing heat to rise

absolute location

location according to a fixed reference system (Latitude and Longitude)

relative location

location based on the location of something else

maritime effect

location near a body of water causing a more constant temperature throughout the year

cyclone

low pressure system that moves counterclockwise (to L)

spring equinox

march 21

Know what the electromagnetic spectrum is, and be able to identify where different types of radiation fall on the spectrum

measures range of electromagnetic energy. Shorter wavelengths-longer Gamma rays, X-rays, UV rays, Visible light, infrared, microwaves, radar, TV/radio

arctic circle

most northern polar circle. summer: 24 hr sunlight, causing melting winter: sun never rises causing frigid temperature

antarctic circle

most southern polar circle. Summer: days where sun doesn't rise winter: days w/ 24 hour sunlight

constant gases

nitrogen (78.08%), oxygen(20.95%), argon(.93%)

insolation

physical processes on earth are powered by incoming radiation

subsolar point

point on earth where the sun is directly overhead

Scattering

reflection of radiation in all directions

albedo

reflectivity of a surface

Rayleigh Scattering

scattering of light by particles in a medium, without change in wavelength. accounts for Blue sky because since blue light is scattered more efficiently than red

Fall equinox

september 21

Explain the difference between shortwave and longwave radiation and what types of objects emit each.

shortwave radiation comes from the sun and it emits a greater amount of radiation (gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet) longwave radiation comes from the earth and it emits a smaller amount of radiation (visible light, infrared, Tv/radio)

Know when the two equinoxes and two solstices are, and know which hemisphere (if any) is pointed toward the sun at each one.

spring/ fall equinoxes have same amt of daylight/night (12/12); sun is equally distributed into both hemispheres -Sept. 21: fall equinox -March 21: spring equinox Winter/summer solstice: when the sun reaches the highest/lowest point in the sky -winter solstice: Dec. 21 (shortest day);southern hemisphere faces sun -Summer solstice: June 21 (longest day); northern hemisphere faces sun

Geographic Information System (GIS)

stores geographic data in a series of layers. those layers contained measurements of a specific variable

winter solstice

sun directly over the tropic of Capricorn (Shortest day)

summer solstice

sun directly over the tropic of cancer (Longest day)

continental effect

surrounded by landmasses, which causes more changes in temperature throughout the year

Explain what causes wind

the pressure gradient force causes wind because air flows from high to low causing rising. and the steeper the flow causes faster air flow

Explain the problem with Earth's ozone hole and what is causing it.

the problem is that CFC's (chlorofluorocarbons) breakdown ozone making it O2 where we don't have natural protection. and Ozone protects us from UV rays which causes skin cancer

solar constant

the rate at which solar energy reaches the earths surface from the sun

Cartogrophy

the science of making maps effectively

Remote Sensing

using remotely gathered images to visualize and quantify features of the earths surface

convection

vertical movement of heat (Air rises)

Explain why we have time zones and why each one is roughly 15 degrees wide

we have 24 time zones for the 24 hours in a day. each time zones is 15* wide because It takes one hour to rotate 15*

time zones

24 times zones for 24 hours; 15* longitude

Reflection

31%; radiation bounces off the surface in 1 direction

variable gases

**H20 (water vapor): -amt depends on: closeness to a body of water and air temperature - importance: forms clouds/ rainfall(precipitation), regulates temperature, transfers energy **CO2: ~.04 -vital in moderation **Ozone: - absorbs UV radiation - occurs in 2 layers: Atmosphere (UV absorbing layer) and ground level (form of pollution)

Describe Earth's place in space, its orbit around the sun, rotation, and axial tilt

- 3rd from sun -365.24= 1 earth revolution around sun -rotation: 1 rotation every 24 hours -earth's tilt: 23.5

Explain the concept of albedo, know how it affects radiation transfer

-Albedo is the ability to reflect. -albedo affects radiation transfer if there is a low albedo more radiation gets absorbed by earth causing temperature to rise, but if high albedo the earth is more reflective causing cooling of earth

Describe how a high pressure system forms and moves (Cyclonic)

-High pressure systems form due to air heating and rising upwards(Convection) causing clouds and storms. -moves counterclockwise or to the left

why is remote sensing useful

-detecting change -using different colors to depict different things in the images

Describe the large-scale factors that influence temperature and explain how they all work.

-Latitude: location -seasons/length of day: earths tilt/ hours of sun -Time of day -maritime/ continental locations: maritime: near water stays more constant then continental which isn't.

parallels (Latitude Lines)

-Lines run east to west, but measure position N or S of equator. -equal in distance; highest is 90* N or S.

tropic of cancer

23.5 degrees north; furthest north the sun can appear directly overhead

tropic of Capricorn

23.5 degrees south; furthest south the sun can appear directly overhead

Describe how a low pressure system forms and moves (Anticyclonic)

-low pressure systems form due to air rushing in from the sides(advection) and curving counterclockwise(right)

why is CO2 needed in moderation

-plants need it for photosynthesis -regulates temperature (keeps in heat)

Explain what remote sensing and GIS are, including the differences between the two and how they can be used together.

-remote sensing is using remotely gathered images to visualize and quantify features on earths surface. these photos are taken from above. -Geographic Info Systems (GIS) are geographic data in layers that measure a specific variable. -Differences: GIS require layers of data, Remote sensing pics taken from above arial, GIS pics taken closer showing layers -how they are used together: a remote sensing image can be a layer in a GIS.

how does the lithosphere/ biosphere

-soil (lithosphere) determines type of plants that can grow -plants grow roots (biosphere) removes nutrients from soil -material returned back to soil through roots (annual leaf fall)

Describe the composition of the atmosphere, name each of the variable and constant gases, and explain how/why they are important.

-the atmosphere is made up of the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere -constant gases: Nitrogen (78.08%), Oxygen (20.95%), Argon (.93%) -Variable gases: Less that 1% (CO2, water vapor, ozone) term-78

how does the atmosphere/ hydrosphere interact

-water evaporates from Lake Erie into atmosphere -condensation, forming clouds -rainfall from atmosphere to Lake Erie

equator

0* latitude, divides the planet into N/S hemispheres

Prime meridian

0* longitude, divides the planet into E/W hemispheres

what are the four spheres of earths geography

1) Atmosphere (Gases) 2) Lithosphere (landforms and soils) non living solids 3)hydrosphere (Water) 4) Biosphere (living things) includes bacteria

why does the Continental effect cause more changes in temperature

1) land heats/cools more quickly (doesn't store energy) 2) Lower evaporation rates 3) no mixing of heated or cooled land

why does the maritime effect cause a more constant temperature

1) water heats and cools more slowly, storing energy 2) water can evaporate, which transfers energy to the atmosphere(maintains temperature) 3) water can mix-- transfer heated water to lower depth

Explain how Earth's greenhouse effect works in detail, and what the reason is for our current rate of global warming

1)shortwave radiation from sun absorbed at surface 2)some long wave radiation escapes to space 3)longwave radiation absorbed be greenhouse gases 4) longwave radiation absorbed by greenhouse gases escapes to space 5) longwave radiation absorbed by greenhouse gases heats the earths surface (counter radiation) -CO2 and H2O vapor delay escape of long wave radiation

international date line

180* Longitude lines that start/end each calendar day