GEOG 103 Midterm

what are weather and climate results of

Atmospheric pressure gradients and energy imbalances.

what is Wein’s Law

The principle stating that peak emission wavelength is inversely proportional to absolute temperature ($\lambda_{\text{max}} \propto \frac{1}{T}$).

how far is the Ionosphere & what does it absorb

Extends outward from $80\,\text{km}$; absorbs X-rays, gamma rays, and short UV radiation.

how far out is the Ozonoshere & what is its function

$19\text{--}50\,\text{km}$; absorbs harmful UV rays via ozone ($O_3$) and converts them to heat.

what is the Atmospheric composition mainly consist of

$78\%$ Nitrogen ($N_2$) and $21\%$ Oxygen ($O_2$), making up $99\%$ of atmospheric gases.

does a negative or positive feedback work in a self regulating manner

Negative feedback (stabilizes systems by counteracting change; positive feedback amplifies change).

What is the tropospheres atmospheric profile

Surface to $8\text{--}15\,\text{km}$; temperature decreases with height; site of active weather.

what is the atmospheric profile of the Stratosphere

$15\text{--}50\,\text{km}$; temperature increases with altitude due to UV absorption by $O_3$.

What is the atmospheric profile of the Mesosphere

$50\text{--}85\,\text{km}$; coldest atmospheric layer; temperature decreases with altitude; site of meteor burnout.

what is the atmospheric profile of Thermosphere

$85\text{--}600\,\text{km}$; temperature rises sharply with altitude; contains auroras in extremely low-density air.

what are the three ways energy is transferred

1. Radiation

2. Sensible heat

3. Latent heat

what is radiation in heat

Thermal energy transfer via electromagnetic waves requiring no intervening medium.

what is sensible heat

Heat that causes a measurable temperature change without altering the phase of a substance.

What Is Latent Heat

Heat absorbed or released during a phase change at constant temperature.

What is the Meridional Energy Flux

Equator-to-pole transfer of heat via oceanic and atmospheric circulation.

what are the 4 Principle controls on temperature

1. Latitude

2. Altitude/elevation

3. Cloud cover

4. Land-water heating contrasts

what are the 4 reasons the climate changes

1. Solar cycles

2. Milankovitch cycles

3. Atmospheric composition changes

4. Plate tectonics

what are solar activity cycles

Periodic fluctuations in solar irradiance driven by sunspots, flares, and solar magnetism.

What are Milankovitch Cycles

Cyclical variations in Earth's orbit, axial tilt, and precession driving long-term climate shifts.

what is the source of carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere

Respiration, organic decomposition, volcanism, and fossil fuel combustion.

What is the sink for Carbon dioxide in our atmosphere

Photosynthesis (biomass), oceanic dissolution, and geologic carbonate burial.

how do green house gasses increase our planets surface temperature

By absorbing and re-radiating outgoing terrestrial infrared radiation back toward Earth's surface.

what is the source for methane in our atmosphere

Wetlands, livestock digestion, landfills, termite activity, and fossil fuel extraction.

what are the sinks for methane in our atmosphere

Oxidation by atmospheric hydroxyl radicals ($OH$) and uptake by soil microorganisms.

what are the source of aerosols in our atmosphere

Volcanoes, sea spray, windblown dust, industrial emissions, and biomass burning.

what is the sink for aerosols in our atmosphere

Wet deposition (precipitation scavenging) and dry gravitational sedimentation.

what are climate variability events

Short- to medium-term regional and global climate deviations (e.g., ENSO: El Niño and La Niña).

8 main geographic factors that influence climate

1. Latitude

2. Altitude

3. Air masses

4. Ocean currents

5. Land-sea distribution

6. Pressure cells

7. Mountain barriers

8. Prevailing winds

what are air mass influences

Weather alterations brought by large bodies of air carrying distinct temperature and moisture profiles.

what are global high and low pressure zones

Pressure belts where highs generate clear, dry conditions and lows drive cloudiness and precipitation.

what are prevailing winds

Dominant regional winds that transport heat, moisture, and air masses globally.

What is a Isobar

A weather map isoline connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure.

what is A on the KÖppen Geiger system

Tropical Moist

what is B on the KÖppen Geiger system

Dry

what is C on the KÖppen Geiger system

Moist Subtropical Mid-Latitude

what is D on the KÖppen Geiger system

Moist Continental Mid-Latitude

what is E on the KÖppen Geiger system

Polar

what is Primary Circulation

Global wind belts driven by differential solar heating and Earth's rotation.

what is secondary circulation

Migratory synoptic systems, such as cyclones and anticyclones.

