Earth Science Q2 Exam

Science

a way of knowing investigating the physical world through observation & experiments

Earth Science

Study of Earth its place in the universe

Geology, Hydrology, Atmospheric science, Enviornmental Science, Astronomy

5 main branches of earth science

scientific inquiry

identifying correlations 4 other patterns," then investigating testing possible causes that might explain correlation

model

any rep. that serves as a tool for thinking about visualizing natural phenomena or to develop solutions to problems

hypothesis

a possible explanation for a phenomenon that can be tested to determine whether it is supported by evidence

experiment

a way to test a hypothesis using a controlled procedure that produced data

peer review

gives scientists an opportunity to evaluate the validity of a scientific investigation

theory

a broader explanation that is already supported by large body of evidence

law

escriptions of phenomenon that are universally accepted and are often expressed mathematically

engineering

field that applies scientific knowledge, math, and human innovation to design solutions to problems

map

 a visual representation of data that illustrates some portion of the world or universe

latitude

run east-west, measured north or south of the Equator (Flatitude)

longitude

run north-south, measured West or East of the Prime Meridian

equator

prime meridian

runs through Greenwich, England

international date line

The line of longitude on the opposite side of Earth from the PM

GPS

global positioning system - a network of satellites receivers that collects various types of data to make maps

GIS

geographic information systems- computer systems that capture/ compile, layer different types of spatial data to make mops

contour lines

to mark points that share the same values topography the study of landforms other structures on Earth's surface

topography

the study of landforms other structures on Earth's surface

contour interval

the change in elevation between each isoline on a top. map

Geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere

4 spheres of earth

Innercore, outtercore, mantle, crust

4 layers of geosphere

lithosphere

the crust in the uppermost mantle

97.5

% of saltwater on Earth

71

% of surface is oceans

cryosphere

water in it’s frozen state (1.8 or Earth’s water)

0.64

% of freshwater

atmosphere

mixture of gases-mostly nitrogen oxygen, with smaller amounts of argon, co2, 4 other gases

Troposphere

where is most of the atmosphere located

biosphere

all living things

biodiversity

variety of life

systems

 a combination of interacting parts that form a complex whole

cycles

a sequential process that returns to the start and repeats

gradualism

slow change over long pd of time

catastrophism

rapid events in short times

threshold effect

slow or no initial change to the environment

feedback mechanism

change alters another system component, amplifying original effect

-people have caused great changes in environment

-Extinction, pollution, changes to atmosphere

-Humans are making permanent changes

human impacts to Earth’s systems

Anthropocene

new time pd. argued by scientists

water cycle

 continuing cycling of water through Earth's spheres

carbon cycle

 Describes how carbon is exchanged among the 4 spheres

nitrogen cycle

describes the cycling of Nitrogen through Earth's spheres

algae bloom

Algae dies and decays 4 is eaten by bacteria that use up oxygen in the water- leads to fish kills

Hydrogen and Helium

Composition of earth’s early atmosphere

outgassing

 release of volatile substances, hydrogen methane, from Earth's mantle

78 % nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% other gases

composition of modern atmosphere

barometric pressure

atmospheric pressure- the weight of the atmosphere per unit area

barometer

instrument used to measure barometric pressure

KNOW THIS

density and pressure decrease with elevation

storms

low pressure

clear

high pressure

(closest to furthest) Troposphere, Ozone layer, stratosphere, mesosphere, exosphere

layers of Earth’s atmosphere

acid precipitation

Sulfur nitrogen oxides combine with water vapor in the atmosphere to produce atmospheric aid

Toxic volatiles

vaporates readily and escapes into atmosphere-dioxin from burning of certain chemicals such as PVC

particulates

any small pieces of solid matter such as dust or soot

aerosols

small particles larger than a molecule 4 suspended in air

fly ash

minerals that escape as coal burns

smog

a brown haze that forms when ozone reads with car exhaust

CFC’s

organic compounds containing chlorine and flourine

Montreal Protocol

signed by VS in 1987-global agreement to protect the stratospheric ozone layer

Weather

the state of the atmosphere at a given place and time

climate

the characteristic of a region, particularly temp and precipitation averaged over several decades

light

Behaves like a wave and particle

electromagnetic radiation

made of waves

albedo

reflectivity of a surface

scattering

light scatters

greenhouse effect

Earth’s surface aborbs light energy

temperature

measure of the average kinetic energy within a substance

isotherms

lines that connect areas of the same temp

heat

energy transferred from a higher temp to a lower temp

conduction

the transport of heat by direct collisions among atoms or molecules

convection

distributes heat through atmosphere

advection

horizontal movement of heat

latent heat

(stored heat) energy released or abosrbed when a substance changes from one state to another

specific heat

the amount of energy needed to raise the temp; bigger effect on climate

seasons

caused by the tilt of Eath’s axis as it revolvs around the sun

Humidity

the amount of water vapor in the air

absolute humidity

the mass of water vapor in air

relative humidity

the amount of water vapor in the air relative to the maz hold at a given temp

dew point

when water condenses

dew

tiny drops of water that cool on earths surface

dew gets to below freezing

how does frost form

Oropraphic lifting, frontal wedging, convection

3 ways clouds form

fog

cloud that roms at or very close to the ground level; occurs near bodies of water

Rain, Snow, Sleet, Hail

types of precipitation

warm air

less dense

cold air

more dense

isobars

lines on a weather map connecting point of equal pressure

jet stream

narrow bands of high alt winds

Coriolis effect

caused by earth’s reflection- deflects wind

air mass

large body of air within the same temp and humidity at any given altitude

Warm, Cold, Occulated, Stationary

4 types of fronts

how do thunderstorms form

dense cold fronts forces the warm air up

Central Florida

where are thunderstorms most common

tornado

small short-lived funnel-shaped storm that protrudes from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud

Central Great Plains

where do most tornadoes occur

Tropical Wave→ disturbance→ depression→ storm

progression of cyclone formation

eye

dead calm- the center