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Question 1

What is Physical Geography?

Answer 1

The study of Earth’s natural systems including atmosphere

Question 2

What are direct atmospheric data sources?

Answer 2

Instrument measurements like thermometers

Question 3

What are proxy climate data?

Answer 3

Indirect evidence of past climate such as ice cores

Question 4

How did Earth’s early atmosphere form?

Answer 4

Through volcanic outgassing

Question 5

Why are Earth

Answer 5

Venus

Question 6

What are the two most abundant gases in Earth’s atmosphere?

Answer 6

Nitrogen (~78%) and Oxygen (~21%).

Question 7

What are the three main types of EM radiation in this course?

Answer 7

Shortwave radiation

Question 8

What is shortwave radiation?

Answer 8

High-energy radiation from the Sun including visible light and UV.

Question 9

What is longwave radiation?

Answer 9

Lower-energy radiation emitted by Earth’s surface as heat (infrared).

Question 10

What does albedo mean?

Answer 10

The reflectivity of a surface; high albedo reflects more radiation.

Question 11

What factors control surface temperature?

Answer 11

Latitude

Question 12

Why does temperature decrease with altitude?

Answer 12

Air expands and cools as pressure decreases.

Question 13

What causes seasons?

Answer 13

Earth’s axial tilt (23.5°)

Question 14

Where is the sun directly overhead on June 21?

Answer 14

Tropic of Cancer.

Question 15

What is the Köppen climate classification based on?

Answer 15

Temperature and precipitation patterns.

Question 16

What is the hydrologic cycle?

Answer 16

Continuous movement of water through evaporation

Question 17

Where is most of Earth’s water located?

Answer 17

In the oceans (~97%).

Question 18

What is relative humidity?

Answer 18

The percentage of water vapor in air compared to its maximum capacity at that temperature.

Question 19

What happens to RH when temperature rises?

Answer 19

RH decreases if moisture content stays the same.

Question 20

What is dew point?

Answer 20

The temperature at which air becomes saturated and condensation begins.

Question 21

What is the DALR?

Answer 21

Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (~10°C per 1000m).

Question 22

What is the SALR?

Answer 22

Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate (~6°C per 1000m

Question 23

What is ELR?

Answer 23

Environmental Lapse Rate — actual temperature change in surrounding air.

Question 24

What is a chinook wind?

Answer 24

Warm

Question 25

What is atmospheric stability?

Answer 25

The tendency of air to resist or enhance vertical motion.

Question 26

What clouds form in unstable air?

Answer 26

Cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds.

Question 27

What are the three main cloud height categories?

Answer 27

High

Question 28

What type of cloud produces thunderstorms?

Answer 28

Cumulonimbus.

Question 29

How does fog form?

Answer 29

When air near surface cools to dew point.

Question 30

What is sleet?

Answer 30

Frozen raindrops formed when precipitation melts then refreezes.

Question 31

What is the 3-cell circulation model?

Answer 31

Global wind pattern consisting of Hadley

Question 32

What is the ITCZ?

Answer 32

Intertropical Convergence Zone — low pressure zone near equator with rising air.

Question 33

What are the two major ocean currents to know?

Answer 33

Warm currents and cold currents.

Question 34

What is El Niño?

Answer 34

Warming of Pacific Ocean that changes global weather patterns.

Question 35

What does El Niño usually bring to BC?

Answer 35

Warmer and drier winters.

Question 36

What are the six main air masses?

Answer 36

cA

Question 37

What type of air mass is cP?

Answer 37

Continental Polar — cold and dry.

Question 38

What happens during cyclogenesis?

Answer 38

Development of a mid-latitude cyclone from a low-pressure center.

Question 39

Which front ends a cyclone?

Answer 39

Occluded front.

Question 40

What weather occurs at a warm front?

Answer 40

Gentle slope

Question 41

What weather occurs at a cold front?

Answer 41

Steep slope

Question 42

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 42

Process where greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit longwave radiation

Question 43

Name three major greenhouse gases.

Answer 43

CO2

Question 44

What is anthropogenic climate change?

Answer 44

Climate change caused by human activities such as fossil fuel burning.

Question 45

What is the Urban Heat Island effect?

Answer 45

Cities are warmer than rural areas due to concrete

Question 46

What is NOx?

Answer 46

Nitrogen oxides — air pollutants from combustion.

Question 47

What are VOCs?

Answer 47

Volatile Organic Compounds that react to form smog.

Question 48

When is pollution worst?

Answer 48

During stable atmospheric conditions.

Question 49

What is radiation balance?

Answer 49

Difference between incoming and outgoing radiation.

Question 50

What does the Stefan-Boltzmann Law describe?

Answer 50

Relationship between temperature and emitted radiation.

Question 51

How do you determine stability from temperature data?

Answer 51

Compare ELR to DALR and SALR.

Question 52

What causes monsoons?

Answer 52

Seasonal shifting of pressure systems due to differential heating of land and water.

Question 53

Why does humidity make heat feel worse?

Answer 53

High RH reduces evaporation of sweat