GEO 155 1st EditionExam # 1 Study Guide Lectures: 1 - 12Week 1Introduction to the Natural Environment1.What are three characteristics that can be used to describe geography?2.What is the atmosphere constructed of?3.What is the function of the barometer?4.Describe the vertical temperature changes throughout the atmosphere.5.Give an approximate of the constant gases the make up the atmosphere, and then the variable gases.6.What is the distribution of pressure throughout the atmosphere like?7.How do latitude and longitude lines run?8.When considering the longitudinal line 0 degrees, what is the name of this area?9.What was the greatest influence on physical features?10. What is the significance of longitudinal lines?11. What are the names and latitudinal coordinates of the nine positions discussed in class?Answer:1.1. Distribution of Phenomena2. Characteristics of Place3. Change through Time2. Gases, liquids, and solids3. The barometer is used to measure atmospheric pressure.4. Vertical temperatures proceed as followed:1. Troposphere – first layer, closest to the earth, temperatures increase from the peak down to 0 km2. Stratosphere – second layer, separated by the tropopause, “ozone layer”, temperatures decrease from its peak to its lowest point3. Mesosphere – third layer, temperatures increase from its peak to its lowest point4. Thermosphere last layer, temperatures continue to rises exponentially from its lowest point5. Three quarters of the atmosphere is nitrogen, 20% is oxygen gas, and less than 1% is argon. Trace gases make up few parts per million and include helium and hydrogen. Water vapor makes up 4%, carbon dioxide has increased to 400 ppm, methane has increased to 2 ppm, and ozone is from.1-10 ppm.6. Pressure increases as altitudes of the atmosphere decrease.7. Latitude runs north to south and longitude runs west to east.8. Prime meridian or Greenwich Meridian (equator)9. Latitude, i.e. lower latitudes have warmer climates10. Most valuable for time reference 11. Equator – 0 degrees, North Pole – 90 degrees, Polar Fronts – (-(60)) degrees, Horse Latitudes(-(30)) degrees, South Pole – (-90) degrees, Arctic Circle - 66.5 degrees, Antarctic Circle - (-66.5) degrees, Tropic of Cancer - 23.5 degrees, Tropic of Capricorn - (-23.5) degreesWeek 21.Does the revolution of the Earth around the sun cause our seasons?2.What influences the energy levels of the Earth? When do we receive more energy? How does this relate to beam spreading?3.What is radiation?4.What are the two radiation laws?5.What are four conditions that happen to solar radiation as it is emitted to the surface?6.What is albedo?7.What are Greenhouse gases?8.Why is the ozone layer important?9.How can you determine the direction of the Earth’s spin?10. Compare aphelion and perihelion.11. Why does the annual range of radiation vary across latitudes?12. How many hours of daylight are there at the North Pole, Arctic Circle, Tropics, Equator, Antarctic Circle, and South Pole during the December Solstice, June Solstice, March Equinox, and September Equinox? What are the sun angles on these days at these positions on the globe as well?Answer:1.No, the cause of our seasons is the tilt of the Earth on its axis by 23.5 degrees.2.Solar altitude and day length influence energy levels on the Earth. The higher and longer the sun is out, the more energy one receives. Beam spreading is the amount of energy per unit of area, thus, higher beam spreading the more energy we receive on Earth.3.Radiation is transfer of energy without benefit of a medium.4. A. Hotter objects emit radiation. B. Hotter objects emit shorter wavelengths of radiation.5.A. Absorption, refraction, reflection, and direct radiation6.Albedo is the percentage of shortwave radiation reflected.7.Greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides.8.The ozone layer protects the Earth from harmful solar radiation (UV).9.Use the right hand rule, in which the thumb is pointed upwards and the direction of the Earth’s rotation is in the direction the other four fingers curve.10. Aphelion is when the Earth is farthest from the sun in its orbit (July 4th) and perihelion iswhen the Earth is closest to the sun (January 3rd).11. Higher latitudes have greater ranges (at the poles).12. Daylight Hours and Sun Anglea. North Pole i. December Solstice - 0 hours and 0 degreesii. March Equinox – 12 hours and 0 degreesiii. June Solstice – 24 hours and 0-90 degreesiv. September Equinox – 12 hours and 0 degreesb. Arctic Circlei. December Solstice – 0-12 hours and 0 degreesii. March Equinox – 12 hours and 0-90 degreesiii. June Solstice – 12-24 hours and 0-90 degreesiv. September Equinox – 12 hours and 0-90 degreesc. Tropic of Cancer i. December Solstice – 0-12 hours, 0-90 degreesii. March Equinox – 12 hours, 0-90 degreesiii. June Solstice – 12-24 hours, 90 degreesiv. September Equinox – 12 hours, 0-90 degreesd. Equatori. December Solstice – 12 hours, 0-90 degreesii. March Equinox – 12 hours, 90 degreesiii. June Solstice – 12 hours, 0-90 degreesiv. September Equinox – 12 hours, 90 degreese. Tropic of Capricorni. December Solstice – 12-24 hours, 90 degreesii. March Equinox – 12 hours, 0-90 degreesiii. June Solstice – 0-12 hours, 0-90 degreesiv. September Equinox – 12 hours, 0-90 degreesf. Antarctic Circlei. December Solstice – 12-24 hours, 0-90 degreesii. March Equinox – 12 hours, 0-90 degreesiii. June Solstice – 0-12 hours, 0 degreesiv. September Equinox – 12 hours, 0-90 degreesg. South Polei. December Solstice – 24 hours, 90 degreesii. March Equinox – 12 hours, 0-90 degreesiii. June Solstice – 0 hours, 0 degreesiv. September Equinox – 12 hours, 0 degreesWeek 31.Compare and contrast conduction and convection.2.What creates winds?3.How does force move on a pressure gradient?4.When does geostrophic flow occur?5.Which direction does Coriolis deflect in the Northern Hemisphere? In the Southern Hemisphere? 6.In the Northern Hemisphere, which direction do cyclones move and in which pressure system?7. In the Northern Hemisphere, which direction do anticyclones move and in which pressuresystem?8. In the Southern Hemisphere, which direction do cyclones move and in which pressure system?9. In the Southern Hemisphere, which direction do anticyclones move and in which pressuresystem?10. Why does wind slow down at the surface?11. What direction do winds flow in the sub-tropic highs?12. Describe the concept