The Physical Environment

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the scientific study of ecology and the physical environment as discussed in the lecture.

Ecology

The scientific study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.

Climate

The long-term patterns of temperature, wind, and precipitation in a particular area.

Greenhouse effect

The natural process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, keeping the planet warm.

Climate velocity

The rate and direction that climate shifts across the landscape.

Peer-reviewed literature

Scientific works reviewed by experts in the field before publication to ensure accuracy and quality.

Box plot

A standardized way of displaying the distribution of data based on a five-number summary: minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile, and maximum.

Insolation

Incoming solar radiation received by the Earth.

Adiabatic cooling

The cooling effect that occurs as air rises and expands due to lower pressure at higher altitudes.

Primary literature

Original research articles reporting new findings in a specific field.

Secondary literature

Works that summarize, analyze, or interpret primary literature.

Phenology

The study of the timing of seasonal events in nature.

Vertical circulation

The movement of air or water up or down due to differences in temperature, pressure, or density.

Coriolis effect

The deflection of moving objects caused by the rotation of the Earth.

Hydrologic cycle

The continuous cycle of water movement through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.

Thermohaline circulation

The large-scale movement of water driven by temperature (thermal) and salinity (haline) differences.

Continentality

The variation of climate conditions between inland areas and coastal regions, often leading to more extreme temperatures on land.

Upwelling

The process by which deep, cold water rises to the surface, often bringing nutrients that support marine life.

Solar insolation

The amount of solar radiation reaching a given area; affects climate and weather patterns.

El Niño

A climate pattern characterized by the warming of surface ocean waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, impacting global weather.

Decadal variability

The fluctuations in climate factors that occur over periods of ten years, affecting weather and climates globally.