Term
| Give an example of where you would find a radial drainage pattern |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Give two examples of a dissolved load |
|
Definition
| Salt in a river, limestone |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A thick mass of ice that forms over hundreds and thousands of years because of the accumulation, compaction, and recrystallization of snow |
|
|
Term
| What two major cycles are glaciers a part of? |
|
Definition
| The hydrologic cycle and the rock cycle |
|
|
Term
| Define a valley/alpine glacier |
|
Definition
| A glacier found in the valley of a mountainous area, that was formed by flowing down the valley |
|
|
Term
| Are ice sheets or valley glaciers more common? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Give two examples of ice sheets |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Is the Arctic an example of an ice sheet? |
|
Definition
| No, because ice sheets sit on land, and most of the Arctic sits on water |
|
|
Term
| Where could ice sheets be found 18,000 years ago? |
|
Definition
| Over large portions of North America, Europe, and Siberia |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What's the difference between sea ice and glacial ice? |
|
Definition
| Sea ice is frozen sea water that is up to 4m thick, while glacial ice can be hundreds of thousands of metres thick |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| When glacial ice flows out into the sea, creating a shelf |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| No, because they get thinner the further they stretch away from land |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| From ice sheets that have broken off |
|
|
Term
| Define "ice cap"- other than a delicious frozen beverage |
|
Definition
| Glaciers that cover uplands and plateaus |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Tongues of ice extending outwards from ice sheets/caps |
|
|
Term
| Define "piedmont glacier" |
|
Definition
| A glacier that forms when one or more valley/alpine glaciers emerge from the valley and spread out in a broad lobe |
|
|
Term
| What's the difference between a valley/alpine glacier and a piedmont glacier? |
|
Definition
| Valley/alpine glaciers are confined to a specific area |
|
|
Term
| What type of glaciers are those found in the Rockies an example of? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| In what sorts of areas do glaciers form? |
|
Definition
| In areas where there is more snow fall over the winter than melts during the summer |
|
|
Term
| In what sorts of areas do glaciers melt? |
|
Definition
| In areas where more snow melts in the summer than falls in the winter |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A split between regions where snow does and does not melt in the summer |
|
|
Term
| What happens when air infiltrates snow? |
|
Definition
| The snowflakes become smaller, thicker and more spherical |
|
|
Term
| Describe the formation of firn |
|
Definition
| As snow builds up, the air is squished out of it, making it more dense. Snow is then recrystallized into a much denser mass called firn |
|
|
Term
| When does firn fuse into glacial ice? |
|
Definition
| When the thickness of the ice and snow exceeds 50 metres |
|
|
Term
| How does glacial ice move? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Movement within a glacier |
|
|
Term
| How does ice behave under pressure? |
|
Definition
| As a plastic material, like play dough |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| When an entire glacier slides along the ground |
|
|
Term
| How does meltwater help glaciers move? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| When does basal slip happen? |
|
Definition
| Episodically, when enough stress has built in the ice that is in contact with the ground that it causes the glacier to lurch forward |
|
|
Term
| What is the zone of fracture? |
|
Definition
| The upper 500 metres of a glacier that is brittle and prone to cracks |
|
|
Term
| Do all parts of a glacier move at the same speed? |
|
Definition
| No- the centre, and areas not in contact with the surrounding rock move much faster |
|
|
Term
| What is the range of glacial velocity? |
|
Definition
| Very slow to several metres a day |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| When a glacier experiences a period of extremely rapid movement |
|
|
Term
| Define "zone of accumulation" |
|
Definition
| The area above the snowline where a glacier forms |
|
|
Term
| Define the zone of wastage |
|
Definition
| The area where the is a net loss of glacial ice through melting and calving |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The breaking off of large pieces of ice |
|
|
Term
| True or False: A single glacier can straddle the zone of accumulation and the zone of wastage |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The balance, or lack of balance, between accumulation and loss of ice |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Loss of ice at the lower end of a glacier |
|
|
Term
| What is required for the glacial front to advance? |
|
Definition
| Accumulation must exceed loss |
|
|
Term
| When will a glacial front retreat? |
|
Definition
| When ablation increases, or when loss exceeds accumulation |
|
|
Term
| What factors can contribute to glacial melting? |
|
Definition
| Increased climate temperature, or something as small as reduced snowfall |
