GEOG 1111 Exam #1- UGA

Geography

the study and analysis of the spatial and temporal distribution of phenomena on the Earth's surface, and the underlying processes which cause the observed pattern

Location

both absolute and relative; the spatial component of Geography; being concerned with where things are

Place

characteristics that make a location unique

Movement

the what, how, where and why of the diffusion of phenomena

across the Earth's surface

Regions

regional science or study; studying all the various phenomena of a particular area of the world

Human-Earth Relationships

The impacts of the environment on people and their impact on the environment; the relationship between human societies and their environment

Physical Geography

Biogeography, Geomorphology, Climatology, Hydrogeography, Soils Geography

Human/Cultural Geography

Economic, Political, Historical, Population, Urban

Techniques

Cartography, Remote Sensing, Aerial Photography, Geographic Information Systems

Eratosthenes

Considered one of the first "geographers"

-Measured polar circumference of the Earth

-Accomplished Cartographer

-Environmental zones based on Temperature

Alexander Von Humboldt

Considered the "father" of modern physical geography

-Credited with bringing "Scientific study" to the field

Vladimir Kappen

created a classification system for climates based on vegetation, temperature and precipitation patterns

Alred Wegener

developed the theory of Continental Drift which later became part of the theory of Plate Tectonics

Charles Thornthwaite

developed another climate

classification system based on principles of water balance, precipitation & potential evapotranspiration

Tetsuya Theodore Fujita

developed the Fujita Scale for measuring the intensity of tornadoes

Robert Simpson

developed, along with Herbert Saffir, the Saffir-Simpson Scale for measuring hurricane intensity

Atmosphere

thin gaseous veil which surrounds the Earth

Hydrosphere

all the water above, on and in the Earth; in all 3 states (solid, liquid, gas); includes fresh and saline(salt)

Lithosphere

Earth's crust and a portion of the upper mantle

Biosphere

interconnection between the living organisms of the planet with their physical environment

Open System

boundaries or interfaces freely permit transfer of energy & matter across them

Closed System

self-contained system exhibiting no exchange of energy or matter across boundaries

Equilibrium/Equilibrium State

the changing, or relatively non-changing conditions of a

system; all systems will change over time, but at different rates, thus

some are seemingly in equilibrium while others may be moving toward a state of equilibrium

Steady-State Equilibrium

when a system is in balance over time, is neither growing nor contracting but is in full operation; may oscillate around an average level or condition

Dynamic Equilibrium

fluctuates around an average value, but demonstrates a trend over time

Feedback Mechanisms

change in one part (variable/factor) of a system causes change in another part (variable/factor)

Negative Feedback

keeps system in original condition inhibiting change; are self-regulating

Positive Feedback

induces a progressively greater change in a system; the "snowball effect"

Geoidal Bulge

Earth "bulges" as the Equator

Latitude

parallel lines that run East-West and are measured North-South, starting at 0° (Equator), and ending at 90° (the N & S Pole).

Longitude

non-parallel lines that run North-South and are measured East-West, starting at 0° (Prime Meridian) and ending at 180° (International Date Line).

Degree

A ________ of latitude or longitude is one part of a circle, with 360 parts in a complete circle.

Equator

Major line of Latitude at 0°

Tropic of Cancer

Major line of Latitude at 23.5°N

Tropic of Capricorn

Major line of Latitude at 23.5°S

Arctic Circle

Major line of Latitude at 66° 33′ 44″ N

Antarctic Circle

Major line of Latitude at 66° 33′ 44″ S

North Pole

Top of the World: 0° E/W

South Pole

Bottom of the World: 0° E/W

Prime Meridian

0° Longitude; Runs through Greenwich, England

International Date Line

180° Longitude; Runs sporadically due to political reasons

Scale

the ratio of the distance on the map to actual distance on the ground

Large Scale Map

A ______ _______ _______ shows a relatively small area of the Earth's Surface

Small Scale Map

A ______ _______ _______ shows a relatively large area of the Earth's Surface

Rotation

the spinning of the Earth about its axis

Circle Of Illumination

An area between light and dark

Revolution

movement of the Earth in its orbit around the Sun

Elliptical

Shape of the Earth's revolution around the sun

Perihelion

Closest to the sun; occurs on January 4th

Aphelion

Furthest from the sun; occurs on July 4th

Why Earth's Seasons Occur

Revolution, Tilt of the Earth of its Axis, primarily due to the Earth's orientation to the sun & thus the varying angle the sun's rays strike the Earth's surface

