GY 101 Test 1 University of Alabama MD Islam (Jacob's version)

Earths 4 spheres

atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere

Biosphere

Consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere - INTERACT WITH ALL OTHER SPHERES

Map Distortion

a change in the shape, size, or position of a place when it is shown on a map

equator

An imaginary circle around the middle of the earth, halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole - divides earth into 2 hemispheres

east and west hemisphere

The Prime Meridian separates the earth into what two hemispheres?

Prime Meridian

0 degrees longitude

Northeast Hemisphere

+ +

southeast hemisphere

- +

southwest hemisphere

- -

northwest hemisphere

+ -

latitude

known as parallels, run in the east-west direction, measure distance north-south of the equator, never intersect, not equal length

longitude

known as meridians, run in a north-south direction, measure distance east or west of prime meridian, farthest apart at the equator and meet at poles, cross equator at right angles, equal length

maximum latitude

90 degrees north or south

maximum longitude

180 degrees

Tropic of Cancer

23.5 degrees North

Tropic of Capricorn

23.5 degrees south

equator degrees

0

Anartic Circle

66.5 degrees South

arctic circle

66.5 degrees North

North Pole

90 degrees north

South Pole

90 degrees south

great circle

line that equally divides the earth into the hemispheres (only longitude and equator can give us a great circle) all latitude can give us is small circles.

great circle route

Shortest route between any two places on the planet

small circle

continuous line that forms a circle smaller than the equator

world time zones

24

move east to west

lose an hour

move west to east

gain an hour

What does polarity give us on Earth?

gives us seasons

What is the June solstice? Also, what latitude is the sun directly over?

June 21-22, start of summer in Northern Hemispheres and start of winter in Southern Hemisphere - southern hemisphere farthest away from the sun. Sun is directly over the tropic of cancer.

What is the winter solstice? What latitude is the sun directly over?

December 22 - Northern Hemisphere farthest away from the sun. The sun is directly over the tropic of Capricorn.

What is the fall equinox? What latitude is the sun directly over?

September 22 with an equal number of hours of daylight and darkness (12 hours of each). Sun is directly over the equator.

spring equinox

March 20th or 21st when both hemispheres recieve 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. Sun is directly over the equator.

equinox

both hemispheres are equally far from the sun. Both hemispheres have 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.

closed system

matter cannot go out or into the system - energy free to pass

open system

matter can go in and out of a system - energy is free to pass

positive relationship

increase in variables 1 and 2. As one goes up, the other goes up. If one goes down, the other goes down.

negative relationship

increase in variable 1 and decrease in variable 2. As one goes up, the other goes down

graphic scale

consists of a bar line marked to show distance on Earth's surface

verbal scale

description of scale using words "one inch equal four miles"

representative fraction

The scale of a map represented as a ratio or fraction, such as 1:1,000,000

small scale

1:2,000,000 (whole map)

large scale

1:200 (tuscaloosa)

projection

to minimize distortion

cylindrical projection

a map projection that is made by moving the surface features of the globe onto a cylinder. (Good for low latitude representation)

conic projection

a map created by projecting an image of Earth onto a cone placed over part of an Earth model. (Good for mid-latitude representation.

azimuthal projection

A map projection in which the plane is the most developable surface. (Good for high latitude representation)

distortion on map examples

relative size of regions, the shape of regions, directions, distances, and remote sensing

photographic imaging system

real photo

non photographic imaging systems

radar

atmosphere uniform gas

oxygen, nitrogen, and a little argon

variable gas

water vapor and carbon dioxide

atmosphere variable gas

water vapor, carbon dioxide, some carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide

exosphere

The outer layer of the thermosphere, extending outward into space.

thermosphere

The uppermost layer (4th) of the atmosphere, in which the temperature increases as altitude increases. Aurora-Burolious happens here.

mesosphere

3rd layer of the atmosphere, where as altitude increases, the temperature decreases.

stratosphere

1) 2nd layer of atmosphere 2) location of ozone layer; 3) absorbs 95% of Ultraviolet radiation; 4) temperature increases with altitude increase.

ozone layer (what gas makes it up? Why important?)

O3 absorbs UV radiation coming from the sun

trophosphere

1) first layer of atmosphere off ground. Every atmospheric reaction happens here. Gets colder the more altitude increases.

elements of weather and climate

temperature, moisture, pressure, wind

attenuation

depletion of solar energy

beam spreading

The way a light beam covers a larger area when it hits a surface at an angle

shortwave radiation

hot bodies (ex: the sun)

longwave radiation

cool bodies (ex: the earth)

absorption

the process or action by which one thing absorbs or is absorbed by another

reflection

The bouncing back of a wave when it hits a surface through which it cannot pass.

tranmission

heat that that pass through air or some other median like liquid or solids

scattering

reflection of light in all directions

advection

horizontal movement of heat in air

convection

Vertical movement of heat. Process by which, in a fluid being heated, the warmer part of the mass will rise and the cooler portions will sink.

conduction

of heat through a solid object

the gas law

when air is compressed its temperature will increase - when air expands its temperature will decrease

adiabatic processes

Cooling happens through expansion (no heat is added)

water example: loss of heat

dew forming on blades of grass (condesnation) and snowflake formation (deposition)

sensible heat

when an object is heated its temperature rises as heat is added (an increase in heat)

latent heat

heat loss or gained through a change in the state of water - the heat you need to change the state of matter

water example: addition of heat

evaporation of water and melting ice

melting

cooling process for the environment (ice absorbs energy from the environment and melts)`

freezing

cooling process or water to solid

evaporation

The change of state from a liquid to a gas

condensation

Gas to liquid - warming

sublimation

solid to gas - cooling

deposition

gas to solid - cooling

solid

ice

liquid

water

gas

water vapor

Incoming solar radiation is reflected by what?

reflected by the atmosphere, clouds, surface and absorbed by clouds, and surface

surplus

extra

deficit

A deficiency or lack of something

reasons for unequal heating

1) latitudinal differences 2) length of the day 3)atmospheric obstructions

melting point

The temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid. 32 degrees F or 0 degrees C

boiling point

The temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas. 212 degrees F or 100 degrees C

subsolar point

The point on the Earth where the Sun angle is 90° and solar radiation strikes the surface most directly at any given point in time. Produces no shadows too.

What are the two ways that the solar rays' intensity is depleted?

1) Atmosphere absorbs it. 2)Sun's energy isn't as direct, and the sun's ray intensity decreases

declination

the latitude on Earth at which the noon sun is directly overhead

analemma

shows the declination of sun throught-out the year

What is the coldest time of day?

Right before sunrise

What is the hottest time within a typical day?

3 PM ish

What are the two main processes of heat transfer on earth?

1) Ocean circulation (currents) 2) Atmospheric Circulation

Perihelion

Earth's orbital point nearest to the sun.

Aphelion

Earth's orbital point furthest from the sun.