Geoscience Exam 1

Geography

Study of Earth

1st Step in the Scientific Method

Observation

2nd Step in the Scientific Method

Question

3rd Step in the Scientific Method

Hypothesis

4th Step in the Scientific Method

Experiment

5th Step in the Scientific Method

Conduct Experiment

6th Step in the Scientific

Conclusion

Lithosphere

Outermost rock & mineral matter

Hydrosphere

Vapor, liquid, ice water in air, surface & crust

Bisophere

Distribution of all organisms

Atmosphere

Thin, gaseous veil held to Earth by Gravity

Interaction of Spheres

Interconnected Systems, Equilibrium, Feedback Loops

Interconnected Systems

Change in one system affects another

Equilibrium

Inputs and outputs in balance

Feedback Loops

Outputs “feedback” as inputs reinforcing change

Age of the Universe

13.8 Billion Years Old

Where did the big band theory come from?

Astronomy

Red Shift

Rate of movement speed & distance of other galaxies moving away

Age of our Solar System

4.5 Billion Years

How can we tell the age of our solar system?

Radioactive Decay of elements

Our sun is at the exact center

False - off-center

How many planets are in our solar system?

8

How big is Earth?

24,901 Miles (10 United States)

Deepest Trench

Mariana

Earth’s Shape

Oblate Spheroid

Earth’s Axial Tilt

23.5*

Axis is perpendicular to equator

True

Great Circle

Any plane that bisects a sphere, passing through its center (divided into two equal halves)

Examples of a Great Circle

Hemispheres

Great Circle Route

path between two points along the arc is shortest route compared to straight

Small Circles

Do not pass through Earth’s center

Graticule

Earth’s grid system

Prime Meridian Location

Greenwich England

60 minutes in

one degree

What causes seasons?

Rotation, revolution, axis tilt, polarity

Polarity

north pole stays consistent in the direction it points revolving around the sun

Seasonal changes vary by

latitude

Declination of the sun

latitude receiving vertical ray

Solar Altitude

Sun’s height over the horizon

Tropical latitudes are colder due to high sun angles

False - They are warmer

Polar Latitudes are

cooler

International Date Line

The line marking a time difference of an entire day from on side of the line to the other (180* meridian)

Map is a true depiction of the earth

False - Globe

Map Scale

Relationship between distance on the map & the actual distance on the ground

Types of map scales

Graphic, fractional, verbal

Cylindrical Projection

“Wrap” globe in cylinder

Cons of cylindrical projection

size distortion greatest away from circle of tangency

Mercator Map

Used European imperialist attitudes (1569)

Con of mecator map

distorts size of nations and continents

Planar Projection

project globe onto flate surface at point of tangency

Con of planar projection

typically only shows one hemisphere

Conic Projection

projects globe with base as a standard parallel

Con of conic projection

Distortion of nations & continents further from the point of tangency

Interrupted Projection

minimizes distortion of landmasses by “interrupting” oceanic regions

Goode’s Projection

Interrupted Projection

Isoline

line joining points of equal value

Types of isolines

topographic (elevation contour line), isotherms, isobars, isohyet

Isobars

atmospheric pressurei

Isohyet

precipitation

Digital Elevation Model

shaded-relief digital images showing elevation; shows elevation

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

GPS

GPS uses trilateration method

measures distances - t*v=s

Remote Sensing

process of detecting & monitoring physical characteristic’s of Earth’s surface & atmosphere from a distance

Electromagnetic Radiation

light measured in photos

Multispectral Remote Sensing

sensing detects and records many wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum

GIS

Geographic information systems; computer systems

Radar

Sending a pulse of radio energy off the earth & it comes back

Sonar

Sending a pulse of sound

Lidar

reflected laser light to measure distances & three-dimensional information

Overlay Analysis

two or more layers of data compromised

Blue has the smallest wavelength

true

Size of 50% atmospheric mass

3.8 miles

Density inc/dec with increasing altitude?

decreases

how old is the atmosphere

4 billion years old

How were early gases altered?

volcanic eruptions & comets

Amoebas consumed CO2 and released O2 through photosynthesis

true

How much nitrogen in the atmosphere?

78%

How much oxygen in the atmosphere?

20%

How much argon in the atmosphere?

1%

What are the permanent gases?

Nitrogen, oxygen, argon

Variable Gases

Water vapor, CO2,O3

O3

Ozone found in the stratosphere

Particulates (Aerosols)

larger nongaseous particles

Vertical Layers

Defined based on temperature changes

Troposphere

lowest layer (weather layer)H

How high is the troposphere

5-13 milesS

Stratosphere

Gets warmer, ozone layer

Why does the stratosphere get warmer?

Ozone absorbs the uv energy

Mesophere

Cools down; middle layer

Thermosphere

Particles interact with intense heat of the sun to produce ion, makes it warmer

Exosphere

outermost layer

Air Pressure

Weight of overlying air

where is 90% of the air pressure located?

within 10mi above sea level

Heaviest to lightest

Nitrogen, O2, helium, hydrogen

Ozone hole

severe thinning of ozone at south pole

Primary Pollutants

CO, nitrogen, sulfur (carbon based fuel

Secondary Pollutants

React with UV light (volatile & photochemical smog)

Volatile Organic Compounds

Hydrocarbons & other gases emitted from products or processesT

Types of volatile organic compounds

hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, acetone, chloroform, benzene

Photochemical Smog

forms when nitrogen oxidizes & VOC react to sunlight (brown haze)