Physical Geography Exam Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to physical geography, air masses, atmospheric processes, and climate characteristics.

mP

Maritime Polar air mass; wet and cold, typically found at higher latitudes.

mT

Maritime Tropical air mass; wet and hot, found at lower latitudes.

cP

Continental Polar air mass; dry and cold, usually from higher latitudes.

cT

Continental Tropical air mass; dry and hot, originating from lower latitudes.

cA

Continental Arctic air mass; dry and cold, occurring only in winter at higher latitudes.

Dry Line

A boundary between maritime Tropical (mT) and continental Tropical (cT) air masses.

Lifting Condensation Level

The altitude at which air reaches saturation and begins to condense, forming clouds.

Orographic Lifting

When air is forced to rise over a mountain range, causing clouds and precipitation on the windward side.

Windward Side

The side of a mountain that faces the wind and receives moisture, resulting in precipitation.

Leeward Side

The side of a mountain that is sheltered from the wind, typically hot and dry.

Sleet

Partially melted snowflakes that refreeze before reaching the ground.

Analemma

A diagram that shows the solar declination for each day of the year.

Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere

Includes permanent and variable gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen, CO2, and water vapor, that influence weather and climate.

Thermal Layers of the Atmosphere

The five layers include: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases like CO2 that absorb longwave radiation and help maintain Earth's temperature.

Angle of Incidence

The angle between incoming solar radiation and the ground, varying throughout the year.

High Albedo

Surfaces with high reflectivity, such as snow, which absorb less heat.

Low Albedo

Surfaces with low reflectivity, like asphalt, which absorb more heat.

Hadley Cell

A large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern near the equator resulting in low pressure and significant precipitation.

Trade Winds

Consistent winds blowing from east to west in the tropics, northeast to southwest in the northern hemisphere and southeast to northwest in the southern hemisphere.

ITCZ

The Intertropical Convergence Zone, where trade winds meet, leading to tropical convergence, cloud formation, and heavy rainfall.