Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Midterm
Midterm
71
Geography
Undergraduate 1
03/06/2012
Click here to study/print these flashcards.

Create your own flash cards! Sign up here.

Additional Geography Flashcards

 

 

Cards

Term
• Scattergram
 Definition
basic graph; shows how a dependent variable responds to an independent variable in a given set of data
Term
o Independent variable
 Definition
is always located on the x-axis
Term
o Dependent variable
 Definition
is always located on the y-axis
Term
o Line of best fit
 Definition
a straight line “fitted” as close to the middle of the plotted data as possible. The slope of the line of best fit describes the relationship between the independent and dependent variables
Term
• Positive Correlation
 Definition
as the independent variable increases, the dependent variable also increases
Term
• Negative Correlation
 Definition
As the independent variable increases, the dependent variable decreases
Term
o If you are given F
 Definition
Celsius = .556* (F – 32)
Term
o If you are given C
 Definition
F = (1.8*C) + 32
Term
• Great circle:
 Definition
any circle of Earth’s circumference whose center coincides with the center of the Earth
Term
• Small circle:
 Definition
circles whose centers do not coincide with the Earth’s center
Term
• Latitude:
 Definition
angular or arc distance north or south of the equator (the line running east to west half-way between the poles), measured from the center of Earth
Term
o North Pole is
 Definition
90 deg N lat
Term
South pole is
 Definition
90 deg S lat
Term
Tuscaloosa is
 Definition
33 deg N lat
Term
o Line connecting all points at the same latitudinal angle is called a
 Definition
parallel
Term
 Only one parallel – the equatorial parallel – is a
 Definition
great circle
Term
o Tropic of Cancer
 Definition
33.3 deg N
Term
Tropic of Capricorn
 Definition
33.3 deg S
Term
Arctic Circle
 Definition
66.3 deg N
Term
o Antarctic Circle
 Definition
66.3 deg S
Term
• Longitude:
 Definition
angular or arc distance east or west of a point on Earth’s surface, measured from the center of Earth (lines run north/south at right angles to the equator and to all parallels)
Term
o A line connecting all points at the same longitude is a
 Definition
meridian
Term
 Every meridian is
 Definition
-half of a great circle that passes through the poles
Term
 Earth’s prime meridian goes through
 Definition
Greenwich, England
Term
• To the right of 0 deg. Latitude is
 Definition
Eastern Hemisphere, to the left is Western
Term
o International Date Line
 Definition
extends from North Pole to South poles on the opposite side of Earth from the prime meridian
Term
o Tuscaloosa longitude
 Definition
87 deg W
Term
• 1 deg. Of latitude =
 Definition
69 miles
Term
• Earth’s systems are powered by a constant flow of
 Definition
insolation – intercepted solar radiation.
Term
o Earth intercepts only ___ of the entire solar output
 Definition
one two-billionth
Term
• The place receiving maximum insolation is the point where insolation rays are perpendicular to the surface (radiating from directly overhead), called the
 Definition
subsolar point
Term
o All other places receive insolation at less than a 90 deg. angle and thus experience
 Definition
more diffuse energy receipts
Term
• The traveling boundary that divides daylight and darkness is called the
 Definition
circle of illumination
Term
o June solstice rays over
 Definition
Tropic of Cancer
Term
December Solstice rays over
 Definition
Tropic of Capricorn
Term
March equinox rays over
 Definition
equator
Term
September equinox rays over
 Definition
Equator
Term
o June solstice – Arctic Circle
 Definition
24 hours of daylight
Term
o Dec. solstice – Antarctic Circle
 Definition
24 hours of daylight
Term
o March equinox – Both get
 Definition
12 hours of day/dark
Term
o September equinox – Both get
 Definition
12 hours day/dark
Term
o Seasonal variations are a response to the changes in the Sun’s
 Definition
altitude, the angle between the horizon and the noon Sun
Term
o The Sun’s declination
 Definition
latitude of subsolar point
Term
o The Sun’s declination, the latitude of the subsolar point, migrates annually through
 Definition
47 deg. of latitude – between the Tropic of Cancer (23.30 deg N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.30 deg S)
Term
o The analemma is a
 Definition
convenient device to track the passage of the Sun’s path & declination throughout the year
Term
 A 24-hour average day determines
 Definition
mean solar time
Term
However, an apparent solar day is based on
 Definition
observed successive passages of the Sun over a given meridian.
Term
• Any difference between observed solar time and mean solar time is called the
 Definition
equation of time
Term
• Calculating altitude of the noon sun
 Definition
o Sun angle = 90 deg. minus (arc distance between your latitude & subsolar point)
Term
• Temperature:
 Definition
a measure of sensible heat energy present in the atmosphere and other media
Term
o Principal controls & influences upon temperature patterns include
 Definition
latitude, altitude, cloud cover, land-water heating differences, ocean currents, and sea-surface temperatures, and general surface conditions.
Term
• Temperature Profiles
 Definition
o Thermosphere
o Mesosphere
o Stratosphere
o Troposphere
Term
• The transition area at the top of each temperature region is named using the suffix
 Definition
pause, which means to cause change
Term
o Thermopause –
 Definition
300 mi, 1200 deg C (2200 deg F)
Term
o Mesopause –
 Definition
50 mi, -90 deg C (-130 deg F)
Term
o Stratopause
 Definition
31 mi, 0 deg C (32 deg F)
Term
o Tropopause
 Definition
11 mi, -57 deg C (-70 deg F)
Term
• Kinetic energy:
 Definition
the energy of motion, the vibrational energy stated as “temperature”
Term
• Sensible heat:
 Definition
temperature we can sense and measure
Term
• What physical properties produce a temp decrease with altitude in the troposphere (at the normal lapse rate?
 Definition
Density and pressure
Term
• Why do temps increase throughout most of the stratosphere?
 Definition
UV rays are absorbing sun's heat
Term
• Normal Lapse Rate of temperature change with altitude is
 Definition
6.4 deg C/1000 m or 3.5 deg F/1000 ft.
Term
• Worldwide, mountainous areas experience
 Definition
lower temperatures than do regions nearer sea level, even at similar latitudes.
Term
 More moderate temp patterns are associated with
 Definition
water bodies compared to more extreme temperatures inland.
Term
o Marine, maritime, is used to describe
 Definition
locations that exhibit the moderating influences of the ocean, usually along coastlines or on islands.
Term
o Continentality refers to the
 Definition
condition of areas that are less affected by the sea and therefore have a great range between max and mini temps daily and yearly.
Term
 An isoline on temp maps is known as an
 Definition
isotherm
Term
o An isotherm connects
 Definition
points of equal temperature
Term
o Our perception of temp is described by the terms
 Definition
apparent temp & sensible temp
Term
o Wind-chill factor indicates the
 Definition
enhanced rate at which the body heat is lost to the air
Term
 As wind speeds increase,
 Definition
heat loss from skin increases
Supporting users have an ad free experience!