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Physical Geography > Unit 2: Chapters 5, 6, 7 > Flashcards

Unit 2: Chapters 5, 6, 7 Flashcards

Q's 1 - 86 are from the study guide. 87 - 115 are from the first video sheet and 116 - 134 are from the second video sheet. Let's get A's!

1
Q

What is standard atmospheric pressure?

A

14.7 lbs per square inch

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2
Q

What are the four ways standard atmospheric pressure can be expressed?

A

14.7 lbs per square inch
1013.25 millibars / hectopascals
101.325 kilopascal
?

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3
Q

How is pressure gradient calculated?

A

It is the relative closeness of isobars, indicating the horizontal rate of pressure change; the slope

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4
Q

What is an isobar?

A

lines of equal pressure

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5
Q

What is the coriolis effect?

A

deflection acts at 90 degrees from the direction of movement – to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

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6
Q

How does coriolis force affect circulation around Northern Hemisphere High Pressure?

A

circulates clockwise

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7
Q

How does coriolis force affect circulation around Northern Hemisphere Low Pressure?

A

circulates counterclockwise

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8
Q

How does coriolis force affect circulation around Southern Hemisphere High Pressure?

A

circulates counterclockwise

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9
Q

How does coriolis force affect circulation around Southern Hemisphere Low Pressure?

A

circulates clockwise

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10
Q

Where on earth is there no coriolis effect?

A

The Equator

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11
Q

Be able to locate the position of the major wind and pressure belts that make up global circulation.

A 
from top to bottom:
polar high 
polar easterlies
polar low
westerlies
subtropical high
trade winds
equatorial low
trade winds
subtropical high
westerlies
polar low
polar easterlies
polar high
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12
Q

Name the pressure belts and wind systems starting at the North Pole and working towards the South Pole.

A 
polar high 
polar easterlies
polar low
westerlies
subtropical high
trade winds
equatorial low
trade winds
subtropical high
westerlies
polar low
polar easterlies
polar high
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13
Q

How do pressure gradients affect the strength of the wind?

A

Closer isobars = stronger winds. Pressure of high to low creates wind

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14
Q

What causes monsoons?

A

Winter shift in intertropical convergence zone produces shift in trade winds location

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15
Q

Why is it dry in India and SE Asia during the winter?

A

thermally induced systems, outblowing dry

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16
Q

Why is it very wet in India and SE Asia during the summer?

A

monsoons

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17
Q

Be able to explain the cause of land breezes.

A

Nocturnal cooling over the land causes high air pressure there, a condition that creates an offshore flow of air.

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18
Q

Be able to explain the cause of sea breezes.

A

Land rapidly heats during the day, heating the air above. Air expands and rises, creating low pressure that attracts surface breezes from over the adjacent water body.

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19
Q

Be able to explain the cause of mountain breezes.

A

at night, the heat is quickly los from the face of the slope and cooled air flows downwards

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20
Q

Be able to explain the cause of valley breezes

A

warned air rises, creating a low-pressure cell and cooler air flows into the low pressure area

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21
Q

What is a katabatic wind?

A

spilling of air downslope, originate in cold upland areas and cascade toward lower elevations under the influence of gravity
ex. antarctica whipping winds off of icy cliffs

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22
Q

What is a Santa Anas wind?

A

high speeds, high temp, extreme dryness

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23
Q

What is the hydrolic cycle?

A

evaopration, condensation, precipitation

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24
Q

Know how temperature affects evaporation

A

high temp = high evaporation

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25
Q

Know how humidity affects evaporation

A

warm air prompts evaporation

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26
Q

Know how turbulence affects evaporation

A

more wind = more evaporation

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27
Q

Be able to define absolute humidity

A

mass of water vapor in a g / m^3

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28
Q

Be able to define specific humidity

A

amount of water vapor per unit weight of air

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29
Q

Be able to define relative humidity

A

how dense air is, how filled is the air with water vapor. water vapor / water vapor capacity

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30
Q

Define the relationship between temperature and holding capacity for water vapor in the atmosphere

A

an inverse relationship as temperature increases the capacity decreases

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31
Q

As temperature increases, what happens to the holding capacity of the atmosphere?

A

warmer temperatures = increasing holding capacity

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32
Q

What does the saturation curve indicate?

A

as temperature increases, so does holding capacity

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33
Q

How does the relative humidity change with regard to daily changes in temperature?

A

as temperature increases, relative humidity increases

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34
Q

How is relative humidity computed?

A

( actual water vapor / capacity ) x 100

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35
Q

What information is needed in order to calculate relative humidity?

A

actual water vapor and capacity

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36
Q

What is meant by Condensation level?

A

altitude by which condensation begins

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37
Q

What is meant Dew Point?

A

temperature at which water droplets begin to form

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38
Q

What is an air mass?

A

a large, variable parcel of air that is distinct from others.