|
|
Term
| How do glaciers erode the land? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| As a glacier flows over bedrock, it loosens and lifts blocks |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Rocks within a glacier act like sandpaper to smooth and polish rocks |
|
|
Term
| What does a strip of dirt in a lateral moraine indicate? |
|
Definition
| That two smaller glaciers have merged to form one large glacier |
|
|
Term
| Where are lateral moraines found? |
|
Definition
| In the middle of a glacier |
|
|
Term
| At what depth does firn fuse into a solid mass of ice? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| True or false: deserts have rainfall |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What factor are deserts defined by? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| If an area has low rainfall, but also low-rates of evaporation, is it a desert? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An area where the yearly precipitation is less than the potential for evaporation |
|
|
Term
| How much of earth's surface is dry regions? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What are the two water-deficient climates? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What's the difference between a desert and a steppe? |
|
Definition
| Deserts are arid, while steppes are only semiarid |
|
|
Term
| Where are most subtropical deserts and steppes found? |
|
Definition
| Between the tropics of cancer and capricorn |
|
|
Term
| Why are so many subtropical deserts and steppes found between the tropics of cancer and capricorn? |
|
Definition
| They are high-pressure regions, with sinking air that is compressed and warmed and few chances for cloud formation and precipitation. |
|
|
Term
| How does wind affect subtropical deserts and steppes? |
|
Definition
| It pushes precipitation away? |
|
|
Term
| Why do west coast subtropical deserts form? |
|
Definition
| Cold ocean currents cool air and prevent it from rising, leading to few chances for cloud formation and precipitation |
|
|
Term
| How do ocean currents affect west coast subtropical deserts, besides hindering cloud formation? |
|
Definition
| They push precipitation away |
|
|
Term
| True or false: West coast subtropical deserts are rarely foggy |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Give an example of a west coast subtropical desert |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Where are mid-latitude glaciers found? |
|
Definition
| Sheltered in deep interiors of large landmasses, far-removed from ocean moisture |
|
|
Term
| Describe the effect of mountain barriers |
|
Definition
As air rises over mountain, clouds form releasing precipitation on the windward side of the mountain.
Air flowing over the leeward side of the mountain is dry and forms a rain shadow |
|
|
Term
| Give an example of a mountain barrier |
|
Definition
| The rockies separate the rainforests in BC from the prairies |
|
|
Term
| How does transportation of sediment of wind differ from transportation by water? |
|
Definition
| Wind is less capable of picking up coarse material than water, and wind is not as confined as water |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Sediment carried close to the surface of the earth |
|
|
Term
| What does bed load primarily consist of? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| When sand moves across the earth's surface by bumping and skipping |
|
|
Term
| Typically, what's the maximum height of bed load? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Particles carried high in the atmosphere by wind |
|
|
Term
| What type of particle does suspended load usually consist of? |
|
Definition
| Silt-sized particles that are a fraction of a millimetre |
|
|
Term
| True or false: suspended load can be transported far distances |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What type of load are the Dustbowls of the 1930s an example of? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Where, other than earth, can dust storms be seen? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Compared to water and glacial erosion, how effective is wind erosion? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Is wind erosion more or less effective in arid regions? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What factors help wind in being an effective agent of erosion? |
|
Definition
| Dryness and lack of vegetation |
|
|
Term
| In Ontario, what does wind erosion affect the most? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The lifting and removal of lose material |
|
|
Term
| Why is deflation so difficult to notice? |
|
Definition
| It lowers the entire surface of an area, so its harder to make comparisons |
|
|
Term
| Why were the dustbowls so damaging? |
|
Definition
| They removed the top soil that would have taken centuries to accumulate |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A fabulous hairstyle, but also shallow depressions created by deflation |
|
|
Term
| What is the size range of blowouts? |
|
Definition
| A few mm to 50m deep by several km wide |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The veneer of pebbles and cobble covering most deserts |
|
|
Term
| How does desert pavement form? |
|
Definition
It begins as an initial surface of coarse pebbles, then fine, windblown grains are trapped between the pebbles.
