Geography 101-Exam 1 Study Guide – Flashcards
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Geography
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study of...patterns (spatial) and distributions on the earth.
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What is science?
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a process of gaining knowledge.
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Four Spheres
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Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, and Biosphere
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Atmosphere
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air that surrounds the earth; exchanges in energy in the atmosphere provide weather
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Hydrosphere
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ALL weather on earth
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Lithosphere
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the solid earth
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Biosphere
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ALL life on earth
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Scientific Method
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Premise: universe is orderly, we can figure it out 1. observation 2. hypothesis 3. experimentation 4. "predict" outcome of experiment 5. draw conclusion based on the experiment
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Earth's orbit around the sun:
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Orbit is an ellipse, counterclockwise (left to right), completes a full revolution around the sun in 365 and a half days. Causes: day/night, tides in the ocean (gravity of the moon), and deflection of winds and other fluids (Coriolis effect)
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Plane of the Ecliptic
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plane of the earth's orbit
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Perihelion
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point in the earth's orbit when it is CLOSEST to the sun (January 3rd)
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Aphelion
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point in the earth's orbit when it is the FARTHEST to the sun (July 4th)
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Angle of Inclination
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the tilt of earth's rotational axis relative to its orbital plane (the plane of the ecliptic) -axis is tilted 23.5 degrees
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Angle of Incidence
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the angle at which the sun's rays strike the earth's surface
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Circle of Illumination
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the edge to the sunlit hemisphere that is a great circle separating earth into a light half and a dark half
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Latitude
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Measures angular distance north and sound of the equator; runs EAST to WEST.
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Lines of Latitude
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In degrees: Equator-0 Tropic of Cancer-23.5 N Tropic of Capricorn-23.5 S Arctic Circle-66.5 N Antarctic Circle-66.5 S North Pole-90 N South-90 S
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Longitude
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Measures angular distance east and west of the Prime Meridian; runs NORTH to SOUTH and converge at the poles. All the same length.
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Characteristics of Latitude
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Expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds (360 degreed in a circle, 60 minutes in one degree, and 60 seconds in one minute). Decreases in length from the equator to the poles. Measures up to 90 degrees.
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How many degrees on the earth's surface represent one-hour difference in time?
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Every hour earth rotates 15 degrees (360/24=15) Two places that are 15 degrees apart east and west, are one hour apart sun time.
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If you go west, is time getting earlier or later?
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It is 1hr earlier for every 15 degrees of longitude.
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If you of east, is time getting earlier or later?
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It is 1hr later for every 15 degrees of longitude.
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What happens when you cross the International Dateline?
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The calendar changes not the clock. west to east=one day earlier east to west=one day later
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International Dateline
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The line marking a time difference of an entire day from one side of the line to the other. Located in the middle of a time zone and does not follow a straight line. Centered on the 180 degree meridian (longitude).
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Great Circle
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a circle whose center coincides with the center of the earth; divides the world/sphere in half (Great Meridians)
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Equinox
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the time/date (twice each year) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, 12 hrs of daylight and 12hrs of darkness.
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Solstice
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When the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marked by the longest and shortest days. Summer solstice= June 21 Winter solstice= December 21
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What is the earth's shape?
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Oblate spheroid (flat at the poles)
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What is a map projection?
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An orderly system of parallels and meridians used as a basis for drawing a map. Maps cannot correctly show...size of areas, shape of areas nor distance and direction.
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Mercator Projection
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also called a conformal projection, shows areas in correct shape but not the right size (originally for navigation).
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Scale
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The relationship between the length on a map and the actual distance on the ground. scale=distance on map/distance on ground
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Graphic Scale
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(linear scale) uses a marked line to show the scale
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Verbal Scale
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states the scale in words (can't be used on a map that has been altered in size)
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Representative Fraction
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(fractional scale) uses a ratio to show the scale-uses no units; you get to choose what unit
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Equal Area (equivalent) Projections
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areas in correct relative size (important for showing worldwide distributions) but do not show correct shape on large scale
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Compromise Projections
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shows proper shape/size, but still not completely correct
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Rhumb Line
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line of constant compass bearing; straight and good for navigation
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Isoline
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a line on a map joining points of equal value
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Contour Line
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draw through lines of equal elevation; bends upslope in valleys and bends downslope on a ridge
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Isotherm
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equal temperature (weather map)
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Isobar
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equal atmosphere pressure
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Isohyet
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equal ptrecipitaion
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Depression Contour
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indicates a fall in elevation; is the same as the next proceeding contour line
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Topographic Map
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a map that uses contour lines to show the shape of the earth's surface
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Contour Interval
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vertical distance between contour lines
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Remote Sensing
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is any measurement or acquisition of information by a recording device that is not in physical contact with the object under study-earth's surface
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GPS
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"global positioning system" a global navigation satellite system for determining accurate positions on or near earth's surface. aced on a constellation of about 24 satellites, accuracy is about 1 meter.
