GEO 206 CH3 – Flashcards
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Big Bang Theory
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The theory that the universe originated about 14 billion years ago when all matter and energy erupted from a singular mass of extremely high density and temperature
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Sun Angle
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The angle at which the Sun's rays strike the Earth's surface at any given point and time. This angle is high at low latitudes and is progressively less at higher latitudes.
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Subsolar Point
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The point on Earth where the sun angle is 90 degrees and solar rotation strikes the surface most directly at any given point.
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Plane of the epiliptic
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The flat plane on which the Earth travels as it revolves around the sun
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Perihelion
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The point of the Earth's orbit where the distance between the Earth and Sun is least
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Aphelion
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The point of the Earth's orbit where the distance between the Earth and Sun is greatest
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Axis
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the line around which the Earth rotates, extending through the poles
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Circle of Illumination
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the great circle on Earth that is the border between night and day.
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International Date Line
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Line generally occurs at 180 degrees longitude, with some variations due to political boundaries, and marks the transition from one day to another on Earth
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Spring Equinox
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Assuming a Northern hemisphere seasonal reference, the Spring Equinox occurs on March 20 or 21, when the subsolar point is located at the Equator.
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Summer Solstice
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Assuming a Northern hemisphere seasonal reference, the summer solstice occurs on June 20 or 21, when the subsolar point is located on the Tropic of Cancer
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Fall Equinox
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Assuming a Northern hemisphere seasonal reference, the Fall Equinox occurs on September 22 or 23, when the subsolar point is located on the Equator
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Winter Solstice
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Assuming a Northern hemisphere seasonal reference, the Winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22, when the subsolar point is at the tropic of Capricorn
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Tropic of Cancer
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the line of latitude 23.5 degree N where the subsolar point is located on the Summer Solstice of the Northern Hemisphere
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Tropic of Capricorn
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The line of latitude at 23.5 degree S where the subsolar point is located on the Winter Solstice in the Northern hemisphere
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Solar noon
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the time of the day when the sun angle reaches its highest point as the Sun arcs across the sky.
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Diunral Cycle
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A 24 hour cycle
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Celestial Dome
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A sphere that shows the Sun's arc relative to the Earth, in the sky.