Gravity and infiltrating rainwater move the fine sediments beneath the cobbles. Over time, silt falls through the pebbles, and rebuilds the surface beneath the desert pavement |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Interestingly shaped stones created through wind erosion |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Streamlined landforms oriented parallel to prevailing winds, like a mini pride rock |
|
|
Term
| What are the two types of depositional landforms? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Mounds and ridges of sand formed from the wind's bed load |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Extensive blankets of silt once carried in suspension |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Wherever there is an obstruction to the wind that causes a mass deposition of sand |
|
|
Term
| Where can dunes often be found? |
|
Definition
| Near large clumps of vegetation or rocks |
|
|
Term
| True or false: most dunes have a symmetrical profile |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The steeper, leeward slope of a dune |
|
|
Term
| What is the angle of repose for sand? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Why do dunes tend to be self-destructive? |
|
Definition
| They slow down the wind, which leads to greater accumulation, and their eventual collapse |
|
|
Term
| How many different types of sand dunes are there? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What factors create the different types of sand dunes? |
|
Definition
| Varying directions of wind, local vegetation, and amount of sand available |
|
|
Term
| How does vegetation affect sand dunes? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| From what are loess formed? |
|
Definition
| From material accumulated over thousand of years, usually from sediments from deserts and glacial outwash deposits |
|
|
Term
| Where did the loess in China originate? |
|
Definition
| The desert basins in Central Asia |
|
|
Term
| What are loess in the US and Europe products of? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The area of contact between the land and sea, variable |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The area between the lowest tidal level, and area affected by the highest storm waves |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The seaward edge of the coast |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Accumulation of sediment along the landward margin of the ocean |
|
|
Term
| Why do shoreline features tend to be erratic? |
|
Definition
| They are very dependent on the way waves come in |
|
|
Term
| What causes wave erosion? |
|
Definition
| Wave impact, pressure, and abrasion |
|
|
Term
| How is sand supplied to beaches? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| True or false: beaches can disappear very rapidly |
|
Definition
| True, under the right set of conditions |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The bending of a wave that causes it to come in parallel to the shore |
|
|
Term
| What are the results of wave refraction? |
|
Definition
1. Wave energy is concentrated against the sides and ends of headland
2. Wave erosion straightens an irregular shoreline |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A form of longshore transport in which sediment moves in a zigzag pattern along the beachface |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Current in the surf zone that flows parallel to the shore and moves substantially more sediment than beach drift |
|
|
Term
| Name three erosional features caused by water |
|
Definition
| Wave-cut cliffs, wave-cut platforms, and marine terraces |
|
|
Term
| Name two erosional features associated with headlands |
|
Definition
| Sea arches and sea stacks |
|
|
Term
| Where do sea arches occur? |
|
Definition
| In places where a land continually hits the bottom of a landform, creating an arch |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Ew. But seriously, a ridge of sand extending from the land into the mouth of an adjacent bay with an end that often hooks landward |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a sand bar that completely crosses a bay |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A ridge of sand that connects an island to the mainland |
|
|
Term
| Why are spits and bars often temporary? |
|
Definition
| They're affected by waves and storms |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A bar that has accumulated more sand |
|
|
Term
| True or false: barrier islands are stable |
|
Definition
| False, they can still be eroded away |
|
|
Term
| Where are most barrier islands found? |
|
Definition
| Along the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains |
|
|
Term
| How are barrier islands oriented in regards to the coast? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Lunar and solar gravity (mostly lunar) |
|
|
Term
| How do tides affect the oceans? |
|
Definition
| They change the elevation of the water in a regular, predictable pattern |
|
|
Term
| How does the cycle of the moon affect the tides? |
|
Definition
| When the moon is full, the change in tides is bigger |
|
|
Term
| Describe the tides in the Bay of Fundy |
|
Definition
| They can cause a change of up to 30ft in the water |
|
|
Term
| When does the spring tide occur? |
|
Definition
| During new and full moons |
|
|
Term
