CSUS GEOG 1 Study Guide Exam 1 Notes

CSUS. GEOG. 1 Atmosphere, Landscapes & Life: Study Guide Notes

A. Scope of the First Exam

  • The first exam will cover:

    • All lectures from Chapter 1 to Chapter 3 (Chapter 1: Essentials of Geography to Chapter 3: Earth’s Modern Atmosphere).

    • Christopherson, “Geosystems. An Introduction to Physical Geography,” 10th Ed.: Use this text to cover material discussed in class and to supplement topics not covered due to time constraints, reinforcing memory of the material.

    • Emphasis should be given to studying lecture notes.

B. Key Terms and Concepts

Chapter 1: Location and Time on Earth

  • Latitude

    • Definition: Angular measurement of a point on Earth relative to the equator, expressed in degrees.

    • Types: Parallels (lines of latitude).

    • Important Concepts: Latitudinal Geographic Zones.

  • Longitude

    • Definition: Angular measurement of a point on Earth relative to the Prime Meridian, expressed in degrees.

    • Types: Meridian (lines of longitude).

  • Prime Meridian

    • Definition: The reference line for longitude set at 0°.

  • Great Circle: A circle formed by the intersection of Earth's surface with any plane passing through the Earth's center.

    • Examples: Equator is a great circle; all meridians are great circles.

  • Small Circle: Any circle on the surface of the sphere that does not divide it into two equal halves.

  • Time Zones

    • Defined by longitudinal divisions of the Earth, each approximately 15° of longitude wide, representing one hour of time.

    • Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): Standard time at the Prime Meridian.

    • Universal Time Coordinated (UTC): Time standard similar to GMT.

  • International Date Line (IDL): An imaginary line, mostly along the 180° longitude line, where time zones are adjusted.

    • What happens when crossing IDL: Changes the day/date, not the time, if remaining within the same time zone.

Chapter 2: Seasons, Earth-Sun Relationships

  • Earth's Rotational Dynamics

    • The Earth rotates 360° every 24 hours, translating to 15° per hour.

    • Time to rotate one degree: 4 minutes.

  • Perihelion & Aphelion

    • Perihelion: Closest point to the Sun (occurs on January 3).

    • Aphelion: Farthest point from the Sun (occurs on July 4).

  • Solar Radiation (Insolation)

    • Defined as the amount of solar energy received by Earth.

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum: All types of electromagnetic radiation categorized by wavelength from gamma rays to radio waves.

  • Energy Laws:

    • Hotter bodies emit more energy at shorter wavelengths (e.g., Earth's average temperature is around 288 K, and the Sun's is around 6000 K).

  • Shortwave and Longwave Radiation: Differences in emission and absorption by various atmospheric components such as ozone.

  • Seasons and Solar Declination: Based on tilt of the Earth's axis (23.5°), defining characteristics at solstices and equinoxes.

    • E.g., Summer Solstice (June 21), Winter Solstice (December 22).

Chapter 3: Atmosphere Structure and Composition

  • Layers of the Atmosphere

    • Troposphere: Contains weather phenomena; temperature drops with altitude (approx. 6.4°C decrease/1000 m).

    • Stratosphere: Contains the ozone layer; temperature increases with altitude due to ozone absorption of UV radiation.

    • Mesosphere: Temperatures decrease with elevation; coldest layer of the atmosphere.

    • Thermosphere: Temp increases with altitude; contains charged particles producing auroras.

    • Exosphere: Outermost layer; atmosphere fades into outer space.

  • Air Pressure and Density

    • Air pressure: Weight of the atmosphere above a given point; highest near the surface.

    • Air density: Mass per unit volume decreases with altitude.

  • Temperature Inversions: Occur when temperature increases with altitude in certain layers (e.g., stratosphere).

Important Questions and Concepts

  • Understand how the variable components of the atmosphere (water vapor, ozone, pollutants) interact and affect climate.

  • What causes changes in pressure and density with elevation? Understand the mechanisms at play.

  • Seasons:

    • Results from Earth's axial tilt, revolution around the Sun, and parallelism of Earth's axis.

  • Solar Insolation: Influenced by the angle of the Sun; varies seasonally based on latitude.

Review Questions

  • Differentiate between latitude and longitude.

  • Clarify the concept of meridians and parallels.

  • Describe the significance of the Equator as a circle.

  • Calculated questions on time difference across longitudes.

  • Discuss the reasons for seasonal variations and their corollaries such as daylight duration and solar declination.

  • Identify the primary greenhouse gas and its role in climate change.

  • Quiz Specifics: Utilize diagrams to assess understanding of solar angles and daylight variations across latitudes during solstices and equinoxes.

Additional Considerations

  • Review the electromagnetic spectrum, focusing on UV absorption and effects on temperature and weather patterns.

  • Discuss the implications of ozone depletion and impacts on biological integrity and climate.

  • Include detailed calculations regarding rotational velocities at various latitudes and their implications for timekeeping.