GG101 Study Guide - Final Guide: Solar Flare, Solar Wind, Weather Vane
Geography Exam Review
GG101: Introduction to Physical Geography
Chapter 1: Essentials of Geography
Geography: science that studies the relationship among natural systems, geographic areas, society, and
cultural activities, and independence of all these over space
Physical geography: spatial analysis of all physical elements, processes, and systems that make up an
environment
System: set of ordered, connected components linked by flows of energy and matter
Great circle: divided into 2 equal halves, passes through centre
Small circle: intersects the globe into unequal sections
Stanford Fleming: pushed for time zones
Map: generalized view of an area, reduced in size
Scale: ratio of map units to ground units
Projections: process of transforming earth to flat surface
GPS: consists of satellites; used for navigation
Remote sensing: acquisition of information of objects without physical contact (aerial photographs)
GIS: computer based data processing tool of analyzing geographic information
Chapter 2: Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons
Planetesimal hypothesis: Big Band (suns condense from nebular clouds, protoplanets accumulated in
eddies within nebula)
Speed of light: 300,000 km/s
Average distance from the sun: 150,000,000 km
Light year: unit of distance
Perihelion: closest to the sun (January)
Aphelion: farthest from the sun (July)
Plane of the ecliptic: earth’s orbit
Sun: ultimate energy source for earth; outputs include solar wind and energy
Sunspots: caused by magnetic storms, temperatures are cooler; from corona, cause solar flare
Solar flares: matter coming from the sun (solar wind), like Northern Lights
Electromagnetic spectrum (sun): gamma rays, x-rays, UV, visible light, near infrared, shortwave infrared,
middle infrared
Electromagnetic spectrum (earth): middle infrared, thermal infrared, microwave, radio waves
Insolation: solar radiation that reaches the earth
Solar constant: 1372 W x m2
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Net radiation: incoming solar radiation — outgoing solar radiation
Reasons for the Seasons (RRATS)
Revolution: takes 363.25 days
Rotation: as you move towards poles, rotation is slower
Tilt: 23.5 degrees
Axial parallelism: acid maintains alignment during orbit
Sphericity
Solar altitude: angle between horizontal and sun, sun only 90 degrees at sub solar point
Solar declination: latitude of sub solar point
Components of the Sun (quadruple CPR)
Core
Convection zone
Chromosphere
Corona
Photosphere
Radiation
Chapter 3: Earth’s Modern Atmosphere
Air
Permanent gases: N, O, others
Variable gases: water vapour, carbon dioxide
4less (FOCT)
Formless
Odourless
Colourless
Tasteless
Atmosphere: 480km; both density and pressure decreases with altitude
Air density: mass/volume; 1.2 kg/m3
Atmospheric Composition
Heterosphere (80km+)
Gases are not mixed; H, He on top, N, O at bottom
Homosphere
Gases are uniform except for ozone
Ozone layer; 19km-50km
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Atmospheric Temperature (TSMT)
Troposphere: layer that supports life; normal lapse rate (6.4 degrees per km)
Stratosphere: 18-50km; ozone found here
Mesosphere: 50-80km; coldest portion (mesopause)
Thermosphere: begins at 80km, highest temperature, but not hot
Atmospheric Function (protection against wavelength)
Ionosphere: absorbs shortwave lengths
Ozonosphere: ozone layer; absorbs UVB
CFC: refrigerant, propellant
Natural Air Pollutants
Volcanoes
Forest fires
Plants/decaying plants
Soil
Ocean
Chapter 4: Atmosphere and Surface Energy Balances
Energy: capacity to do work
Heat: flow of kinetic energy between molecules
Conduction: touching
Convection: mixing or circulation
Advection: horizontal transfer
Radiation: microwave or stove
Transmission: refers to passage of energy through atmosphere or water
Absorption: assimilation of radiation by molecules of matter and its conversion from one form of energy to
another
Reflection: portion of arriving radiation that bounces directly back into space without doing work
Albedo: the reflective quality of an object, measured in a percentage
Scattering: changing of the direction of light’s movement, without altering its wavelength
Rayleigh scattering rule: the shorter the wavelength, the greater the scattering (blue is shorter than red)
Refraction: changing direction of lights movement, when entering one medium from another
Lag: takes time for heat to transfer
Latent heat flux: energy that is stored in water vapour; water absorbs large quantities of latent heat as it
changes state to water vapour, thus removing heat energy from the surface; can result in storms
Urban heat islands: maximum and minimum temperatures are higher then nearby rural settings
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Document Summary
Geography: science that studies the relationship among natural systems, geographic areas, society, and cultural activities, and independence of all these over space. Physical geography: spatial analysis of all physical elements, processes, and systems that make up an environment. System: set of ordered, connected components linked by flows of energy and matter. Great circle: divided into 2 equal halves, passes through centre. Small circle: intersects the globe into unequal sections. Map: generalized view of an area, reduced in size. Scale: ratio of map units to ground units. Projections: process of transforming earth to flat surface. Remote sensing: acquisition of information of objects without physical contact (aerial photographs) Gis: computer based data processing tool of analyzing geographic information. Chapter 2: solar energy to earth and the seasons. Planetesimal hypothesis: big band (suns condense from nebular clouds, protoplanets accumulated in eddies within nebula) Sun: ultimate energy source for earth; outputs include solar wind and energy.
