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TAMU GEOG 203 - Exam 1 Study Guide
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These are all examples of sensible heat.Water is a better conductor of heat than the atmosphere. Decreasing temperature with increasing altitude is due to the atmosphere being a poor conductor of heat.Soil moisture can be seen in clouds in the earth’s atmosphere.It takes 80 calories to heat one gram of ice to one gram of water at 1 degree Celsius.It takes 100 calories from one gram of water at 1C to be converted to one gram of water at 100C.Takes an additional 540 calories to change it to water vapor.Larger amounts of insolation at the equator and smaller amounts of insolation at the poles.When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun – it is the June solstice. The December solstice is the opposite of this – Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun.Different points on the earth travel at different speeds because they all rotate once per day – but locations closer to the equator have to travel further in the same amount of time.FrictionFriction is in the opposite direction of your motion of travel. It is force in the opposition of movement.To understand atmospheric circulation requires measurement of wind and pressure.Measuring WindWind: movement of air relative to earth’s surfaceWind speed is measure by an anemometerLatitudinal Energy DistributionPrimary driver of global atmospheric and oceanic circulationWind nomenclature: from originEasterliesFrom the eastWesterliesFrom the westNortherFrom the NorthSoutherly windFrom the SouthMeasuring PressureGravity draws the atmosphere to earthUniform at earth’s surfaceDecreases with altitudeAtmospheric pressure: weight of the atmosphere (force/area)Atmosphere of pressure at sea levelRising air: lower pressureDescending air: higher pressureNormal air pressure – 29-31 inches and 980-1050mbExtreme low pressure is experienced during huricanes.High pressure systems are nice weather – sunny and warm usually.Four Driving Forces within Earth’s Atmosphere and HydrosphereGravityVirtually uniform on Earth’s surface but causes pressure to inversely vary with altitudePressure gradient forceFrom high <more dense> to low <less dense> pressureCoriolis forceProduced by Earth’s rotationPressure Gradient ForceCan be read the same way as a topographic map.The closer together the lines are the steeper the gradient.The smaller circles are lower pressure areas and as you move away the pressure gets higher.Pressure will always move from high to low.Light winds will have large gaps between isobars and strong winds will have a steeper gradient.Pressure gradient force causes convergence or divergence.Low pressure = convergence (air is ascending)High pressure = divergence (air is descending)Coriolis ForceApparent deflection of path of wind caused by earth’s rotation.The lower the latitude the more distance you have to travel in a day.Therefore speed is greater closer to the equator.Deflects motionTo the right in the Northern HemisphereTo the left in Southern HemisphereIntensifies near polesNo force at the EquatorPressure + Coriolis force = rotationPressure gradient forceWind is the resultant pressure from this force.If it is just a hypothetical pressure gradient then it will move away from the H (high pressure system)Upper atmosphere wind patternFriction with the surface is now insignificantSo wind direction develops as a balance between pressure gradient force and Coriolis force.Winds are being pushed to the right by the Coriolis force once the pressure gradient pushes it into low pressureThis creates Geostrophic wind that moves along parallel to the isobars.Coriolis forces it out until it is equal and opposite of the pressure gradient.FrictionMoving in the opposite direction of the resulting wind, slowing it downPressure force goes from high to lowCoriolis still goes to the right because we’re in the northern hemisphereIf you’re in the upper atmosphere, there will be no friction!Integrating ForcesNorthern HemisphereOceans circulate clockwiseIn part due to the deflection by the CoriolisSouthern HemisphereOceans circulate counter-clockwiseEquatorial low – equator attracts the low-pressure winds and they then converge and get pushed up.Coriolis bends the winds in different directions according to the hemisphere. Converging in the Intertropical Convergence Zone due to this effect. Typically they are moist and so when they rise they create clouds and rain.Equatorial Low-Pressure TroughITCZ (InterTropical Convergence Zone)Easterly trade winds converge at low pressure and rise.GEOG 203 Exam 1 Study Guide: Lectures 1-6Lecture 1Earth Systems ConceptsDescribe systems theory and the different types of systems. How this applies to the Earth.Physical Geography is: The spatial analysis of all the physical elements and processes that make up the environment. Earth Systems ConceptsSystems theory- System = any ordered set of things (matter); linked by flows of energy (ability to do work)A. Open systemsa. Not self-contained; inputs/outputs of energy and matterb. Most systems are openB. Closed systemsa. No external influences; shut off from surroundingA mechanical system such as an automobile is an open system.Open Systems - System exchanges energy and matter (not self-contained)- Most natural (or Earth) systems are open in terms of energy- Examples: leaf, river, earth (energy)- Input ------------------ System -------------------------- Output- Energy& matter ---- Storage & conversion------- energy & matterClosed Systems- Does not exchange energy and matter (self-contained)- Earth is a closed system in terms of physical matter and resourceso Resources are finite- Not common in nature- Examples: Global hydrological cycleSystem feedbacks: outputs that influence the system to discourage or encourage further outputs.Negative feedback: feeling full when you eat a lot, pain, etc.Positive Feedback: High-Latitude Melt Ponds- The melt ponds have a higher albedo due to their darker appearance, this means that theyabsorb more solar radiation and cause the ice to melt. This further enhances the affects of higher temperatures and warmer conditions, showing a positive feedback.System equilibrium:- Most systems are in equilibrium = their conditions fluctuate around average conditions…Often held in check by negative feedbacko Steady state equilibrium System fluctuates around a stable average and maintains same operation level- If there is a trend over time…o Dynamic equilibrium System fluctuates around a stable average, but exhibits a


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TAMU GEOG 203 - Exam 1 Study Guide

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