| Why is the spring tide unique? |
|
Definition
| The moon and sun line up, and their gravitational forces are added together |
|
|
Term
| How does the spring tide affect the oceans? |
|
Definition
| The change in elevation is significantly bigger |
|
|
Term
| When does the neap tide occur? |
|
Definition
| During the first and third quarters of the moon |
|
|
Term
| How does the neap tide affect the oceans? |
|
Definition
| The changes in elevation are least significant |
|
|
Term
| Why does the neap tide act the way it does? |
|
Definition
| Its gravitational forces are offset |
|
|
Term
| Define the diurnal tidal pattern |
|
Definition
| a single high and low tidal day, occurs along the northern shore of the Gulf of Mexico |
|
|
Term
| Define semi-diurnal tidal pattern |
|
Definition
| Two high and two low tides each day, little difference in the high and low water heights, common along the Atlantic coast of the US |
|
|
Term
| Define mixed tidal pattern |
|
Definition
| Two high and two low tides each day, large inequality in water heights, prevalent along the Pacific Coast of the US |
|
|
Term
| Name three factors that influence that tides |
|
Definition
| Shape of the coastline, configuration on the ocean basin, and water depth |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Horizontal flow accompanying the rise and fall of the tides |
|
|
Term
| What are the two types of tidal currents? |
|
Definition
| Flood current and ebb current |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Advances into the coastal zone |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How are tidal deltas created? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What's another name for a lateral moraine? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How much of earth's surface is covered in water |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Which hemisphere contains more land, and which more water? |
|
Definition
| Northern= land, southern=water |
|
|
Term
| What are the 4 main ocean basins? |
|
Definition
| Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic |
|
|
Term
| What is unique about the Pacific ocean? |
|
Definition
| It is the largest and has the greatest depth of all the basins |
|
|
Term
| How big is the Atlantic ocean compared to the Pacific? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Is the Indian ocean primarily a southern or northern hemisphere bodY/ |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How big is the Arctic ocean basin compared to the Pacific? |
|
Definition
| About 7% of the Pacific's size |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Measurement of ocean depths and the charting of the topography of the ocean floor |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A tool that is used for measuring ocean depth, and works by reflecting sound off of the ocean floor |
|
|
Term
| When was the echo sounder invented? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A method of obtaining the profile of a narrow strip of seafloor, which employs an array of sound sonar and listening devices |
|
|
Term
| What are the three major topographic units of the ocean floor? |
|
Definition
| Continental margins, Ocean basin floors, and mid-ocean ridges |
|
|
Term
| What are the two major components of passive continental margins? |
|
Definition
| They are not associated with plate boundaries, and they experience little volcanism/earthquakes |
|
|
Term
| Where are most passive continental margins found? |
|
Definition
| Along coastal areas surrounding the Atlantic ocean |
|
|
Term
| Are all continental masses above water? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What are the five features of a passive continental margin? |
|
Definition
| FVGCC: Flooded extension of the continent, Varies greatly in width, Gentle sloping, Continental shelf, Contains oil and mineral deposits |
|
|
Term
| Describe a continental shelf |
|
Definition
| An area mantled by extensive glacial deposits that consists of thick accumulations of shallow-water sediments |
|
|
Term
| Why are continental shelves so rich in oil deposits? |
|
Definition
| Because they are so heavily laid down with sediment |
|
|
Term
| Describe a continental slope |
|
Definition
| A relatively steep structure that marks the seaward edge of a continental shelf |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The boundary between continental crust and oceanic crust |
|
|
Term
| Describe submarine canyons |
|
Definition
| Deep steep-sided valleys cut into the continental slope, that are sometimes seaward extensions of river valleys, and often appear to have been eroded by turbidity currents |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A downslope movement of dense, sediment-laden water |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Deposits made by a turbidity currents |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A continental slope that merges into a more gradual incline |
|
|
Term
| Where are continental rises found? |
|
Definition
| In areas where trenches are absent |
|
|
Term
| What causes a continental rise? |
|
Definition
| Thick accumulation of sediment |
|
|
Term
| How and where are deep-sea fans formed? |
|
Definition
| At the base of continental slopes where turbidity currents following submarine canyons deposit sediment |
|
|
Term
| Describe an active continental margin |
