Geography of the physical environment (Exam 1)

Insolation change

influenced by angle of incidence, revolution of the sun, and the ellipt of the sun

Solar wind

streams and clouds of electrically charged particles and matter, hydrogen nuclei/ free electrons, that originate from sun’s hot solar corona

physical geography

the spacial analysis of all the physical elements and processes that make up the environment and ways humans interact with them

systems theory

any ordered, interrelated set of things and their attributes linked by flow of energy

Positive feedback

one increases and acts as a catalyst, and vise versa

negative feedback

stability; senses disruption, and self regulates

steady equilibrium

system fluctuates around a stable average, maintains same operation level

dynamic equilibrium

climate, system fluctuates around a stable average, but exhibits a trend overall

Remote sensing

information acquired from a distance

GIS

a computer-based, data-processing, tool for gathering, manipulating and analyzing geographic data

Solar energy (Sun to Earth)

Solar wind and Radiant energy

Radiant energy

wavelengths, uneven distribution on the Earth’s surface

Reasons for the seasons

Revolution, Rotation, Tilt on axis, Axis parallelism, sphericity

Revolution

controls the lengths of the seasons,

Rotation

without the rotation of the Earth there would be extreme seasonality, and it would be controlled longitude not latitudinally

Tilt

creates a distribution of sunlight instead of the sun being in one concentrated spot

Axis parallelism

axis of the earth always points towards the Polaris, north star, maintaining consistent seasons,

Sphericity

similar to the tilt it creates a distribution of sun

winter solstice

circle of illumination in the south pole, leaves north region in the darkness; subsolar spot at tropic of cancer

March and September equinox

circle of illumination passes through both poles, 12/12 hour days, subsolar point at equator

June solstice

circle of illumination includes the north pole, leaves the south pole in darkness; tropic of Capricorn

Atmosphere’s three divides

Composition, Temperature, Function

Composition

Heterosphere, Homosphere

Heterosphere

outer atmosphere, gases are not blended, sorted by atomic weight

Homosphere

blend of gases is nearly uniform, acceptation of 03, where the humans live

Temperature

Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere,

Thermosphere

outermost layer, least dense layer,

Mesosphere

oldest portion of the atmosphere, varies in temperature, low air pressure

Stratosphere

temperature increases with altitudes, houses the ozone layer which is the reason for the warming

troposphere

Weather/humans, sun heats the earth and then the earth radiates heat, CO2 traps some of it, but as you increase height the temperature decreases, thermal energy changes the height of the tropopause

Function

Ionosphere, Ozonesphere

Ionosphere

outermost, absorbs cosmic rays (radiation), and changes atoms to positively charged ions

Ozonosphere

houses the ozone layer, and absorbs shorter wavelengths, and converts it to heat

normal lapse rate

temperature decreases with and increase in altitude

Environmental rate

varies based on time, location, weather

Atmospheric components

Volcanoes, fires, plants, soil, and salt spray

Volcanoes

produces ash, and dust, and creates VOG

Wildfire/fires

wind patterns spread soot and ash

Plants

Alive - release pollen, Dead - releases CO2 and changes atm of the soil

Anthropogenic pollution

Industrial, photochemical, Particulate matter, CO2

Industrial

SO2 or sulfur dioxide which can cause sulfuric acid

photochemical

combustion of NO2 from cars, can lead to ground ozone, nitric acid, PANS

Particulate matter

comes from things burning

Carbon dioxide

combustion of fossil fuels, hold heat gives a greenhouse gas effect

Natural factors that affect air pollution

Winds, inversions, local/regional landscapes

Winds

pushes dust, soot, etc, across the globe

inversions

trap pollutants in one air pocket, rather than allowing them to dilute in more air

Local/regional landscapes

mountain can cause inversions and trap pollutants

Latent heat

the energy gained or lost when a substance changes from one state to another

High pressure

no clouds, and sun

low pressure

cloud and rain

cyclone

low pressure at surface draws air in and pushes up causing clouds

anticlone

high pressure at surface pushes air away and warms air

Reasons for wind patterns

Pressure gradient force, Coriolis effect, Gravity, friction force

conduction

the molecule to molecule transfer of heat energy as it diffuses through a substance

convection

the transfer of heat by mixing or circulation

4 primary temperature controls

Latitude, altitude, cloud cover, land-water difference.

Latitude

most important, insolation intensity

altitude

as you go higher in altitude it becomes more cold, less sensible heat,

Land water differences (continental)

More extreme, lower specific heat, no mixing between layers

Land water difference

more moderate, high specific heat, redistribution of energy