Geography 131 Exam 1

Geography

Means to write something about earth

Cartography

the art and science of mapmaking

Remote sensing

Mapping Earth from satellites and aircraft

Geographic Information Systems GIS

For storing, displaying, amd analyzing geographic data (represents data as layers- collection of geographic objects; defined by visual symbol)

Definition of Spatial

Refers to the nature and character of physical space

Five themes of Geography

Location, place, region, movement, human-Earth relations

Physical geography

Studies the characteristics of the physical environment

Human geography

Studies human groups and their activities

What does human geography answer?

They answer both where and why questions for spatial patterns and spatial processes

Geography bridges...

Physical sciences and the social sciences

Steps of scientific method

Develop a question, hypothesis, observe and measure, results

Systems Theory

A system is any ordered, interrelated set of things and their attributes, linked by flows of energy and matter

Definition of energy

Power to get something to move

Definiton of matter

Source we get from Earth

Open System

Is a system with inputs of energy or matter and outpouts of energy or matter

Closed systems

Is shut off from the surrounding environent so that it is self-contained. (no MASS transfer)

Example of open system

Earth is in terms of ENERGY

Example of closed system

Earth is in terms of physical matter and resources

Earth is an open system for

Energy flows

Earth is a closed system for

Material flows

What is the implication of Earth being closed system on humans and consumption of resources?

We need to use our resources in a way that they do not run out

Earths 4 spheres

Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Biosphere

Atmosphere

Air

Hydrosphere

Water

Lithosphere

Solid earth

Biosphere

living things

Negative feedback

Feedback information DISCOURAGES change in the system (Stabilizes systems)

Positive feedback

Feedback information ENCOURAGES change in the system. Destablizes system

Negative feedback is

good

Positive feedback is

bad

Steady State Equilibrium

When the rates of inputs and outputs in the system are equal and the amounts of energy and mater in storage within the system are constant

Dynamic Equilibrium

When there is an increasing or decreasing trend. A dynamic equilibrium system may change to a new operation level as it reaches a threshold called tipping point

Threshold, tipping point

System jumps to a new stable average condition

Shape of Earth

Oblate speroid

Latitude

An angular distance North or South of the Equator, measured from the center of Earth

Parallel

A line connecting all points along the same latitudinal angle

Arctic vs Antarctic

Arctic 66.5 N to North Pole

Antarctic 66.5 S to South Pole

Longitude

Is an angular distance East or West of a point on Earth's surface measured from the center of Earth

Meridian

A line connecting all points along the same longitude

Prime Meridian

A meridian designated as 0

Great Circle

Any circle of Earth's circumference whose center coincides with the center of Earth

Small Circles

All other parallels decreases in length toward the poles

Not all parrallels are great circles, only the Equator

TRUE

International date line

Approximately along the 180th meridian (180 E or 180 W)

Scale

Ratio of actual size on the map to the size on ground

Projection

Coversion from Globe to planar

Thematic Mapping

(themes) Are used to convey inforation about many geographic topics/themes

Flow Maps

Something is going from one place to another

Dot Density

Small dot- small density

Graduated Symbol Map

Dot represents large area- may be different symbols

Types of map scales

Representative fraction, written scale, graphic scale

Representative Fraction

1:24,000

Written Scale

1 inch \= 1 mile

Small-scale Map

Less detail, large denominator (1:1,000,000)

Large-scale Map

More detail, small denominator (1:100,000)

Distortion Map

Shape disorted, size accurate

Cylindrical Projection

Conformal: preserves the shape of a map

Planer Projection

Equidistant: preserves distance

Conic Projection

Equal Area: Preserves the measure

Global Positioning System

Uses radio signals from satellites to find your location

Remote sensing defintion

Collecting info without direct contact

Active Remote Sensing

Remote-sensing systems direct a beam of energy at a surface and analyze the energy reflected back

Passive Remote Sensing

Remote-sensing systems record wavelengths of energy radiated from a surface, particularly visible light and infrared

GIS

Computer based data processing tool combines: spatial data and attribute data

Plane of the ecliptic

Plane on Earth's orbit about the Sun

Perihelion

Earth is closest to the sun (January 3rd)

Aphelion

Earth is farthest from the Sun (July 4th)

Earth is the FARTHEST from the sun during Northern Hemisphere summer

TRUE

Earth is the CLOSEST to the Sun during Northern Hemisphere Winter

TRUE

Earth's axis is tilted

23.5 degrees

Sunspots have an activity cycle of how many years

11

What causes sunspots

Magnetic storms on the sun

What is the temp like on sunspots?

Their temps are less than the temps of their surroundings

Sunspots can produce solar winds.

TRUE

How long does it take solar winds to reach Earth?

3 days

What are solar winds composed of

Clouds of electrically charged particles - not light - that is emitted from the sun

Where are auroras NOT spotted

Near the equator

What are auroras?

The magnetosphere deflects the solar wind toward BOTH of Earth's ples and only a small portion of it enters the atmosphere

Radiant energy

A by-product of the Sun's combining hydrogen atons into helium

T/F. Radiant energy travels in waves

TRUE

What is frequency?

The number of waves passing a fixed point in 1 second

High frequency

LOW wave length

Low frequency

HIGH wave length

Solar radiation occupies a portion of what spectrum?

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

What percentage of emitted radiant energy from the sun comes in the form of visible light and infrared wavelenghts?

92%

What are the relative wavelengths for visible light?

.40-.71

Gamma rays

Higher energy, shorter wavelength, higher frequency

Radio waves

Lower energym longer wavelength, lower frequency

Energy distribution

High frequency is associated with small wavelengths and high energy

Blackbody

Ideally absorbs all the radiant energy that is received and then emits all that it receives

T/F. Earth is an ideal Blackbody

TRUE

T/F We absorb a short wave and emit a long wave

TRUE

Insolation

Solar radiatin that reaches a horizontal plane at earth

Solar constant

Insolation at the top of the atmosphere (thermopause)

Uneven Distribution

Earth receives one two-billionth of Sun's total energy output

T/F. Tropics receive more than 2.5 times of what poles receive (when referring to insolation)

TRUE

Solar altitude

The angle between the horizon and sun (range from 0 to 90 degrees)

Subsolar point

Location where the sun altitude is exactly 90 degrees

Declination

The location of the subsolar point is the Sun's....