|
Definition
| Continental slopes that descend abruptly into deep ocean trenches |
|
|
Term
| Where are most active continental margins found? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How are accretionary wedges found? |
|
Definition
| From accumulations of deformed sediment and scraps of ocean crust |
|
|
Term
| True or false: all subduction zones contain accumulation of sediments |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Describe deep ocean trenches |
|
Definition
| Long, relatively narrow, and the deepest parts of the ocean |
|
|
Term
| Where are most deep-ocean trenches found? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What causes deep-ocean trenches? |
|
Definition
| Lithospheric plates plunging into the mantle |
|
|
Term
| What type of activity are deep-ocean trenches associated with? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What two structures are deep-ocean trenches associated with? |
|
Definition
| Volcanic island arcs, and continental volcanic arcs |
|
|
Term
| What is unique about abyssal plains? |
|
Definition
| They are the most level places on earth |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Thick accumulation of sediment that forms a level surface |
|
|
Term
| Where are abyssal plains found? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Isolated volcanic peaks that may emerge as an island |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Seamounts that have sunk and formed a flat top |
|
|
Term
| Where do seamounts and guyots typically form? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Flooded basalts that have massive plateaus |
|
|
Term
| How big do ocean plateaus get? |
|
Definition
| They can be more than 30km thick |
|
|
Term
| How long does it take ocean plateaus to form? |
|
Definition
| A few million years, which is relatively fast |
|
|
Term
| What type of boundary is the mid-oceanic ridge? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What are the three characteristics of the mid-oceanic ridge? |
|
Definition
| An elevated position, extensive faulting, and numerous volcanic structures that have developed on newly formed crust |
|
|
Term
| What is earth's longest topographic feature? |
|
Definition
| The interconnected mid-oceanic ridge system |
|
|
Term
| How long is the mid-oceanic ridge system? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What percentage of earth's surface is covered by the mid-oceanic ridge system? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Deep faulted structures found along the axis of some parts of the mid-oceanic ridge system |
|
|
Term
| What is the mid-oceanic ridge system made of? |
|
Definition
| Layers of basaltic rocks that have been faulted and uplifted |
|
|
Term
| Which section of the mid-oceanic ridge system do we know the most about? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What are the two main sources of seafloor sediment? |
|
Definition
| Turbidity currents, and sediments that falls from above |
|
|
Term
| Where is seafloor sediment the thickest? |
|
Definition
| In trenches (can approach 10km) |
|
|
Term
| Give the approximate thickness of seafloor sediment in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans |
|
Definition
| Pacific= 600m or less, Atlantic=between 500 and 1000m |
|
|
Term
| What is the most common sediment on the deep-ocean floor? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What are the three types of seafloor sediment? |
|
Definition
| Terrigenous, Biogenous, and Hydrogenous |
|
|
Term
| What is terrigenous sediment made up of? |
|
Definition
| Material weathered from continental rocks |
|
|
Term
| Where can terrigenous sediment be found? |
|
Definition
| Virtually every part of the ocean |
|
|
Term
| Why is terrigenous sediment often red or brown? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is biogenous sediment made up of? |
|
Definition
| Shells and skeletons of marine animals and plants |
|
|
Term
| What are the 3 most common ingredients in biogenous sediment? |
|
Definition
| Calcareous oozes produced from microscopic organisms that inhabit warm surface waters, siliceous oozes composed of skeletons, and phosphate rich materials derived from bones, teeth, and scales of fish |
|
|
Term
| What is hydrogenous sediment made up of? |
|
Definition
| Minerals that crystallize directly from seawater |
|
|
Term
| What are the four most common types of hydrogenous sediment? |
|
Definition
| CEMM: Calcium carbonates, Evapourites (like salt), Manganese nodules, and Metal sulfides |
|
|
Term
| What type of sediment do continental margins usually contain? |
|
Definition
| Coarse terrigenous sediment |
|
|
Term
| Where are fine-grained terrigenous materials common? |
|
Definition
| Deeper areas of the ocean basin |
|
|
Term
| True or false: hydrogenous sediment is very common in the oceans |
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Definition
|
|
Term
| Give an example of a place where very little sediment accumulates |
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Definition
|
|
Term
| Why are earth's oceans "salty"? |
|
Definition
| Because of the minerals that have dissolved in the basins over time |
|
|
Term
| What is required for a body of fresh water? |
|
Definition
| Constant circulation, so that minerals don't have time to dissolve |
|
|
Term
