The Global Environment: Chapter 1 – Introduction to the Earth – Flashcards
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System
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a group of parts that work together as a whole
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Energy
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the ability to do work or cause change
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Atmosphere
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The gaseous envelope of air that surrounds Earth. It also contains the complex mixture of gases needed to sustain life.
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Geosphere
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Hydrosphere
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(hydro is Greek for water) comprises water in all its forms. Oceans contain the vast majority of the water found on Earth and are the moisture source for most precipitation. A subcomponent of the hydrosphere is known as the cryosphere (cry comes from the Greek word for "cold") --water frozen as snow and ice.
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Biosphere
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(bio - Greek for "life") - encompasses all the parts of Earth where living organisms can exist; in its broadest and loosest sense, the term also includes the vase variety of earthly life forms.
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Lithosphere
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Solid, inorganic portion of Earth (litho is Greek for "stone"), comprising the rocks of the Earth's crust as well as the unconsolidated particles of mineral matter that overlie the solid bedrock
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Asthenosphere
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Closed Systems
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Self-contained and therefore isolated from influences outside the system. Earth as a whole is essentially a closed system with regard to matter.
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Open Systems
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Most Earth systems are 'open systems' - both energy and matter are exchanged across the system boundary. Matter and energy that enter the system are called 'inputs' and losses from the system to its surroundings are called 'outputs'. E.G. a glacier behaves as an open system - the material inputs to a glacier include water in the form of snow and ice; the material outputs of a glacier include melt water and water vapor lost to the atmosphere, as well as the rock transported and eventually deposited by the ice.
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Equilibrium
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When inputs and outputs are in balance over time, the conditions within a system remain the same; such a system can be described as being in equilibrium.
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What are the differences between physical geography and cultural geography?
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Physical geography primarily focuses on patterns in the aural environment and on human interaction with the environment; cultural geography primarily focuses on patterns of human activity and culture.
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Why are physical geographers interested in globalization?
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Many patterns and processes in the natural environment can be influenced by economic activity--such as the consequences of the extraction of resources or the burning of fossil fuels; economic in one part of the world can influence the environment in another part.
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Why is the phrase "scientific proof" somewhat misleading?
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Science uses evidence to eliminate unsupported ideas or hypothesis; science must always leave open the possibility that new evidence will cause us to come to new conclusions.
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What is the difference between a positive feedback loop and a negative feedback loop?
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Positive feedback loop - change in one direction tends to reinforce change in that direction; with a negative feedback loop - change tends to bring the system back toward equilibrium.
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Contrast the characteristics of the terrestrial and Jovian planets in our solar system
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Terrestrial planets are relatively small and are composed primarily of mineral material; Jovian planets are larger, less dense, and composed primarily of gases, liquids and ices.
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Inner Terrestrial Planets
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Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars--are generally smaller, denser and less oblate (more nearly spherical), and they rotate more slowly on their axes.
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Outer Jovian Planets
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Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They tend to be much larger, more massive (although they are less dense), and much more oblate (less perfectly spherical) because they rotate more rapidly. Jovian planets are mostly composed of elements such as hydrogen and helium--liquid near the surface, but frozen toward the interior--as well as ices of compounds such as methane and ammonia.
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What are earth's highest and lowest points, and what is the approximate elevation difference between them?
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Earth's highest point is Mount Everest (8850 meters; 29,035 ft) and its lowest point is the bottom of the Mariana Trench (-11,033 m or -36,198 ft)
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What is a great circle? Provide an example
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A great circle is the largest circle that can be drawn on a sphere, dividing it into two hemispheres; the equator is a great circle.
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Why are lines of latitude called parallels?
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Because all parallels are parallel to each other--they never cross or touch
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Are locations in North America described by east longitude or west longitude?
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North America is west of the prime meridian, so it is described by west longitude.
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Distinguish between Earth's rotation and its revolution
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Earth rotates or "spins" on its axis; Earth revolves, or "orbits" around the Sun.
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Does the North Pole lean toward the Sun throughout the Year? If not, how does the North Pole's orientation change during the year?
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No; the North Pole leans most directly toward the Sun on the June solstice and leans most directly away from the Sun on the December solstice.
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What is the latitude of the vertical rays of the Sun on the June solstice?
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23.5 degree North
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How much does day length at the equator change during the year?
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Not at all--the equator has virtually 12 hours of daylight everyday of the year
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On which days of the year do the vertical rays of the Sun strike the equator?
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On the March equinox and September equinox.
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How many months of the year does the North Pole go without sunlight?
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6 months
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What happens to the hour when crossing from one time zone to the next going from west to east?
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Crossing from west to east into a new time zone it becomes one hour.
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What happens to the day when crossing the IDL going from west to east?
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Crossing the International Date Line going from west to east it becomes the previous day.
