Physical Geography: The Global Environment Units 1-6

relates to the distribution of physical components of the natural environment

subfield of physical geography relating to geology

subfield of physical geography relating to meteorology

subfield of physical geography relating to biology

subfield of physical geography relating to botany

subfield of physical geography relating to zoology

subfield of physical geography relating to pedology

subfield of physical geography relating to marine science

subfield of physical geography relating to hydrology

1) observe phenomena
2) formulate a hypothesis
3) design an experiment
4) predict the outcome
5) conduct the experiment
6) draw conclusions

used to evaluate hypotheses

hypothesis that best fits the observed data and helps to explain/answer a question

mass can be gained or lost; both input and output

mass cannot be gained or lost; no input/output

doesn’t maintain homeostasis; ends up in different condition

maintains homeostasis; ends up at starting condition

supply and removal are equal

rocks and mineral matter

mixture of gases

water in all forms

frozen water in all forms

all life living on the surface

3D object that is elliptical in cross-section (Earth)

half of a sphere

around 30%

around 70%

angle of horizontal measurement; 0 to 90 degrees

angle of vertical measurement; 0 to 180 degrees

lines of longitude that extend from north to south poles

lines of latitude that are perpendicular to meridians

line of longitude that cuts the Earth in half at 0 degrees

line of longitude that separates two calendar days

line of latitude that cuts the Earth in half at 0 degrees

system of satellite technologies providing precise location data (ex. GPS)

Earth’s curved surface transformed for display on flat surface

shape, relative area, distance, direction

shows true direction, but distorts high latitudes

good for showing polar regions, but distorts direction and distance

good for showing a small area

size and ratio of areas are maintained; distorts shapes on small-scale maps

proper angular relationships are maintained; distorts size of an area

shows contours of equal values

computer systems that analyze spatial data

any measurement by a device not in contact with Earth’s surface (ex. aerial photography)

Earth’s movement around the axis

Earth’s movement around the Sun (orbit)

Earth is closest to Sun (Jan. 3)

Earth is farthest from Sun (July 4)

every parallel of latitude is half in light and half in darkness (“equal nights”)

vertical rays reach Tropics of Cancer/Capricorn at 90 degrees (“Sun stands still”)

boundary between one half of light and one half of darkness

incoming solar radiation

Latitude of the subsolar point, or Sun’s declination, is never farther than 23.5 degrees N or S of Equator

-Vertical Sun is at Equator on equinoxes
-Vertical Sun is at Tropic of Cancer on June Solstice
-Vertical Sun is at Tropic of Capricorn on December Solstice

angle of the Sun above the horizon

the ability to do work or cause change

electromagnetic radiation of all wavelengths

composed of visible light, ultraviolet light, and short infrared light (nearly all solar radiation is shortwave)

composed of thermal infrared radiation (all terrestrial radiation is longwave)

incoming solar radiation is either reflected (back to space), transmitted (throughout atmosphere), or absorbed (by atmosphere or surface)

transfer of energy between two objects/substances

average kinetic energy of the motion of molecules in a substance

always transferred from warmer object to cooler object

heat that can be sensed by touch

heat that is used and stored when a substance changes state of matter; cannot be sensed/measured

transfer of heat through wavelengths

transfer of heat by direct contact between two substances

transfer of heat by vertical currents

transfer of heat by horizontal currents

percentage of incident energy reflected

warming resulting from differential transmission of shortwave and longwave radiation

increase in certain gases in the atmosphere may lead to an increase in the amount of long wave radiation emitted by the Earth

difference between incoming and outgoing radiation

gas that shows little seasonal variation and changes little from year to year (N2,O2,Ar)

most abundant gas in the atmosphere (~78%)

second most abundant gas (~22%)

inert gas that is present in the atmosphere (~1%)

gas that is present in varying quantities (H2O, CO2, O3)

varies by location

fairly even distribution in lower atmosphere

found mostly in stratosphere

lowest layer of the atmosphere; temp decreases with increasing altitude

layered air; temp increases with increasing altitude

temp increases with increasing altitude

transitions into interplanetary space