| What percentage of seawater (in weight) is dissolved minerals? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The total amount of solid material dissolved in water |
|
|
Term
| In what unit of measurement is salinity typically expressed? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the average salinity of seawater? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What factors affect salinity? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the largest constituent of salinity? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What are the two main sources of sea salts? |
|
Definition
| Chemical weathering of rocks, and gasses from volcanic eruptions |
|
|
Term
| What is the range of variation for surface salinity in the open ocean? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Is warm or cold water saltier? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Name four processes that decrease salinity |
|
Definition
| Precipitation, runoff from land, icebergs melting, and sea ice melting |
|
|
Term
| Name two processes that increase salinity |
|
Definition
| Evaporation and formation of sea ice |
|
|
Term
| What causes surface temperatures in water? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Where would one find water with lower surface temperatures? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How do low latitudes affect water temperature? |
|
Definition
| High surface temperature, with a rapid decrease as you get deeper |
|
|
Term
| How do high-latitudes affect water temperature? |
|
Definition
| Cooler surface temperatures, with a slow change in temperature as depth increases |
|
|
Term
| True or false: seawater is resistant to temperature change |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What effects could global warming have on oceans? |
|
Definition
| It could increase the temperature, causing the oceans to expand, and in turn, create flooding |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What does density determine re. the oceans? |
|
Definition
| How water sits vertically in the oceans |
|
|
Term
| What are the two main factors affecting seawater density? |
|
Definition
| Salinity and temperature (mostly temperature) |
|
|
Term
| How low-latitude areas affect sea water density? |
|
Definition
| Low density at surface, with rapid increase with depth |
|
|
Term
| How do high-latitude areas affect ocean density? |
|
Definition
| High surface density, with no rapid change with depth |
|
|
Term
| How are the layers of the ocean arranged? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What are the three layers of the ocean? |
|
Definition
| Surface mixed zone, transition zone, and deep zone |
|
|
Term
| Describe the surface mixed zone |
|
Definition
| Sun-warmed zone, mixing, up to 300m deep |
|
|
Term
| Describe the transition zone |
|
Definition
| Between surface layer and deep zone, contains thermocline and pycnocline (most rapid changes in temperature and density) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Constant high density water, no sunlight whatsoever, temperatures just a few degrees above freezing |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An envelope of gases and particles that surround a planet or moon |
|
|
Term
| How is the atmosphere held in place? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the atmosphere composed of? |
|
Definition
| Gases (some condensable) and particles |
|
|
Term
| Name 5 functions of the atmosphere |
|
Definition
| CMMPS: Cleans hazardous emissions, Medium for transport of material, Moderates temperature, Protects surface from dangerous solar radiation, Supplies air to breathe |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A generalized composite of weather over a long period time |
|
|
Term
| What seven elements are considered "weather"? |
|
Definition
| Charlie has won Peter Pan's Treasured Vehicle: Clouds, Humidity, Wind, Pressure, Precipitation, Temperature, Visibility |
|
|
Term
| True or false: climate is determined by averaging events |
|
Definition
| False: frequency of events also plays a large role |
|
|
Term
| What are the three factors to consider re. atmosphere? |
|
Definition
| Composition, pressure, temperature |
|
|
Term
| What's the difference between a particulate and an aerosol? |
|
Definition
| Particulates are made up of solid particles, while aerosols are made up of liquid particles |
|
|
Term
| What are the four major components of unpolluted, dry air? |
|
Definition
| Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, and Carbon Dioxide |
|
|
Term
| What percentage of the air is nitrogen? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What percentage of the air is oxygen? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What percentage of the air is carbon dioxide? (when it's unpolluted) |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Gases that have long lifetimes in the atmosphere and the amount in any air mass is similar |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A gas that has a shorter lifetime in the atmosphere and can have large variations in concentration depending on the location |
|
|
Term
| Give three examples of fixed gases |
|
Definition
| Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Neon, Helium, Krypton, Xenon |
|
|
Term
| Give three examples of variable gases |
|
Definition
| Water, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Carbon Monoxide, Ozone |
