Exam 1

Question 1

Parallels

Answer 1

Concentric circles that are equal distance apart

Question 2

Meridians

Answer 2

pole to pole lines that are not equal distance apart and do not connect

Question 3

Global Information System

Answer 3

information represented as data layers

Question 4

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Answer 4

a collection of satellites orbiting Earth that send radio signals to describe positioning to land-based receivers

Question 5

Passive Remote Sensing

Answer 5

a type of remote sensing where instruments simply receive naturally occurring signals

Question 6

Examples of Passive Remote Sensing

Answer 6

cameras, thermal infrared

Question 7

Active Remote Sensing

Answer 7

an energy source directs energy to an area and reads the returning signals

Question 8

Examples of Active Remote Sensing

Answer 8

e.g. radiosondes, microwaves

Question 9

Latitude

Answer 9

Decided by the angle created by an object’s position relative to the center of the Earth

Question 10

Longitude

Answer 10

decided by an object’s position relative to the Prime Meridian (Greenwich, UK)

Question 11

Troposphere

Answer 11

The first layer of the atmosphere; surface-level, hot -> cold

Question 12

Stratosphere

Answer 12

The second layer of the atmosphere; where weather processes occur, cold -> hot

Question 13

Mesosphere

Answer 13

The third layer of the atmosphere; where meteors deteriorate to create “shooting stars,” hot -> cold

Question 14

Thermosphere

Answer 14

The fourth and final layer of the atmosphere; where harmful rays from the Sun are intercepted, cold -> hot

Question 15

Tropopause

Answer 15

The lid on top of the troposphere

Question 16

Stratopause

Answer 16

the lid on top of the stratosphere

Question 17

Mesopause

Answer 17

the lid on top of the mesosphere

Question 18

Thermopause

Answer 18

the lid on top of the thermopause

Question 19

Composition of the Atmosphere

Answer 19

Nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), argon (1%)

Question 20

Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR)

Answer 20

energy radiated from charged particles manifests as electrical and magnetic fields

Question 21

Latent Energy

Answer 21

when potential energy is related to a change in state

Question 22

Conduction

Answer 22

Transfer by direct contact

Question 23

Convection

Answer 23

Vertical transfer by flow of a gas, liquid, or weak solid

Question 24

Radiation

Answer 24

transfer by radiating through electromagnetic

Question 25

Advection

Answer 25

Horizontal transfer of energy

Question 26

Sensible Heat

Answer 26

energy we can sense

Question 27

Latent Heat

Answer 27

energy contained within molecules that can produce changes in state and act as a moderator of climate change

Question 28

Types of Latent Heat

Answer 28

Latent Heat of Fusion, Latent Heat of Vaporization, and the Latent Heat of Sublimation

Question 29

Wien's Law

Answer 29

the relationship between temperature and wavelength; low energy things have longer wavelengths and high energy things have shorter wavelengths

Question 30

Stefan-Boltzman Law

Answer 30

the relationship between temperature and energy emitted; warm objects emit more EMR than cold ones

Question 31

Longwave radiation

Answer 31

The Earth emits

Question 32

Shortwave Radiation

Answer 32

The Sun emits; the Earth absorbs

Question 33

Albedo

Answer 33

reflectivity

Question 34

Insolation

Answer 34

Incoming solar radiation

Question 35

Perihelion

Answer 35

The day that the Earth is closest to the Sun; occurs in early January

Question 36

Aphelion

Answer 36

The day that the Earth is farthest from the Sun; occurs in early July

Question 37

Atmospheric attenuation

Answer 37

How the atmosphere interacts and intercepts incoming rays from the Sun

Question 38

Beam spreading

Answer 38

how the concentration of energy from the sun changes based on the angle light is hitting an area (more concentrated at 90, less as it lowers)

Question 39

Circle of illumination

Answer 39

an imaginary "line" separating halves of the world; one half in day, the other half in night

Question 40

Polar Night

Answer 40

When night lasts 24+ hours

Question 41

Equator

Answer 41

0°

Question 42

Tropic of Cancer

Answer 42

23.5° N

Question 43

Tropic of Capricorn

Answer 43

23.5° S

Question 44

Artic Circle

Answer 44

66.5° N

Question 45

Antarctic Circle

Answer 45

66.5° S

Question 46

Winter Solstice

Answer 46

December 21

Question 47

Autumnal Equinox

Answer 47

September 21

Question 48

Vernal Equinox

Answer 48

March 21

Question 49

Summer Solstice

Answer 49

June 21

Question 50

Sun angle (angle of incidence)

Answer 50

the angle between the energy being emitted and the surface

Question 51

Greenhouse gases

Answer 51

methane, CO2, ozone

Question 52

Reflection

Answer 52

Reflecting energy back; allowing energy to bounce off

Question 53

Transmission

Answer 53

Allowing energy to pass through

Question 54

Absorption

Answer 54

Storing energy

Question 55

Scattering

Answer 55

Dispersing energy

Question 56

Ozone

Answer 56

an essential gas in the atmosphere; O3

Question 57

Solar declination

Answer 57

latitude where the Sun is directly overhead on a specific day

Question 58

Methane

Answer 58

CH4

Question 59

Temperature

Answer 59

the average of the energy an object emits

Question 60

Kinds of temperature scales

Answer 60

Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin

Question 61

Phase changes of water

Answer 61

Solid, liquid, and gas

Question 62

physical geography

Answer 62

the study of the spatial distribution of natural features and processes occurring near the surface as they effect and are affected by humans