Physical Geography exam 2

A comprehensive set of 75 flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture notes on hydrology and atmospheric science.

Hydrological cycle

The movement of water within the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.

Evaporation

A change in state of water from liquid to gas.

Condensation

Change in the state of water from gas to liquid.

Sublimation

The process where ice shifts directly into water vapor.

Deposition

Water vapor forms ice directly.

Precipitation

Solid or liquid water that falls from the atmosphere to the ground.

Transpiration

The process that returns water vapor to the atmosphere via plants.

Hydrosphere

The combined mass of water found on, under, and above the surface of a planet.

Hydrogen bond

A bond between water molecules that results from attraction between positive and negative ends.

Latent heat

Energy absorbed or released during a change in state of a substance.

Cohesion

Water molecules join other water molecules, creating surface tension.

Adhesion

Water molecules join to other objects.

Humidity

The water vapor content of the air.

Specific humidity

Water vapor content of the atmosphere expressed in grams of water per kg of air.

Relative humidity (RH)

Ratio of water vapor content to water vapor capacity, expressed as a percent.

Dew point

The temperature to which air must be cooled for saturation to occur.

Thermal Expansion

The rule that shows as temperature rises, saturation vapor pressure also rises.

Atmospheric stability

A measure of atmospheric status determining whether an air parcel will rise, sink, or be neutral.

Adiabatic process

A process in which no heat is transferred into or out from the system.

Dry adiabatic rate

The rate at which dry air cools as it rises, approximately 10 C/1000 m.

Moist adiabatic rate

The rate at which saturated air cools as it rises, approximately 6 C/1000 m.

Lifting condensation level (LCL)

The altitude at which an air parcel becomes saturated.

Convection uplift

Warm air parcels become unstable and rise.

Orographic uplift

An air parcel meets a mountain range and is forced to rise.

Frontal uplift

Warm air flows over cold air when two air masses meet.

Condensation nuclei

Small particles that provide a surface for water vapor to condense.

Collision and coalescence

Processes that result in raindrop formation through droplets crashing into each other and joining together.

Hail

Hard, rounded pellets of ice that form in cumulonimbus clouds.

Cloud seeding

The introduction of artificial substances to modify or enhance precipitation.

Barometer

An instrument used to measure air pressure.

Pressure-gradient force

The force induced by changes in air pressure across Earth's surface.

Coriolis effect

The perceived deflection of moving objects caused by Earth's rotation.

Isobars

Lines of equal pressure on a weather map.

Cyclone

Air flows toward a low pressure region, creating counterclockwise circulation in the northern hemisphere.

Anticyclone

Air flows away from a high-pressure region, creating clockwise circulation in the northern hemisphere.

Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

A band of thermal low pressure and thunderstorms that encircles the planet in the tropics. Warm and wet climate

Subtropical high

A belt of high pressure and aridity typically found over oceans at around 30 degrees latitude. Warm and dry climate

Trade winds

Easterly surface winds found between the ITCZ and subtropical high between 0 and 30 degrees latitude.

Polar jet stream

A narrow band of fast-flowing air found at high latitudes.

El Niño

A climate pattern characterized by the temporary reversal of the equatorial trade winds.

Thermocline

A transitional zone of temperature decline in the ocean.

Salinity

The concentration of dissolved minerals, predominantly salt, in seawater.

Gyres

Large circular ocean currents created by wind and the Coriolis effect.

Anthropogenic carbon emissions

Carbon dioxide emissions resulting from human activity.

Plastic pollution

The accumulation of plastic products in the environment, especially in oceans.

Ecosystem services

The benefits provided by ecosystems to humans.

Water cycle

The continuous process by which water moves through the Earth and atmosphere.

Phase changes

Transitions between solid, liquid, and gas states of water.

Hydrology

The study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems; where life exists on Earth.

Atmospheric pressure

The pressure exerted by the weight of air in the atmosphere.

Friction force

The force that slows wind as it flows near Earth's uneven surface.

Wind vane

An instrument used to measure wind direction.

The hydrologic cycle

• Powered by solar energy

• All 7 processes of the cycle ( evaporation, condensation, runoff, precipitation, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere)

• 85% of water vapor comes from oceans and the remaining 15% comes from plant transpiration

Names for humidity

Vapor pressure and saturation vapor pressure

Millibar (mb) measure of atmospheric pressure

Specific humidity (weight) and relative humidity (ratio) (%)

With the same vapor pressure, temp. and RH are inversely correlated

Phase changes and latent heat

6 types of phase changes

Water vapor stores the most heat

Latent heat is the stored energy in water vapor

Atmospheric stability

Rising, Sinking, & neutral

Adiabatic temperature changes (cooling and warming)

What is the lithosphere?

The lithosphere is the solid outer layer of the Earth, made up of the crust and the upper part of the mantle, which is involved in tectonic activity.

What is the difference between rising, sinking, and neutral air parcels?

Rising air parcels are less dense than the surrounding air, causing them to ascend. Sinking air parcels are denser than their surroundings, leading them to descend. Neutral air parcels have the same density as the surrounding air, resulting in no vertical movement.

What are the differences between cirrus, cumulus, and stratus clouds?

Cirrus clouds are thin and wispy, formed at high altitudes. Cumulus clouds are fluffy and white, typically associated with fair weather and formed at low to mid altitudes. Stratus clouds are uniform and gray, covering the sky like a blanket, often bringing overcast conditions.

fog

stratus cloud on/near ground

What are the 4 types of rain

rain, snow, sleet, hail

What are monsoons and what are the three factors that cause them?

Monsoons are seasonal winds that bring significant changes in weather, especially heavy rainfall. The three factors causing monsoons are: 1) Differential heating of land and sea, leading to pressure changes. 2) The Indian Ocean's influence on the regional climate. 3) The seasonal shifts in the position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone

What is a subpolar low?

A subpolar low is a low-pressure area found near the polar regions, typically located between 50° to 70° latitude. It is characterized by rising air, cloudy conditions, and precipitation, often leading to the formation of storms. cold and wet climate

What is a polar high?

A polar high is a high-pressure area located near the poles, typically characterized by cold and dry conditions. It results from the cooling of air over the ice-covered surfaces, leading to sinking air that creates stable, clear weather. Cold and dry climate