GEOG 111 Test #1 Guide
Energy is the capacity to do work on or to change the state of matter.
Matter is any material that possesses mass and occupies space.
Radiant energy is the energy of electromagnetic waves, such as light or X-rays.
Photosynthesis is a process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert the Sun’s radiant energy to stored chemical energy.
Chemical energy is energy in a substance that can be released through a chemical reaction.
Geothermal energy (heat from Earth’s interior) moves entire continents and heaves and buckles Earth’s crust into mountain ranges.
atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding Earth
biosphere is all of life on Earth.
crust (the rigid outermost portion of Earth’s surface)
The lithosphere is Earth’s rigid crust plus the heated layer beneath it
The hydrosphere encompasses all of Earth’s water in its three states: solid, liquid, and gas
The interactions within a single system and between different systems are called system feedbacks.
A negative feedback is a process by which interacting parts in a system stabilize the system.
A positive feedback is a process by which interacting parts in a system destabilize the system.
Temporal scale refers to the window of time used to examine phenomena
Spatial scale refers to the physical size, length, distance, or area of an object
Large-scale perspective makes geographic features large to show more detail
Small-scale perspective makes geographic features small to cover broad regions.
primary pollutant:, enters the air or water directly from its source
secondary pollutant: not emitted directly from a source but instead forms through chemical
reactions among primary pollutants
Particulate matter: microscopic aerosols (liquid and solid particles) suspended in the atmosphere.
Radiant energy (electromagnetic radiation): energy that is propagated in the form of electromagnetic waves, including visible light and heat
Cloud composition: Clouds are composed of suspended microscopic liquid cloud droplets and ice crystals.
Cloud forms: Clouds take one of three forms: cirriform, stratiform, or cumuliform.
Clouds that bring precipitation: Nimbostratus and cumulonimbus clouds bring precipitation. Cumulonimbus clouds can produce severe weather.
Fog: Fog forms where surface air has been cooled to the dew point. Most fog is either radiation fog or advection fog.
Lifting condensation level: altitude where temperature inside air parcel reaches dew point
Moist adiabatic rate: rate of cooling in a saturated parcel
Stable atmosphere: interior of air particles are cooler/denser than surrounding air
Rain shadow: adiabatic warming on leeward side of a mountain forming a dry area
Leeward side: side sheltered from prevailing winds
Windward side: side wind hits
Convective uplift: warmed air forms rising parcels
Orographic uplift: lifting of air over mountains
Frontal uplift: warm air flower over cold air because it is less dense
Convergent uplift: two winds converge in area of low pressure and rise
Cirrus clouds: high, feathery and composed of ice crystals
Cumulus clouds: dome-shaped, with a flat base, that rise high in the troposphere (strong vertical development)
Stratus clouds: low, flat sheets
Alto: low
Altocumulus: cumulus between 2,000 & 7,000 ft
Nimbus: any cloud producing precipitation
Nimbostratus: low-level, rain producing sheets
Cumulonimbus: large rain and hail clouds capable of strong vertical development and severe weather
Fog: stratus cloud on or near the ground that restricts visibility to less than 1 km
Radiation fog: caused by ground radiating heat away at night
Advection fog: moist air moves over a cool surface and condenses
Condensation nuclei: small particles providing a surface for vapor to condense
Collision and coalescence: process by which cloud droplets merge into raindrops
Ice-crystal process: forming of snow in clouds where temperature is 0°F or below
Causes of pressure: warm air creates low pressure, cold air creates high pressure
Wind: created by unequal heating of Earth’s surface & release of latent heat in clouds
Wind controls: pressure-gradient force, coriolis effect, friction
Air flow: from areas of high pressure to low pressure
Wind names: winds are named for the direction in which they blow
El Nino: reversing of pacific equatorial trade winds and increased surface temperatures off Peru
Coriolis Effect: perceived deflection of moving objects in relation to Earth’s surface
Chinook & Santa Ana winds: flow downslope and heat adiabatically
Katabatic winds: fast and frigid winds that form in sloped terrain where cold air drains downslope due to gravity
Mountain breeze: downslope breezes that cause by cooling of the land
Sea breeze: upslope/onshore breezes caused by the warming of land
Aerovane: combination of wind vane and anemometer
Anemometer: measure wind speed based on speed of propeller rotation