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39
Q

Know the origin and characteristics of a cT air mass

A

continental tropical - hot and dry

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40
Q

Know the origin and characteristics of a mT air mass

A

maritime tropical - hot and wet

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41
Q

Know the origin and characteristics of a cP air mass

A

continental polar - cold and dry

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42
Q

Know the origin and characteristics of a mP air mass

A

maritime polar - cold and wet

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43
Q

Know the origin and characteristics of a A air mass

A

arctic - cold and dry

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44
Q

What is albedo?

A

rate at which light is reflected

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45
Q

Be able to describe the characteristics of a warm front

A

warm air ascends over cold air with temperature decreasing as air rises

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46
Q

Be able to describe the characteristics of a cold front

A

advancing cold air, lower portion moves slower than upper portion

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47
Q

Be able to describe the characteristics of an occluded front

A

2 cold air masses meet and push warm air up

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48
Q

Be able to describe the characteristics of a stationary front

A

no precipitation neutral front - no displacement

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49
Q

Be able to diagram a typical mid-latitude cyclone with associated air masses and fronts

A

circular air masses, warm air rises from southeast, cold air comes from south and northeast and north and west

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50
Q

Be able to identify in a mid-latitude cyclone the warm sector

A

Approaching from the east, into occluded front

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51
Q

Be able to identify in a mid-latitude cyclone the cold air

A

Approaches from the west, completes circle

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52
Q

Be able to identify in a mid-latitude cyclone the cool air

A

Approaches from the North East

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53
Q

Be able to identify in a mid-latitude cyclone the area of low pressure

A
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54
Q

Be able to identify the circulation pattern around a N.H. High pressure cell.

A

right

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55
Q

Be able to identify the circulation pattern around a S.H. High pressure cell.

A

left

56
Q

Be able to identify the circulation pattern around a N.H. Low pressure cell.

A

left

57
Q

Be able to identify the circulation pattern around a S.H. Low pressure cell.

A

right

58
Q

Be able to characterize the general circulation within a mid latitude cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere.

A

Moves west to east, counterclockwise.

Warm front advances, cold front advances even faster than warm front

59
Q

Be able to describe the general prevailing direction of movement of a mid latitude cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere.

A

west to east

60
Q

Be able to characterize the typical life cycle of a mid latitude cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere.

A

cold and warm front meet, going opposite directions, warm front shifts, pushing the cold front to fill the spaces and complete a circle. Both fronts combine: occluded front.

61
Q

Be able to explain how hurricanes develop.

A

low pressure in trade wind flow

62
Q

What causes hurricanes to intensify?

A

warming water, updrafts suck in more

63
Q

What causes hurricanes to weaken?

A

land masses, cooling

64
Q

What is the primary season for hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean?

A

June 1st to November 30th

65
Q

Why do hurricanes weaken as they draw near the equator?

A

there’s no coriolis effect

66
Q

In what general latitudes are easterly waves found?

A

Between 5 and 30 degrees latitude.

67
Q

Be able to describe the weather associated with an easterly wave?

A

cloudiness and thunderstorms

68
Q

What area of the world has the most tornadoes?

A

Tornado Alley, US

69
Q

Where is “tornado alley” located in the U.S.?

A

between the Rocky and Appalachian mountains

70
Q

What is the most active season for tornadoes in this region?

A

Spring

71
Q

What month of the year is the peak hurricane season for the U.S.?

A

May

72
Q

What is the World’s highest wind speed record?

A

231 mph

73
Q

<p>

| Where was World&rsquo;s highest wind speed recorded?</p>

A

<p>

| Mount Washington, New Hampshire</p>

74
Q

What is radiational cooling?

A

The loss of heat from the surface of the earth into the atmosphere.

75
Q

Where does it usually get coldest at night in hilly regions?

A
76
Q

What direction do High Pressure systems rotate in the Northern Hemisphere?

A
77
Q

What direction do Low Pressure systems rotate in the Northern Hemisphere?

A
78
Q

What direction do High Pressure systems rotate in the Southern Hemisphere?

A
79
Q

<p>

| What direction do Low Pressure systems rotate in the Southern Hemisphere?</p>

A

<p>

| clockwise</p>

80
Q

Why does rising air usually result in low pressure at the surface?

A

The low pressure fills the open space as warm air rises

81
Q

Why does sinking air usually result in high pressure at the surface?

A

warmer air causes more pressure, so the it is pushing the cold / low pressure out

82
Q

What is the Hydrologic Cycle?

A

evaporation, condensation, precipitation

83
Q

Why don’t hurricanes ever cross the equator?

A

the coriolis effect doesn’t exist at the equator, so hurricanes dissapate

84
Q

How does hail form?

A

in a cumulonimbus cloud as a result of great instability and strong vertical air currents. Lower part must be warmer than freezing, while the upper part is below freezing.

85
Q

What occurs in a thunderstorm to cause lightning?

A

negative charge attracts positive charge to earth’s surface

86
Q

World-wide, why does more evaporation occur over water than over land?

A

water covers more surface than land?

87
Q

Where was the world’s highest wind speed recorded?

A

Mt. Washington, NH

88
Q

How fast was the record highest wind?

A

231 mph

89
Q

Where is the world’s highest average wind speed?

