GEOG 2300E Exam 1 Review

Which of the following is not a likely impact of climate change in the next several decades? a. shrinking of the arctic ice cap b. melting of arctic permafrost causing problems for infrastructure c. spreading of diseases as temperatures get warmer d. reduced longwave radiation emissions from the surface of the Earth e. reduced areas where snow stays on the ground for more than 30 days in the winter that leads to suffering ski industry

d. reduced longwave radiation emissions from the surface of the Earth

Which of these factors represents a negative feedback that is slowing the impact of global warming? a. increasing radiation from Earth b. melting polar ice c. release of undersea methane d. melting permafrost e. burning boreal forests

a. increasing radiation from Earth

which of the following is not an adaptation that people might have to make in the future as a result of climate change if sufficient mitigation measures are not adopted? a. coastal populations will have to move inland b. cities near coasts and rivers will need to build stronger leeves to hold back water c. people will have to build more wind turbines for power d. farmers will have to adjust what crops they plant as agricultural zones shifts e. people will have to adapt to more widespread disease as tropical diseases move north and disease carriers are more able to survive winter

c. people will have to build more wind turbines for power

Which of the following best explains why small emissions of chlorofluorocarbons are so damaging to the ozone layer? a. chlorofluorocarbons are very strong greenhouse gases so they warm up the ozone layer b. chlorofluorocarbons are toxic gases that can cause skin cancer c. each chlorofluorocarbons molecule becomes a condensation nucleus that causes ozone to condense around it and fall from the ozone layer d. each chlorofluorocarbon molecule is capable of destroying many ozone molecules e. ozone needs chlorofluorocarbon to replenish itself so small emissions mean less ozone is created

d. each chlorofluorocarbon molecule is capable of destroying many ozone molecules

air pressure blank with increasing elevation/altitude? a. varies irregularly b. increases c. is constant d. decrease exponentially e. changes in proportion to temperature

d. decrease exponentially

On an isobaric map

closely spaced isobars indicate: a. northerly winds b. strong pressure gradient c. winds of low velocity d. weak breezes of variable direction e. a more intense Coriolis effect

Why do land breezes blow toward the water on pleasant evenings at the beach in Connecticut? a. Wind turbines near Block Island generate winds along the Long Island Sound b. High-pressure systems over the Atlantic Ocean generate winds c. The air over land cools faster than the ocean

creating a relatively high pressure zone which generates winds from land to ocean d. Westerly winds in the mid-latitudes blow toward the Atlantic Ocean e. Urban heat islands around coastal communities generate temperature gradients which cause winds

What three forces are most responsible for wind speed and direction at the surface? a. Gravity

inertia

The northeast trade winds occur because a. high pressure systems often occur to the northeast of low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere and the pressure gradient force drives winds from high to low pressure b. diverging air from the subtropical high flows south and is bent to the right by the Coriolis effect c. European sailors used these winds to transport slaves and goods from Africa to the Americas during the colonial period d. wind flows from continents to oceans in the winter when continents are cooler and the east-west orientation of Eurasia sets up a flow off of the continent which is bent by the Coriolis effect e. air moves away from the intertropical convergence zone and is bent by the Coriolis effect

b. diverging air from the subtropical high flows south and is bent to the right by the Coriolis effect

Which of the following contains the largest fraction of the Earth's fresh water? a. oceans b. ice sheets and glaciers c. soil water d. fresh water lakes e. ground water

b. ice sheets and glaciers

The actual quantity of water vapor contained within a parcel of air is a. Relative humidity b. Specific humidity c. Actual humidity d. Dew point humidity e. Real humidity

b. Specific humidity

Based on Figure 4.7

if a parcel of air has specific humidity of 10 grams of water per kg of air

Which of the following is used to measure air pressure? a. Psychrometer b. Barometer c. Sphygmometer d. Anemometer e. Thermometer

b. Barometer

When does precipitation occur? a. When moisture in the air is heated by the Sun and turns into a cloud b. When dawn causes moist air to react with sunlight and form water droplets c. When clouds become too large to hold water d. When moist air is cooled in the atmosphere and forms liquid droplets or solid ice particles e. When winds blow moist air into dry air

d. When moist air is cooled in the atmosphere and forms liquid droplets or solid ice particles

