Exam 1

amount of water in ocean

97%

how much evaporation comes from ocean?

86%

how much water precipitates back into the ocean?

78%

infiltration

water soaks into subsurface

percolation

permeates through rocks and soil

latent heat

heat involved in the phase change

how many calories does melting use up?

80 cals

water covers how much of earth?

71%

human body is __ water

70%

evaporation rate is controlled by

humidity, temperature, wind speed, salinity of water, surface area

increase humidity, _______ evaporation

decreased

increased temperature, _______ evaporation

increased

increased wind speed, _______ evaporation

increased

increased salinity, _______ evaporation

decreased

increased surface area, _______ evaporation

increased

clouds

form when air gets saturated with water, aggregate of tiny moisture droplets and ice crystals

how many droplets does it take to form one drop?

one million

what coalesced to form the planet?

icy comets, H2, and O2 laden debris

outgassing

water and vapor emerge from layers deep within and below the crust

when was worldwide equilibrium gained?

2 BYA

percentage of freshwater?

2\.78%

how much freshwater is locked in glaciers and ice sheets?

77%

first atmosphere date

4\.6 BYA

first atmosphere composition

H2, He

first atmosphere characteristics

no differentiated core (could not deflect solar winds)

second atmosphere date

3\.5 BYA

second atmospheric characteristics

produced by volcanic outgassing, no free O2

ocean formation

occurred in second atmosphere, H2O produced by outgassing could exist as liquid

driving forces within the atmosphere

gravity, pressure gradient force, coriolis force, friction

equatorial low pressure trough (intertropical convergence zone)

heavy rain throughout year, combination of heating and convergence forces air aloft

polar high pressure cells

weak, little energy from sun, frigid and dry deserts, polar easterlies and antarctica high

subtropical high pressure cells

westerlies, bermuda high, azores high, and pacific high

westerlies

surface winds subtropics to high lat

bermuda high

atlantic subtropical high polar cell

azores high

when bermuda high migrates to east atlantic in winter

pacific high

pacific in july, retreats south in jan

subpolar low pressure cells

along the polar front, series of low pressure cells

polar front

region of contrast between the colder air towards the poles and warmer air towards the equator

rainshadow effect

reduction in rainfall in regions adjacent to or on the leeward slopes of mountains

desert rainfall

dry

interior continental areas rainfall

dry

polar areas rainfall

dry

equatorial regions rainfall

high

mid-latitudes rainfall

cyclonic activity and frontal lifting

mountain ranges rainfall

high

monsoonal winds

regional wind systems that seasonally change direction

atmospheric lifting mechanisms

convergent lifting, convectional lifting, orographic lifting, frontal lifting

convergent lifting

air flows towards an area of low pressure, displacing air upwards

convectional lifting

stimulated by local surface heating

orographic lifting

air is forced over barrier

frontal lifting

along leading edges of contrasting air masses

cyclone

low pressure center migrates with converging, ascending air

el nino

warm ocean in pacific; rains in west US

la nina

cold ocean in pacific; drought in west us

oceanic currents occur as

surface currents and deep currents

what is the driving force for ocean currents?

frictional drag of winds

deep ocean thermohaline circulation

differences in temp and salinity produce density differences important to flow of deep currents

surface runoff

flow of water at surface

factors that affect infiltration and runoff

rainfall, surface material properties, vegetation, slope, drainage area, plant uptake, evaporation

natural and rural surface materials

soil (natural and cultivated), unconsolidated sediment (sand, gravel), rock, water

urban surface materials

pavement, buildings, unconsolidated materials, urban soil

soil horizon order

O, A, E, B, C, R

O

humus

A

soluble salts and colloids leached, organic matter has accumulated, most fertile soil layer

E

zone of eluviation

eluviation

removal of fine particles and minerals by water

B

zone of illuviation

illuviation

deposition of clays and minerals translocated from elseqhere

C

regolith, weathered bedrock

R

bedrock

solum

A, E, B - most active soil processess

hardpan/ caliche

naturally occurring concrete found in arid environments, acts as a barrier to percolation of soil moisture

higher CN, ______ runoff

more

water potential

potential energy of water per unit volume relative to pure water in reference conditions

three levels of plant transprt

by individual cells, short distance transport from cell to cell, long distance transport of sap

watersheds

total land area that drains surface area to a common point, often into a particular body of water

open watershed

drains into ocean

closed watershed

drains into lake or restricted body of water

functions of water shed

collection, storage, and transport of water; cycling and transformation of nutrients, pollutants, and energy; provide habitat and framework for ecological succession

how cant we identify a watershed?

defined topographically by break points or ridges which separate it from the next watershed

surface water flows at _____ across a contour line

right angles

ridges as _____ elevation contour lines

highest

drainages indicated contour lines pointing ______(_______)

upstream (v-shape)

first order stream

smallest, consist of small tributaries

twelfth order stream

largest

steep sided channel profile

neat headwaters, downcutting currents

sinuous or meandering channel

common in downstream reaches

braided channel pattern

course sediment, too much sediment for river, abrupt changes in channel gradient

floodplains

area of low lying ground adjacent to a river, formed mainly of river sediments and subject to flooding

riparian buffer zones

green zones along streams, rivers, and lakes

terraces

piece of sloped plane that has been cut into a series of successively receding flat surfaces or platforms

stage

height of water in or above channel

bankfull stage

stage that just fills channel

flood stage

any stage above bankfall

gauging station

measures stage at a given location

______ determines maximum particle size that can be moved

flow velocity

_____ determines total sediment load that the river can transport

discharge

lakes are temporary how?

slowly fill in with sediments, or spill out basin

water accumulation lakes

glacial, volcanic, tectonic, artificial

glacial lake

kettle lake, cirque lake