Global Systems and Solar Energy 1

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to global systems and solar energy.

System

An object or a group of objects being studied, with everything else considered as surroundings.

Open System

A system where both energy and matter can cross the boundary between the system and its surroundings.

Closed System

A system where only energy can cross the boundary, but matter cannot.

Isolated System

A system where neither matter nor energy can cross the boundary.

Biosphere

The air, land, and water that make up the Earth where living creatures are found.

Atmosphere

The layer of air that surrounds the Earth, consisting of a mixture of gases.

Lithosphere

The Earth's crust that forms the continental crust and ocean floor.

Hydrosphere

The water on or near the Earth's surface, including oceans, rivers, and lakes.

Radiation

The process by which solar energy reaches the Earth, involving the emission of electromagnetic waves.

Radiation Budget

The balance between incoming and outgoing radiation that the Earth maintains.

Albedo

The reflectivity of a surface; darker surfaces have low albedo and lighter surfaces have high albedo.

Greenhouse Effect

The process by which greenhouse gases absorb heat and transmit it back towards the Earth.

Convection

Heat transfer in a fluid (liquid or gas) leading to the creation of convection currents.

Coriolis Effect

The phenomenon where large weather systems appear to veer sideways due to the Earth's rotation.

Specific Heat Capacity

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a gram of a substance by 1°C.

Heat of Fusion

The energy required to convert 1 mole of a substance from solid to liquid at constant temperature.

Heat of Vaporization

The amount of energy required to convert 1 mole of a substance from liquid to gas at constant temperature.

El Niño

A climate pattern that represents a change in wind direction over the Pacific Ocean.

La Niña

A climate occurrence characterized by increased wind strength and cooler ocean temperatures.