At what latitudes does air rise and fall

respectively

The zone where air rises near the Equator is called: a. The Intertropical Convergence Zone b. The Sub-Tropical High Pressure Belt c. The Horse Latitudes d. The Tropical High Pressure Belt e. The Trade Winds

a. The Intertropical Convergence Zone

When water transitions directly from ice to vapor

sublimation

Which of the following factors does NOT influence wind speed and direction? a. Pressure gradient b. Coriolis effect c. High to low pressure difference d. Friction e. Radiation

e. Radiation

In which direction does the frictional force work? a. in the same direction as the pressure gradient

causing it to speed up b. opposite the pressure gradient

In which of these scenarios would relative humidity likely not change? a. A warm front passes

increasing the specific humidity and warming the temperature b. You measure relative humidity on your front lawn and at a golf course down the street when the temperature is the same at both locations c. Night falls

Where is the majority of fresh water in Earth system stored? a. Rivers

lakes

An anticyclone in the northern hemisphere is associated with which of the following? a. High pressure and wind moving in a counter-clockwise outspiral b. Steady pressure and linear breezes c. Low pressure and wind moving in a counter-clockwise inspiral d. High pressure and wind moving in a clockwise outspiral e. Low pressure and wind moving in a clockwise inspiral

d. High pressure and wind moving in a clockwise outspiral

Based on the Coriolis effect

how are winds changed from flow driven by the pressure gradient in the northern hemisphere? a. Winds bend to the left b. Winds slow down c. Winds bend to the right d. Winds bend upward e. Winds speed up

Which of the following conditions characterize the Asian monsoon? a. Mild winters in places like Nepal and Tibet b. Cool summers in Malaysia c. Wet winters in Central India d. Intense rainfall in the summer in tropical South Asia e. Dry summers in Bangladesh

d. Intense rainfall in the summer in tropical South Asia

According to the book

how do pressure gradients usually develop? a. Differences in outgoing longwave radiation b. Winds blowing waves across the ocean c. Winds blowing sand across the landscape d. Seismic waves produced by earthquakes e. Unequal heating of the atmosphere

Which of the following is NOT a component of the hydrologic cycle

according to the book? a. Precipitation b. Transpiration c. Evaporation d. Condensation e. Defenestration

From which direction do most winds and weather systems come between about 30 and 60 degrees latitude? a. East b. West c. North d. Variable e. South

b. West

How does air pressure change as you go up in altitude? a. It decreases exponentially with altitude b. It stays constant c. It increases linearly d. It decreases to the top of the troposphere

then increases in the stratosphere e. It increases to the top of the troposphere

Which of the following best describes how a sea breeze works? a. Wind blows from land to sea because wind blows down from higher elevation b. Wind blows parallel to the coastline because of the Coriolis effect c. Wind blows from land to the sea because it is darker d. Wind blows from sea to land because there is more flat distance over which wind can blow in the ocean e. Wind blows from sea to land because warm land has low pressure and cooler sea has higher pressure

e. Wind blows from sea to land because warm land has low pressure and cooler sea has higher pressure

The northeast trade winds occur because a. Wind flows from continents to oceans in the winter when continents are cooler and the east-west orientation of Eurasia sets up a flow off of the continent which is bent by the Coriolis Effect. b. Diverging air from the subtropical high flows south and is bent to the right by the Coriolis Effect. c. European sailors used these winds to transport slaves and goods from Africa to the Americas during the colonial period. d. Air moves away from the intertropical convergence zone and is bent by the Coriolis Effect. e. High pressure systems often occur to the northeast of low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere and the pressure gradient force drives winds from high to low pressure.

b. Diverging air from the subtropical high flows south and is bent to the right by the Coriolis Effect.

According to the book

which of the following contributes to the formation of acid deposition? a. Sunlight reacts with pollution in the atmosphere to form smog and acid particles b. Particles ejected from volcanoes react in the atmosphere to form acid deposition downwind c. Carbon dioxide mixing with rain water to form a strong acid solution d. Fossil fuel burning releases sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide into the air which leads to acid deposition downwind e. Desert dust getting into the atmosphere and bringing acid to locations downwind

On average over the course of the year where on Earth would you expect to see the highest specific humidity? a. The Equator b. The International Date Line c. The Tropic of Capricorn d. The Prime Meridian e. The Tropic of Cancer

a. The Equator

Which of the following is not a part of the Earth system where fresh water is stored? a. pores in bedrock b. ice sheets c. soils d. streams e. oceans

e. oceans

Which of the following pathways of water is the largest

based on the magnitude of the arrow in the book? a. vapor returned to land b. evaporation from oceans c. transpiration from vegetation d. surface runoff e. infiltration to soil