|
|
Term
| At most, how much of the atmosphere does water vapour make up? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Give four examples of materials than can form particles/aerosols |
|
Definition
| metals, water, ions, organics |
|
|
Term
| What is the size range of particles? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How do particles/aerosols affect sunlight? |
|
Definition
| They can reflect or absorb it |
|
|
Term
| Name two negative effects of particles/aerosols |
|
Definition
| They can act as an irritant, and carry carcinogens |
|
|
Term
| If an area is prone to hurricanes, is that an example of its climate or its weather? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| How hot or cold something is, relative to some standard |
|
|
Term
| Define temperature in regard specifically to gas |
|
Definition
| A measure of how much energy the gas contains |
|
|
Term
| How does energy affect a gas' temperature |
|
Definition
| The greater the energy, the hotter the gas will be |
|
|
Term
| Name the 3 commonly used temperature scales |
|
Definition
| Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin |
|
|
Term
| What common factor is present in all 3 temperature scales? |
|
Definition
| They all have references to the boiling and freezing points of water |
|
|
Term
| Why do scientists typically use the Kelvin scale? |
|
Definition
| It does not include negative temperatures |
|
|
Term
| What are the freezing and boiling points in the celsius scale? |
|
Definition
| Freezing= 0 degrees, boiling= 100 degrees |
|
|
Term
| What are the freezing and boiling points in the fahrenheit scale? |
|
Definition
| Freezing= 32 degrees, Boiling= 212 degrees |
|
|
Term
| How does the Kelvin scale work? |
|
Definition
| It uses absolute zero, so, you would take the temperature in celsius, and add 273 to get the temperature in kelvin |
|
|
Term
| What factor is the basis for the atmosphere's layering structure? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Name the 4 layers of the atmosphere |
|
Definition
| Terry Seeks Margaret Thatcher: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| 1st layer, temperature decreases with elevation, very active because of convection |
|
|
Term
| Describe the stratosphere |
|
Definition
| 2nd layer, cold at the bottom and warm at the top, fairly stable, no convection |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| 3rd layer, temperature decreases with elevation |
|
|
Term
| Describe the thermosphere |
|
Definition
| 4th layer, temperature increases with elevation, makes up a fraction of the earth's mass, gases move at high speeds |
|
|
Term
| Name the three transition zones of the atmosphere |
|
Definition
| Tropopause, Stratopause, Mesopause |
|
|
Term
| What is the environmental lapse rate? |
|
Definition
| The amount temperature decreases as altitude increases |
|
|
Term
| What is the average environmental lapse rate in the troposphere? |
|
Definition
| 6.5 degrees cooler for every 1km of increased altitude |
|
|
Term
| What is the average height of the troposphere? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the average height of the stratosphere? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the average height of the mesosphere? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How high is the upper limit of the thermosphere? |
|
Definition
| Trick question! There is no well-defined upper limit |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| True or false: atmospheric pressure decreases with height |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Why is it harder to breathe at high elevations? |
|
Definition
| The pressure is lower, so there are fewer oxygen molecules hitting you, and therefore less air for you to breathe |
|
|
Term
| Define atmospheric pressure |
|
Definition
| Pressure exerted by the atmosphere |
|
|
Term
| How does gravity affect the atmosphere, other than holding it in place? |
|
Definition
| The greater the pull of gravity, the greater the density of the atmosphere |
|
|
Term
| Name a tool used to measure atmospheric pressure |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the average atmospheric pressure at sea level? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| In what unit is pressure measured? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What type of weather does high pressure usually indicate? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What type of weather does low pressure usually indicate? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the main source of heat in the atmosphere? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Name three mechanisms of heat transfer |
|
Definition
| Convection, radiation and conduction |
|
|
Term
| How does conduction transfer atmospheric heat? |
|
Definition
| Through molecular activity |
|
|
Term
| How does convection transfer atmospheric heat? |
|
Definition
| Through mass movement, usually vertically |
|
|
Term
| How does radiation transfer atmospheric heat? |
|
Definition
| Converts energy from light |
|
|
Term
| True or false: The longer a wave of light, the more energy it has |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Name three ways in which earth deals with incoming solar radiation |
|
Definition
| Reflection, scattering, absorption |
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