Summer

longer days, higher solar altitude, and more intense sunlight thus more energy

Winter

Shorter days, lower solar altitude, and less intense sunlight thus less energy

Solar Altitude

angle of the sun above the horizon; 90° is maximum solar intensity

Inclination of the Axis

the tilt of Earth's axis from the perpendicular to the plane on Earth's orbit

Earth's axial orientation (axial parallelism),

the North Pole of the Earth is pointed toward the North Star (Polaris)

Sphericity

that the Earth appears as an oblate spheroid to the Sun's parallel rays, not a flat surface

March Equinox

Beginning of Spring; March 21st

June Solstice

Beginning of Summer; June 21st

September Equinox

Beginning of Fall; September 21st

December Solstice

Beginning of Winter; December 21st

Climatological Seasons

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

Weather

the day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere

Climate

The statistical properties of the atmosphere, including measures of the average conditions, variability, etc...

Meteorology

the science that studies the atmosphere

Climatology

the study of long-term atmosphere condition

Photosynthesis

Main process for increased oxygen levels

Constant Gases

are found in same proportions within the lower atmosphere

Variable Gases

are present in differing amounts spatially and/or temporally within the lower atmosphere

Composition of the Atmosphere

A mixture of discrete gases with solid and liquid particles suspended in it.

Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), Argon (.9%)

3 constant gases that make up just under 100% of the atmosphere

Carbon Dioxide, Water Vapor, Ozone, Methane

4 variable gases that influence weather and life systems

Carbon Dioxide and Methane

absorb radiant (Long wave) energy emitted by the Earth; 2 variable gases

Water Vapor

4% by volume in tropics to

Ozone

concentrated in the Stratosphere; absorbs damaging Ultraviolet (UV) radiation

Ozone Hole

Occurs in September in Southern Hemisphere; March in Northern Hemisphere

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

a gas that was once commonly used in various products (such as aerosols) but that is believed to cause damage to the ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere

Consequences of Less Ozone

increased amounts of UV at surface which can lead to increased energy reaching the Earth's surface and thus increasing surface temperatures

1013mb

Average air pressure at sea level

Air pressure decreases with increases height

Inverse relationship between air pressure and height

Inversion

Temperature increases with altitude

Temperature Lapse Rate ("Lapse Rate")

Change in temperature with a change in altitude

Troposphere

temperature usually decreases with increasing altitude; from the surface to an average height of 7-10 miles

Stratosphere

temperature stays constant or increases with altitude; Contains the ozone layer

Mesosphere

Temperature decreases with increasing altitude (Layer of Atmosphere)

Thermosphere

temperature increases dramatically with altitude (Layer of Atmosphere)

Energy

the ability or capacity to do work on some form of matter

Heat Energy

the sum total of all molecular motion of an object

First Law of Thermodynamics

in all physical & chemical changes, energy is neither created nor destroyed, but it may be converted from one form to another (Law of Conservation of Energy)

Second Law of Thermodynamics

when energy is changed from one form to another, some of the useful energy is always degraded to lower-quality, more dispersed and less useful energy

Properties of Radiation

electromagnetic spectrum, all objects with a Temperature greater than 0°K emit radiation, a hotter object emits more totally energy than a cooler object, the hotter the emitting body, the shorter the wavelength

Shortwave (SW) Radiation

Solar Radiation; Emitted by sun

Long wave (LW) radiation

Terrestrial Radiation; Emitted by Earth

Scattering

reflection of light in all directions

Reflection

process whereby a surface turns back a portion of the radiation that strikes it

Absorption

process whereby energy of the incoming SW radiation is transferred into internal molecular motion (heat energy) of the object struck; usually results in raising the temperature of the substance struck

Law of Reflection

the angle of incidence (incoming) = angle of reflection (outgoing); 31 % of incoming SW is reflected back to space

Albedo

the % of radiation reflected off a surface compared to the incident radiation striking it

31 (31%)

The average planetary Albedo

45%, 24%, 31%

>Atmosphere is a poor absorber of incoming Short Waves

Of the 100% of incoming radiation from the sun:

____ reaches the surface and is absorbed

____ is absorbed by the atmosphere (clouds, gases, dust)

____ is loss to space by reflection & scattering