The water table is best described as a. the zone where precipitation occurs b. the upper limit of the saturated zone c. streams and ponds where water is at the surface d. a surface location that is suitable for drilling a well e. a table on which hydrologists perform experiments with flowing water

b. the upper limit of the saturated zone

A layer of rock that is porous and permeable enough that water can easily be pumped from it is known as a(n) a. aquifer b. aquiclude c. cavern d. soil water belt e. well

a. aquifer

limestone caverns are formed through the process of a. carbonation of surface limestone b. rapid downcutting c. stalagmitification d. traverline deposition e. acid groundwater flowing slowly through the saturated zone

e. acid groundwater flowing slowly through the saturated zone

which of the following is not found in karst landscapes

based on the description in the book? a. sinkholes b. aquiclude layers c. limestone caverns d. lack of small

When water is removed from the saturated zone through a well

the lowering of the water table near the well is called a a. dry well b. pump hole c. unsaturated drop d. cone of depression e. subsidence impact

When too much water is pulled from coastal aquifers

which of the following is a possible effect? a. chemical pollution b. fertilizer pollution c. artesian wells d. saltwater intrusion e. coastal erosion

According to the global warming bathtub model

which of the following is a natural source of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere? a. Active volcanoes b. Cement production facilities c. Plants that photosynthesize and pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere d. Fossil fuels burned for electricity generation e. Forests cleared by burning in the tropics for agricultural land

Which of the following is an example of a positive feedback in the climate system?

Burning more coal to produce energy

b. Consumerism increasing the need for more energy c. Growing more food in marginal regions d. Decrease of arctic sea ice

d. Decrease of arctic sea ice

Effects of climate starting with ocean acidification

photosynthesis changes

Positive Feedbacks:

Polar ice Less ice means less reflective so more heat absorbed Arctic Tundra Earlier ice melt produces ponds which absorb heat and melt permafrost Melting permafrost releases frozen plant matter which decomposes in saturated soils and releases methane

Negative Feedbacks:

Radiation Emitted radiation from the Earth is proportional to temp to the 4th power (small inc. in temp. makes a large inc. in radiation)

Uncertain Feedbacks:

Evaporation Increased temps mean more evaporation which may hold in more heat as a greenhouse gas but may just rain out Increased evaporation may produce more clouds which could reflect radiation away from Earth or could hold in heat Aerosols If drier climates occur in some regions

International implications of global climate change

Different nations contribute greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere at different rates Highly developed countries = more CO2 emissions

Mitigation

Alternatives to fossil fuels Sequestering carbon in trees Carbon management Fertilizing the ocean with iron

Adaptation of global climate change

Coastal population must move inland or build very expensive infrastructure Farmers must adapt to shifting agricultural zones and extreme weather Communities must adapt to more frequent droughts and extreme floods

5. The ozone layer

. Reduced stratospheric ozone allows more ultraviolet radiation to reach the surface b. Different wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation (A

Low Pressure:

Warm air rises

High Pressure:

Cool

Winds generated by atmospheric forces:

Gravity - Pulls air down to Earth. The atmospheric pressure is the weight of all of the air above you Pressure gradient - Spatial variability in air pressure. Air moves horizontally from high pressure to low pressure. Coriolis - Bends the path of moving air due to the rotation of the Earth. Moving air bends right in northern hemisphere

Isobaric Map

-Isobaric maps show distribution of pressure -the pressure gradient is greatest perpendicular to isobars -wind will bend about 45 degrees to the right of the steepest slope of the pressure gradient at mid-latitudes in the northern hemisphere

katabatic winds

cold air pools in the mountains and wants to sink because it is dense so it wants to follow the pressure gradient to less dense air and gravity helps this along. Narrow valleys accelerate these winds

Convective loop

In part A

Sea breeze

During the day

land breeze

At night

Coriolis effect

-Because the Earth rotates on its axis

Coriolis Force

deflective force from coriolis effect

Geostrophic wind

bc wind is deflected

Frictions forces modify the speed and direction of the wind by

As wind flows over the surface friction reduces the speed Friction also changes the direction of the geostrophic wind Pressure gradient overpowers the coriolis effect so wind flows across isobars

Cyclones & Anticylones

N.hemisphere

Haldey cells

work to create a system of low pressure at ITCZ and high pressure at subtropical latitudes that is a giant convective cell that also leads to the trade winds