A

Coast of Antarctica

90
Q

How fast is the world’s highest average wind speed?

A

40 mph

91
Q

Where is the iciest place on earth?

A

Antarctica

92
Q

What percentage of the world’s fresh water is held in the ice of Antarctica?

A

more than 90%

93
Q

Where is the Coldest place on earth?

A

Vostok, Russia

94
Q

<p>

| What was the record temperature set in Vostok on August 24th, 1960?</p>

A

<p>

| -126.9 degrees F</p>

95
Q

What is the average annual precipitation in Antarctica?

A

5 inches of ice

96
Q

Where in the northeast U.S. did one of the worst blizzards on record occur?

A

New York

97
Q

What was the date of the New York blizzard, classified as one of the worst on record?

A

March 11, 1888

98
Q

Where on earth do the greatest annual number of thunderstorms occur?

A

Australia / Indonesia

99
Q

On average, how many days of the year do thunderstorms occur in Australia and Indonesia?

A

322

100
Q

Where is “lightening alley” in the U.S.?

A

Florida

101
Q

Where and what date did the world’s largest hailstone fall?

A

Coffee Hill, Kansas on September 3, 1970

102
Q

In 1974, how many tornadoes were counted during a “super outbreak” of tornadoes in the central U.S.?

A

148

103
Q

Prior to Katrina, what hurricane was the costliest hurricane in American history?

A

Andrew in 1992

104
Q

What U.S. city suffered the greatest loss of life from a hurricane?

A

Galveston, Texas

105
Q

<p>

| On what date did the hurricane hit Galveston, Texas?</p>

A

<p>

| September 8th, 1900</p>

106
Q

Where and how hot was the hottest air temperature recorded?

A

The Sahara Desert - 136 degrees F in the shade

107
Q

The highest sustained temperature was recorded over a four hour period in Death Valley. What was the temperature?

A

134 degrees F

108
Q

What was the greatest rate of evaporation in Death Valley? (This is voer a year, not 24 hours). How much was evaporated

A

150 inches

109
Q

Where is the driest place on earth?

A

Atacama Desert, Chile

110
Q

How much precipitation per century occurs in the driest place on earth?

A

1 inch per 100 years.

111
Q

Where is the world’s foggiest place?

A

Newfoundland

112
Q

On average, how many days of fog does Newfoundland receive annually?

A

206

113
Q

On average, how much rain does Mt. Waialeale, Kauai receive each year?

A

39 feet, 11 inches, which dropped by 2.5 feet

114
Q

What place in India holds the world record fror the rainiest year on record?

A

Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya)

115
Q

How much rainfall was received during this record setting year of 1861?

A

72 feet 8 inches in 6 months, 86 feet 9 inches in 1 year

116
Q

Where is the driest place on earth?

A

Atacama Desert, Chile

117
Q

How large is the Atacama Desert?

A

600 miles by 100 miles, which is the size of Iowa

118
Q

What is the average rainfall per year in the Atacama Desert?

A

less than 1 mm per year, 3/100ths of an inch per year

119
Q

What key latitude passes through the driest desert

A

Tropic of Capricorn

120
Q

What is the single most important clue to the development of the Atacama desert?

A

Bend of boulders - gypsom

121
Q

How old is the desert based on dating a special rock layer?

A

150 million years old

122
Q

What was the Atacama Desert before it became a desert?

A

a seabed

123
Q

What does the geyser field around El Tatio indicate?

A

a body of hot rock underneath El Tatio

124
Q

What was responsible for the building of the mountains that surround the desert?

A

pacific plate forcing itself beneath South America

125
Q

Chiquicamata is the world’s largest…

A

open pit copper mine

126
Q

What cold ocean current contributes to the dryness of the desert?

A

humbolt current

127
Q

How cold is the water in the Humbolt current?

A

55 degrees F

128
Q

How does the cold current interact with the hot descending air to form a temperature inversion?

A

The hot air keeps cold air down

129
Q

What does helium 3 indicate about the rocks found in the Quebrada Aroma region of the desert?

A

the longer the rock has been exposed to cosmic and solar radiation

130
Q

When did the Andes Mountains get high enough to create a rain shadow effect that blocked virtually all of the moisture that could come from the east?

A

10 million years ago

131
Q

What was found at Guanaqueros that challenged the thinking that the desert had been a desert for millions of years?

A

tools several ancient civilizations sustained

132
Q

Dr. Claudio Latorre discovered what critical piece of evidence that showed that parts of the desert (Guanaqueros) had been wet as recently as 11,000 years ago?

A

Wetland-freshwater microscopic organisms

133
Q

Where did the water come from and why didn’t it cover all of the desert (Guanaqueros)?

A

heavy rain from the Andes

134
Q

What discovery by Dr. Alfonso Davila has lead NASA to use this region (Guanaqueros) as a test area for the discovery of life on mars?

A

2005 - bacterial life in rocks

135
Q

What type of atmospheric condition provides the fastest radiational cooling?

A

Clear sky’s, low humidity - these mean rapid radiational cooling

Physical Geography (5 decks)

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