What is Tertiary circulation

Localized, temporary wind patterns and mesoscale breezes.

what is wind

Moving air characterized as a vector having both velocity (magnitude) and direction.

what are the 4 driving forces of wind

1. Gravity

2. Pressure gradient force

3. Coriolis force

4. Friction

what is pressure gradient force

The fundamental force driving air directly from high to low pressure.

what is the Coriolis force

An apparent deflective force on moving fluids caused by Earth's planetary rotation.

which way does the Coriolis force act win the northern hemisphere

To the right of the path of motion (clockwise deflection).

which way does the Coriolis force act in the southern hemisphere

To the left of the path of motion (counterclockwise deflection).

what is Geostrophic wind

Upper-level wind flowing parallel to straight isobars where Coriolis balances pressure gradient force.

what is a cyclone

A low-pressure system with convergent, inward-spiraling winds and stormy conditions.

what is an anti cyclone

A high-pressure system with divergent, outward-spiraling winds and clear, stable weather.

convergence of air towards the centre of a low pressure region at the surface results in

Vertical ascent (upward motion).

Divergence of air from the centre of a high pressure region at the surface results in

Subsidence (downward motion).

what are the 4 surface circulation patterns

1. Doldrums (ITCZ)

2. Trade winds

3. Horse latitudes

4. Prevailing westerlies

what are the circulation patterns in the upper atmosphere

Jet streams

what is an Adiabatic temperature change

Internal temperature change via compression or expansion without heat exchange.

what is Orographic uplift

Forced mechanical ascent of air masses over elevated topography.

what is Orographic precipitation

Precipitation produced when moisture cools and condenses as it rises over mountains.

what is Frontal Precipitation

Precipitation triggered when contrasting air masses collide and the warmer air is forced aloft.

advancing cold front characteristics

Steep frontal slope, rapid warm air displacement, and intense convective storms.

An advancing warmfront characteristics

Gentle frontal slope, warm air gliding over cold air, and widespread, steady stratiform rain.

what is Convergent precipitation

Rainfall caused by converging low-level horizontal airflows forcing vertical uplift.

what is Convective precipitation

Rainfall caused by rapid thermal buoyancy of heated, moist air producing cumulus clouds.

3 main types of storms

1. Extratropical (mid-latitude) cyclones

2. Tropical cyclones

3. Mesoscale convective systems

what is an extratropical cyclone

A frontal, mid-latitude low-pressure storm system driven by horizontal temperature contrasts.

what are tropical storms

Organized, rotating maritime convective systems fueled by latent heat over warm seas.

what are hurricanes

Intense tropical cyclones featuring a non-frontal warm core, low central pressure, and an eyewall.

what are miso-scale convective storms

Organized thunderstorm complexes sustained by latent heat release that produce severe localized weather.

what are specific traits to the three individual phases of water

Ice: rigid, crystalline, lowest density; Liquid: fluid, high specific heat; Gas: highly expansive, lowest density.

how is water distributed around the world

Oceans ($\approx 97\%$), ice caps/glaciers ($\approx 2\%$), and freshwater reservoirs ($< 1\%$).

how is water stored around the world

Within reservoirs: oceans, ice sheets, groundwater aquifers, surface water, and the atmosphere.

order the gases in our atmosphere from greatest to least

1. Nitrogen

2. Carbon dioxide

3. Methane

4. Oxygen

5. Water Vapour

heat transfer through electro magnetic waves is called

radiation

Heat transfer through a flowing medium (like air or ocean currents) is called

Convection

Molecule to molecule heat transfer for molecules in direct contact to each other

Conduction

what is a dynamic equilibrium

A dynamic equilibrium is a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced, resulting in no net change in a system over time, even though processes are continuously occurring.

Weins law states

the colder an object, the longer the peak wavelength of emitted radiation.

most of the worlds precipitation and evaporation happens

Over the oceans

what are stream discharge patterns determined by

1. Slope

2. erodibility or resistance of Bedrock

3. jointing, folding and faulting of bedrock

what is the ITCZ

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is a region near the equator where trade winds from both hemispheres meet, resulting in heavy precipitation and cloud formation.

direction of airflow in a cyclone

air moves towards the center

direction of airflow in an anticyclone

away from the center

is a cyclone low or high pressure

Low-pressure

is an anti cyclone high or low pressure

high-pressure

what is interflow

Lateral subsurface movement of water through the soil layer.

What is Surface runoff

Flow of excess water over the land surface toward water bodies.

what is base flow

The portion of streamflow that comes from groundwater seepage into the stream, typically during dry periods.

area of convergence of polar and tropical air masses

Polar Front

NE or SE winds form subtropical highs to the ITCZ

Trade winds

region of low winds and high temperature in equatorial regions

Doldrums

westerlies

Strong winds originating in the subtropical highs and flowing towards the poles

is Coriolis force stronger or weaker at higher latitudes

the Coriolis force is stronger at higher latitudes it has little effect at the equator

which ocean basin receives the highest percentage of total global river discharge

the Pacific