ITCZ

around the equator

Doldrums

in maritime lore

Subtropical highs

The cool air that sinks is also dry air (arid climates

Northeasterly (southeasterly in S. hemisphere) tradewinds

occur because winds flowing south off the subtropical high pressure zone are bent by the Coriolis Effect

Subpolar low pressure systems

the warmer air of the mid-latitudes rises as it meets cold polar air

Polar high pressure systems

a high pressure system found in higher latitudes in the cool season that develop over polar land masses

kind of climate and vegetation you might get at places ITCZ

subtropical high pressure zones

what causes the South Asian monsoon

Summer = wet monsoons where ITCZ moves north and brings air right up to the Himalayas and brings a lot of rainfall Winter = ITCZ moves south you have air in the northern winter (big cold high pressure zone) that blows dry air over the Himalayas into the SOuth Asia sub continent = dry monsoon

Understand the conversion among the three states of the water and how heat is absorbed or released by different phase changes.

Solid -> liquid (melting - absorb energy

What is humidity?

Humidity - amount of water vapor in the atmosphere Warm air can hold much more than cold air

Specific Humidity

Specific humidity - the actual quantity of water vapor in the air (g of water/kg of air)

Relative Humidity

Relative humidity = current specific humidity's fraction of the maximum specific humidity at that same temperature -graph of relative humidity and temperature change through the day on a typical day

Dew point temperature -

Temp at which condensation begins under constant pressure and water vapor

dry adiabatic lapse rate.

Dry adiabatic lapse rate - as you go up in the troposphere temp cools down at a specific rate

What is a cloud and when is it formed?

When you get to lifting the condensation level where your adiabatic lapse rate hits the place where water vapor in the atmosphere saturates and you start to form clouds.

diff types of clouds

Low (stratus

Fog

Cloud layer at or close to the surface Radiation fog - forms at night when air near the ground falls below dew point Advection fog - forms when warm moist air moves over a cool surface Sea fog - forms when cool marine air comes in contact with colder ocean currents

condition for precipitation

Will occur when.. Growth of droplets in clouds Ice - crystal process - ice particles act as freezing nuclei Coalescence process - large droplets collide with smaller ones All precipitation begins as frozen water sleet

Orographic Precipitation

Wind comes from wet ocean and moves towards a mountain on the windward side and as the air goes up and over the mountain you get rainfall and when you get to the lifting condensation level it squeezes some of the moisture out of the air and when it gets to the top of the mountain it starts to go back down the other side

Unstable air

warm air at the surface and cooler air aloft

Convectional Precipitation

Warm air rises Cools to dew point and clouds form Latent heat release Adds energy and increases updraft = thunderstorm

Lighting -

Updrafts and downdrafts create positive and negative charges Thunder = air expands

Hail -

Updrafts and downdrafts circulate hail stones Accumulate layers of ice on ice pellets

Weather and maps- low pressure system vs. high pressure system.

L = Low pressure H = high pressure Blue lines w/ triangular teeth = cold fronts (direction of teeth = where front is moving) Red lines w/ half circles = warm fronts (direction of circles = where front is moving) Alternating red and blue segments = stationary fronts Purple line w/ alternating teeth and half circles = occluded front Storms are low pressure systems

Air masses-

c = continental (dry) m = maritime (wet) T= tropical (warm) P = polar (cold) A = Arctic (cold) (from Arctic oceans and fringing lands)

Frontal systems

interaction among warm and cold air masses -frequent mixing of air masses in the northern hemisphere northern air meets warm tropical air = polar front -this produces high and low pressure systems that move eastward across the United States

Warm front

warm air advances toward cold air and rises up and over the cold air -Rain falls from the dense stratus cloud layer

Cold front

a cold air mass lifts a warm air mass aloft -The upward motion sets off a line of thunderstorms

Occluded front

• cold fronts move faster than warm fronts

Wave cyclones

-In middle (travel eastwards)/high latitudes (tropical = west) -Large inspirals of air that repeatedly form

The hydrologic cycle

-movement of water into ground

Evapotranspiration

occurs when plants respire water into the atmosphere

Potential evapotranspiration

when evapotranspiration can occur at a maximum rate

Actual evapotranspiration

When there is insufficient soil moisture available

Interception

occurs when leaves and branches "intercepts" precipitation before it reaches the ground. Intercepted water is absorbed by the plant and transpired or evaporated back to the atmosphere

Infiltration

occurs when water at the surface sinks into the soil.