Physical Geography: The Global Environment Units 1-6 – Flashcards
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spatial
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relates to the distribution of physical components of the natural environment
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geomorphology
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subfield of physical geography relating to geology
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climatology
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subfield of physical geography relating to meteorology
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biogeography
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subfield of physical geography relating to biology
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plant geography
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subfield of physical geography relating to botany
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zoogeography
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subfield of physical geography relating to zoology
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soil geography
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subfield of physical geography relating to pedology
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marine geography
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subfield of physical geography relating to marine science
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water resources
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subfield of physical geography relating to hydrology
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scientific method
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1) observe phenomena 2) formulate a hypothesis 3) design an experiment 4) predict the outcome 5) conduct the experiment 6) draw conclusions
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valid data
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used to evaluate hypotheses
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theory
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hypothesis that best fits the observed data and helps to explain/answer a question
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open system
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mass can be gained or lost; both input and output
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closed system
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mass cannot be gained or lost; no input/output
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positive feedback
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doesn't maintain homeostasis; ends up in different condition
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negative feedback
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maintains homeostasis; ends up at starting condition
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dynamic equilibrium
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supply and removal are equal
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lithosphere
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rocks and mineral matter
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atmosphere
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mixture of gases
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hydrosphere
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water in all forms
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cryosphere
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frozen water in all forms
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biosphere
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all life living on the surface
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ellipsoid
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3D object that is elliptical in cross-section (Earth)
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hemisphere
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half of a sphere
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distribution of land on Earth
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around 30%
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distribution of sea on Earth
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around 70%
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latitude
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angle of horizontal measurement; 0 to 90 degrees
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longitude
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angle of vertical measurement; 0 to 180 degrees
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meridians
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lines of longitude that extend from north to south poles
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parallels
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lines of latitude that are perpendicular to meridians
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Prime Meridian
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line of longitude that cuts the Earth in half at 0 degrees
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International Date Line
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line of longitude that separates two calendar days
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Equator
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line of latitude that cuts the Earth in half at 0 degrees
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Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
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system of satellite technologies providing precise location data (ex. GPS)
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map projection
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Earth's curved surface transformed for display on flat surface
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4 types of distortion
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shape, relative area, distance, direction
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cylindrical projection
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shows true direction, but distorts high latitudes
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planar projection
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good for showing polar regions, but distorts direction and distance
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conic projection
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good for showing a small area
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equivalent map projection
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size and ratio of areas are maintained; distorts shapes on small-scale maps
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conformal map projection
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proper angular relationships are maintained; distorts size of an area
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isoline map
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shows contours of equal values
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Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
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computer systems that analyze spatial data
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remote sensing
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any measurement by a device not in contact with Earth's surface (ex. aerial photography)
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rotation
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Earth's movement around the axis
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revolution
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Earth's movement around the Sun (orbit)
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perihelion
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Earth is closest to Sun (Jan. 3)
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aphelion
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Earth is farthest from Sun (July 4)
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equinox
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every parallel of latitude is half in light and half in darkness ("equal nights")
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solstice
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vertical rays reach Tropics of Cancer/Capricorn at 90 degrees ("Sun stands still")
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circle of illumination
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boundary between one half of light and one half of darkness
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insolation
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incoming solar radiation
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subsolar point
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Latitude of the subsolar point, or Sun's declination, is never farther than 23.5 degrees N or S of Equator
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solar noon position
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-Vertical Sun is at Equator on equinoxes -Vertical Sun is at Tropic of Cancer on June Solstice -Vertical Sun is at Tropic of Capricorn on December Solstice
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solar altitude
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angle of the Sun above the horizon
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energy
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the ability to do work or cause change
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electromagnetic spectrum
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electromagnetic radiation of all wavelengths
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shortwave radiation
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composed of visible light, ultraviolet light, and short infrared light (nearly all solar radiation is shortwave)
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longwave radiation
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composed of thermal infrared radiation (all terrestrial radiation is longwave)
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global radiation balance
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incoming solar radiation is either reflected (back to space), transmitted (throughout atmosphere), or absorbed (by atmosphere or surface)
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heat
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transfer of energy between two objects/substances
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temperature
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average kinetic energy of the motion of molecules in a substance
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heat transfer
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always transferred from warmer object to cooler object
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sensible heat
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heat that can be sensed by touch
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latent heat
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heat that is used and stored when a substance changes state of matter; cannot be sensed/measured
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radiation
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transfer of heat through wavelengths
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conduction
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transfer of heat by direct contact between two substances
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convection
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transfer of heat by vertical currents
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advection
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transfer of heat by horizontal currents
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albedo
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percentage of incident energy reflected
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greenhouse effect
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warming resulting from differential transmission of shortwave and longwave radiation
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enhanced greenhouse effect
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increase in certain gases in the atmosphere may lead to an increase in the amount of long wave radiation emitted by the Earth
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net radiation
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difference between incoming and outgoing radiation
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constant gas
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gas that shows little seasonal variation and changes little from year to year (N2,O2,Ar)
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nitrogen
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most abundant gas in the atmosphere (~78%)
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oxygen
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second most abundant gas (~22%)
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argon
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inert gas that is present in the atmosphere (~1%)
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variable gas
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gas that is present in varying quantities (H2O, CO2, O3)
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water vapor
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varies by location
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carbon dioxide
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fairly even distribution in lower atmosphere
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ozone
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found mostly in stratosphere
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troposphere
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lowest layer of the atmosphere; temp decreases with increasing altitude
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stratosphere
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layered air; temp increases with increasing altitude
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mesosphere
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temp increases with increasing altitude
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exosphere
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transitions into interplanetary space
