Block 1 – Geography – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answers| Insolation |
| Incoming Solar Radiation |
| Solstice |
| 1st day of Summer & Winter seasons, June 21 and December 21. They have the most tilt. The sun is shining on the Tropic of Cancer/Capricorn |
| Specific Heat |
| The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1° C |
| Subsolar Point |
| The location on the Earth where the Sun is directly overhead |
| Equinox |
| the 2 days during the year when the declination of the Sun is at the equator. March Equinox(Vernal) -> March 20 or 21; September Equinox(Autumnal) -> September 22 or 23; all locations but poles recieve 12 hrs daylight |
| Greenhouse Effect |
| Causes Earth's atmosphere to trap more heat energy at the Earth's surface & within the Atmosphere by absorbing and re-emitting long-wave energy. Of the long-wave energy emitted back to space, 90% is intercepted & absorbed by greenhouse gasses (GhG). Without the Greenhouse Effect Earth's average global temp would be -18°C. There has been an increase in GhG in the past few centuries, warming the planet |
Environmental Lapse Rate (ELR) |
| Rate which air temp increases or decreases as altitude changes. Average ELR in the trophosphere is an air temp decrease of 6.5°C per each 1000 meters increase in elevation |
Earth and Sun Rotation, Revolution, Tilt |
Rotation- occurs every 24 hrs. Earth spins on its Polar Axis, the line which bisects the Earth. Creates North and South Poles Revolution- occurs every 365 days. Earth's orbit is elliptical, not circular Tilt- 23.5° |
Conduction Convection Advection |
- transfer of heat from molecule to molecule -Vertical transfer of heat -Horizontal transfer of heat |
| Adiabatic Cooling/Warming |
Cooling occurs by expansion and spreading of molecules Warming occurs by compression and condensing molecules |
| Latent Heat |
Energy stored and released -Evaporation is the transfer of liquid to gas; condensation is the transfer of gas to liquid |
Land & Water Heating and Cooling |
Heating: Land heats much faster that water b/c it has a lower specific heat Cooling: Land cools much quicker than water same reason ^ Moderate each other: Atmospheric Circulation- Air Movement Ocean Circulation- Currents |
| Environmental Lapse Rate |
Trend of change in atmospheric temp due to lower altitude Average Lapse Rate: Average vertical gradient within the atmosphere |
| Temperature Controls |
1. Altitude 2. Latitude 3. Land/Water 4. Ocean Currents |
| Terminator Line |
| Divide between day and night |
| Albedo |
Reflectivity of anything High or low |
Anti-Cyclone |
[image] An atmospheric pressure system consisting of an area of high pressure and outward circular surface wind flow. In the Northern Hemisphere winds from an anticyclone blow clockwise, while Southern Hemisphere systems blow counterclockwise. |
Cyclone |
Area of low pressure in the atmosphere that displays circular inward movement of air. In the Northern Hemisphere circulation is counterclockwise, while Southern Hemisphere cyclones have clockwise wind patterns. |
Monsoon |
A regional scale wind system that predictably change direction with the passing of the seasons. Monsoon winds blow from land to sea in the winter, and from sea to land in the summer. Summer monsoons are often accompanied with precipitation. |
Hadley Cell |
[image] Three-dimensional atmospheric circulation cell located at roughly 0 to 30° North and South of the equator. The Hadley cell consists of rising air (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone) at the equator and descending air (subtropical highs) at 30° North and South. |
Polar Front |
Weather front located typically in the mid-latitudes that separates arctic and polar air masses from tropical air masses. Along the polar front we get the development of the mid-latitude cyclone. Above the polar front exists the polar jet stream |
Westerlies |
Dominant winds of the mid-latitudes. These winds move from the subtropical highs to the Sub-Polar from west to east |
Global Circulation Atmospheric Pressure |
| -Force exerted on Earth by gas molecules, weight of the atmosphere on us |
| Dynamic Infuence |
Dynamic High- Strong, sinking air Dynamic Low- strong, rising air Thermal High- Very Cold Surface
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