Untitled Flashcards Set

Geography: The study of Earth's landscapes, environments, and the relationships between people and their environments.
Physical Geography: Focuses on natural features and processes of the Earth, such as landforms, climate, and ecosystems.

4 Spheres of the Environment
Atmosphere: The layer of gases surrounding Earth.
Hydrosphere: All water on Earth (oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater).
Lithosphere: Earth's solid outer layer (crust and upper mantle).
Biosphere: The zone of life, where living organisms exist.

Atmospheric Gases
Nitrogen: 78% of the atmosphere.
Oxygen: 21% of the atmosphere.
Argon: 0.9% of the atmosphere.
Carbon Dioxide: 0.04% of the atmosphere.
Trace Gases: Small amounts of other gases in the atmosphere.

Pressure Profile
Atmospheric Pressure: Decreases with altitude.

Temperature Profile
Troposphere: Temperature decreases with altitude.
Stratosphere: Temperature increases due to ozone absorption of UV radiation.
Mesosphere: Temperature decreases with altitude.
Thermosphere: Temperature increases due to solar radiation.

4 Layers of the Atmosphere
Troposphere: Closest to Earth, where weather occurs.
Stratosphere: Contains the ozone layer.
Mesosphere: Protects Earth from meteoroids.
Thermosphere: Absorbs solar radiation.

Ozone
Ozone (O₃): A molecule in the stratosphere that absorbs UV radiation.
Ozone Hole: A thinning of the ozone layer, primarily over Antarctica, caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Earth/Sun Relationships
Earth’s Tilt: 23.5°, causes seasons.
Equinoxes: Equal day and night (March 20-21, September 22-23).
Solstices: Longest and shortest days of the year (June 21-22, December 21-22).
Tropic of Cancer: 23.5°N, sun overhead during June solstice.
Tropic of Capricorn: 23.5°S, sun overhead during December solstice.
Arctic Circle: 66.5°N, marks boundary of the polar region.
Antarctic Circle: 66.5°S, marks boundary of the polar region.
Sun Overhead: Directly over Tropic of Cancer (June solstice) and Tropic of Capricorn (December solstice).

Radiation Laws
Shortwave Radiation: Incoming solar radiation (high energy).
Longwave Radiation: Outgoing terrestrial radiation (low energy).
Albedo: Reflectivity of a surface (e.g., snow has high albedo).
Greenhouse Effect: Trapping of longwave radiation by greenhouse gases (CO₂, H₂O, CH₄), warming Earth.
Radiation Balance: Balance between incoming solar and outgoing terrestrial radiation.
Sensible Heat: Heat transferred through conduction and convection.
Latent Heat: Heat absorbed or released during phase changes (e.g., evaporation, condensation).
Bowen Ratio: Ratio of sensible heat to latent heat transfer.

Temperature Terms
Daily Temperature Pattern: Highest in the afternoon, lowest before sunrise.
Annual Temperature Pattern: Hottest in summer, coldest in winter.
Continents vs. Oceans: Land heats/cools faster than water, leading to greater temperature variations.

Degree Days
Heating Degree Days (HDD): Measure of heating demand.
Cooling Degree Days (CDD): Measure of cooling demand.
Growing Degree Days (GDD): Measure of heat accumulation for plant growth.

Moisture Terms
Specific Humidity: Mass of water vapor per unit mass of air.
Vapor Pressure: Pressure exerted by water vapor in the air.
Saturation Vapor Pressure: Maximum vapor pressure at a given temperature.
Relative Humidity: Ratio of actual vapor pressure to saturation vapor pressure.

Lapse Rates
Environmental Lapse Rate: Rate of temperature decrease with altitude in the atmosphere.
Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR): 10°C/km, cooling/warming of unsaturated air.
Wet Adiabatic Lapse Rate (WALR): 5-6°C/km, cooling rate of saturated air.

Atmospheric Stability
Stable Atmosphere: Resists vertical movement.
Unstable Atmosphere: Encourages vertical movement.
Conditionally Unstable: Stable if unsaturated, unstable if saturated.

Lifting Mechanisms
Orographic Lifting: Air rises over mountains.
Frontal Lifting: Air rises along weather fronts.
Convection: Air rises due to heating.

Fog
Fog: A cloud at ground level, formed by cooling or evaporation.

Cloud Types
Stratus: Layered clouds.
Cumulus: Puffy, vertical clouds.

Precipitation Types
Showers: Short, intense precipitation.
Drizzle: Light, continuous precipitation.
Frozen Precipitation: Snow, sleet, hail.

Pressure Gradient Force
Pressure Gradient Force: Drives air from high to low pressure.

Coriolis Effect
Coriolis Effect: Deflects wind due to Earth's rotation (right in NH, left in SH).

Friction
Friction: Slows wind near the surface, reducing Coriolis effect.

Geostrophic Winds
Geostrophic Winds: Winds that flow parallel to isobars, balanced by pressure gradient and Coriolis forces.

Surface Winds
Surface Winds: Affected by friction, blowing at an angle to isobars.

Cyclones/Anticyclones
Cyclones: Low-pressure systems with inward, counterclockwise (NH) or clockwise (SH) winds.
Anticyclones: High-pressure systems with outward, clockwise (NH) or counterclockwise (SH) winds.

Global Circulation Patterns
ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone): Low-pressure zone near the equator.
Subtropical Highs: High-pressure zones at 30°N and 30°S.
Polar Front Lows: Low-pressure zones at 60°N and 60°S.
Polar Highs: High-pressure zones at the poles.

Wind Belts
Trade Winds: Easterly winds from 0°-30° latitude.
Midlatitude Westerlies: Winds from 30°-60° latitude.
Polar Easterlies: Winds from 60°-90° latitude.

Hadley Cell
Hadley Cell: Circulation cell between the equator and 30° latitude.

Global Precipitation Patterns
Global Precipitation Patterns: Heavy precipitation near the equator and midlatitudes, dry conditions near 30° latitude.