GRY test 1

Geography def.

Fom place to place, how things differ and how they are interrelated.

Interrelationships def.

Natural processes and human alterations

What are Earths environmental spheres

Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Lithosphere, Atmosphere

Lithosphere def.

Made up of rocks and mineral matter

Atmosphere

Mix of gases

Hydrosphere

Comprises water in all forms, frozen water exists in cryosphere

Biosphere

Encompasses all the parts where living organisms exist

Earth Systems def

The operation of Environmental spheres interact as a whole

Closed system def

Self-contained systems, isolated from outside influences and rarely found in nature

Open systems

Where energy can be exchanged across systems as inputs and outputs

Where is the Earths rotational axis

passes through the north and south sole

Latitude

Location as an angle north or south of the equator. (North and South)

Parallel

line that connects all points of the same latitude. biggest “circle” or parallel is at the eqautor

What are the descriptive zones of latitude

Equatorial, tropical, subtropical, low latitude, midlatitude, high latitude, polar

longitude

Angular description of east or west

Meridian

Longitudal lines extending from pole to pole

Prime meridian

0 degrees in Greenwich, England

Which direction does earth rotate

West to East

what is the solar altitude

Suns height over the horizon

What is a globe

a true representation of Earth

What is a map

Flat representation of Earth

What is a map distortion

imperfection of a flat map due to the area/scale

Map scale def

relationship between distance measured on the map and actual distance on the earths surface

What does a large scale map show

small portion of the earths surface in great detail

What does a small scale map show

shows large areas in limited detail

What is a map projection

a system that transforms earths curved surface for display on a flat surface

what is equivalent map projection

a correct size ratio of corresponding areas maintained over entire map, distorts shapes, not area.

what is a conformal map projection

maintains proper angular relationships across entire map. distorts size to depict proper shape.

what is a compromise map projection

a map that balance reasonably accurate areas and reasonably accurate states.

Isoline

any line that joins data points of equal value of something. closed lines that can never cross eachother (think topographical map).

remote sensing

any measurement by a device that is not in contact with earths surface (satellite)

What is a GIS

computer system designed to analyze and display spatial data

what is the relationship of atmospheric density with altitude

Density decreases with altitude

how did earths modern atmosphere develop

early plants and bacteria consumed CO2 and released oxygen through photosynthesis and created an oxygen rich atmosphere.

what are the 2 most abundant gases

Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen (21%)

What are the variable gases in the atmosphere

Water Vapor, Carbon dioxide, Ozone

Troposphere

lowest layer of atmosphere, in contact with surface.

Tropopause

upper limit of troposphere where most clouds form

Stratosphere

location of ozone layer

Mesosphere

temp decreases with increasing altitude. above stratosphere

Thermosphere

temp increases with increasing altitude. above mesosphere

Exosphere

transitions into interplanetary space.

What are the 4 elements of weather

Temp, moisture content, pressure, wind

Climate

weather conditions over a long period of time (at least 30 yrs)

Controls - Latitude

determines distribution of solar energy. Influences temp as warming/cooling

Controls - Distribution of land and water

Influences temp and moisture characteristics. Maritime climates - cooler and more humid. Landmasses - extreme seasonal temp range, typically less humid.

Controls - general circulation of the atmosphere

troposphere’s semipermanent wind and pressure systems.

Controls - General circulation of the oceans

Broad general pattern of semipermanent currents, assist in energy transfer by moving warm/cool water.

Controls - altitude

temp, pressure and moisture content all decrease with increasing altitude.

Controls - topographic barriers

Mountains and large hills divert wind flow and affect temp and moisture patterns.

Controls - storms

Create specialized weather circumstances.

What caused the hole in the ozone layer

CFC’s caused a thinning in the stratosphere due to a chemical reaction destroying ozone