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GIS
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"geographic information system" is a database system that works with spatial data, uses layers of information
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What is the order of thermal layers of the earth's atmosphere?
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1.Troposphere 2.Stratosphere 3.Mesosphere 4.Thermosphere 5.Exosphere
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Troposphere
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Turbulence, vertical mixing of gases (tropos=turn) Closest to the surface and contains the most weather, water vapor, gases and air pressure. Temperature and air pressure decreases as you increase in altitude.
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Stratosphere
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Contains the ozone layer, temperature up to about 0 degrees C. Similar composition to troposphere.
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Ozone Layer
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O3-molecule containing 3 atoms of oxygen. Found in the stratosphere, absorbs UV light and is depleted by CFC's (artificial gases).
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Mesosphere
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Middle layer, temperatures down to -84 degrees C. Temperature is cold because there is no movement to cause warmth.
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Thermosphere
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"Thermo=heat" highest temperature in the atmosphere (49 degrees C). Molecules absorb short wavelength solar radiation; the individual mole clued contain a lot of heat energy but the molecules are so spread out due to low air pressure that the temperature is still cold.
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Exosphere
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Outermost layer, contains traces of atmospheric gases and has no definite upper boundary
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Particulates in weather
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particulates are very tiny solid particles in the atmosphere. They tend to absorb or reflect sunlight which effect the temperature. Many are hygroscopic (absorb water) and water vapor condenses around such condensation nuclei, creating cloud formation.
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Conduction
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transfer of energy from one molecule to another
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Convection
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Transfer of energy by a moving fluid
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Why does warm air rise?
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the molecules in the wire mover faster and spread out (air is less dense) so other air molecules that are denser will push the warm air up. Cool air subsides.
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Advection
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the horizontal movement of air
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Evaporation
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Liquid water changes its physical state to gas-puts moisture into the atmosphere. When water evaporates, heat is absorbed and the surroundings are cooled.
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Condensation
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Gas changes its physical state to liquid-removes water vapor from the atmosphere. When water condenses, heat is released and the surroundings are warmed.
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Latent Heat
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Energy stored or released when a substance changes its physical state (evaporation/condensation)
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Absorption
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the ability of an object to assimilate energy from electromagnetic waves that strike it (rock, soil) raises temperature
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Reflection
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the ability of an object to repel electromagnetic wars that strike it (mirror)
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Transmission
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the process where electromagnetic waves pass completely through a medium, as when light waves are transmitted through a pane of clear, colorless glass.
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Terrestrial Radiation
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Longwave radiation emitted by earth's surface or atmosphere. Peak=inferred light
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Insolation
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incoming solar radiation
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Solar Constant
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Total amount of energy received at the top of earth's atmosphere (about 2 calories per square centimeter per minute)
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Adiabatic
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The vertical movement of air due to changes in pressure. Cooling=cooling by expansion, air rising up Warming=warming by compression, such as in descanting air
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Normal Lapse Rate
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the average rate of decrease in temperature with altitude in the Troposphere
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Visible Light
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Waves in the electromagnetic spectrum in the narrow band between about 0.4 and 0.7 micrometers in length; wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to which the human eye is sensitive (solar radiation peak).
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Ultraviolet Radiation
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"ultraviolet light" wavelengths of radiation just shorted than the human eye can sense, with wave lengths from 0.01 to 0.4 micrometers
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Shortwave Radiation
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Wavelengths of radiation emitted by the sun, especially ultraviolet, visible and short infrared radiation
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Longwave Radiation
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Wavelengths of thermal in fared radiation emitted by earth and the atmosphere; terrestrial radiation
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Albedo
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The amount of energy reflected by an object (earth's is about 30%). Energy absorbed by the atmosphere directly heats up the atmosphere-ozone layer absorbs 3% of incoming radiation.
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Solar Radiation
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Almost 50% of incident solar radiation is transmitted by the atmosphere and absorbed by earth's surface.
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Greenhouse Effect
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The absorption of longwave terrestrial radiation by CO2, water vapor and other gases in the atmosphere-retains heat in the earth's atmosphere.
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Earth's Energy Budget
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The annual balance between incoming and outgoing radiation
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Land vs. Water
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Water temperatures are less extreme than temperatures on land.
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Thermal Inversion
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Temperature increases with altitude for some distance within the troposphere
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Continental Climates
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more extremes of temperature (hotter in summer, colder in winter)
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Maritime Climates
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more moderate, less citation in temperature
