GEOG 120 Midterm: Exam 1 Review
Document Summary
Composed of individual but connected parts that function as a complete whole. Open system has interaction with the environment; inputs and outputs; e. g. car. Earth is dynamic; water is closed in the earth system while energy is open. External forcings affect a system but are not affected by it (e. g. sun & earth) Internal feedbacks: internal processes positive feedback loop: albedo/ice model. The ability to do work; anything that changes the state of matter. Frequency shortwave incoming from the sun longwave outgoing from the earth. Blackbody any object that perfectly emits or absorbs energy. Wavelength of peak emission inversely proportional to temperature. Energy gradient driver of atmospheric and ocean circulation because of positive radiation in low latitudes and negative radiation at high latitudes. Scattering some of the emr is reflected back; diffuse v. direct sunlight. Raleigh scattering shorter wavelengths scatter more easily than long wavelengths; this why the sky is blue, also explains why sunsets look red.
