GEOG 203 exam 1

earth is wider than it is tall (equator is longer than pole to pole)

degree, minute, second

66.5 N

23.5 N

23.5 S

66.5 S

15

preserves correct shape but does not preserve area taken up (useful for showing accurate directions)

preserves correct area but distorts the actual shape (population density)

earth is farthest from the sun in its orbit on july 4th

earth is closest to the sun in its orbit on january 3rd

cooler area in the sun, the sun emits more energy because of these (sun has 11 year cycle affecting these)

solar radiation received in the earths atmosphere or surface. further up in the atmosphere the shortwave radiation is greater and decreases as you get to earths surface. outgoing longwave radiation is reflected back out into space.

slowly decreases as you get closer to earths surface because some is reflected by clouds, absorbed in the atmosphere, and passes to the earths surface. contains higher energy than longwave radiation.

amount of energy sent back into space by earth surface, ocean, atmosphere.

1st level elevation, temperature decreases with elevation, contains clouds & weather

2nd level elevation, temperature increases with elevation, contains ozone layer

absorbs most of the suns harmful ultraviolet radiation, protecting life

3rd level elevation, temperature decreases with elevation, contains shooting stars

4th level elevation, temperature decreases with elevation, contains northern lights

78%

21%

amount of solar radiation that is reflected by a surface

31%

heat that can be felt through touch. insolation (shortwave radiation) can be converted into this.

heat that is stored and released when object has a physical state change. insolation (shortwave radiation) can be converted into this during melting and evaporating.

the amount of energy (sensible heat) needed to change temperature by one unit. water has higher of this than earth soil.

absorbed

released

75-90%

3-70%

4.2

1.0

water has a relatively high specific heat, meaning it takes more energy to change the temperature by one unit, therefore water maintains a consistent temperature over greater altitude. soil has relatively low specific heat, meaning it takes less energy to change its temperature by one unit, therefore soil has more varying temperature over a small amount of altitude.

because the altitude is higher, the distance the incoming shortwave radiation (insolation) has traveled is less meaning its energy is higher, therefore most of the ISR passes through the high clouds and a small amount is absorbed. when ISR reaches low level clouds it has less energy, therefore a small amount of energy passes through and most insolation is reflected.