Download Topic 1 – Introduction to Earth`s Changing Environment

Topics 1-7
Topic 1 – Introduction to Earth’s Changing Environment
- An ________________ is a means of collecting data by using your senses,
using an instrument to extend your senses, or taking a measurement.
- An __________________ is a conclusion based on your observations –
often in the form of a prediction.
- Classification is the grouping of objects based on common
___________________properties.
- ____________________ is the comparison to a known standard.
- ____________________ is the amount a measurement is off by, expressed
as a %. Formula = Difference from accepted value/accepted value X 100
- Density the quantity of matter in a given amount of _______________(how
close molecules are packed.)
- As temp increases, molecules spread apart and volume increases and
density ______________________.
- As pressure ___________________, molecules are forced closer together
decreasing volume but increasing density.
- More dense things go to the bottom and less dense things go to the top
- Water has a density of 1 g/cm3 and objects that ________________ in water
are less dense than 1 whereas objects that _______________in water are
more dense than 1. Objects that suspend in water have a density = 1.
- All things on the earth are in a constant state of change making it a dynamic
planet. Most changes are __________and ________________.
- ______________ _______________________________ is a balance
among changes ( if precipitation going into a lake = evaporation from the lake
the water will remain at the same level because the lake is in a state of
dynamic equilibrium.
- Anything at a harmful level in the environment is considered an
environmental _______________________
Topic 2 – Measuring Earth
-
True shape of the earth is an _____________ ___________________
(slightly flattened at the poles and slightly bulging at the equator). However
it is almost perfect with a good model being a billiard ball.
- The 3 spheres that make up the earth system in order of increasing density
are the _____________________, _______________________,
- and _____________________________.
- Latitude runs ____________and ______________ and measures angular
degrees north or south of the equator. Also called parallels.
- Longitude runs ________________and ________________ converging at
the poles but measures angular degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian.
(00)
- The altitude of Polaris = your ______________, in the northern hemisphere
- Every 150 of longitude = _____________hour on a clock (Time)
- . As you travel west it gets ______________ ( wearlier) and as you travel
east it gets __________________.
- __________________________ are lines connecting points of = value. On
a line = the line, in between lines has a value in the middle.
- The closer spaced the isolines, the greater the ___________________.
- When crossing a river, Contour lines bend __________________ on a
contour map
- Hachured lines indicate a ________________________ with the first
hachured line = the last contour line right before it.
- Widely spaced contour lines indicate a ______________________slope on
a contour map.
-
Topic 3 – Earth in the Universe
- Stars make their energy from _______________ ________________
which is lighter H atoms combining to form heavier He atoms and giving off
electromagnetic energy in the process.
- The universe started about 13.7 billion years ago with the Big Bang ( 2
evidences of this are the Doppler Red Shift and background microwave
radiation. The red shift also supports that the universe is still
_________________.
- The ___________ __________________ is about 4.6 billion years old
- We live in the ________________ ________________, which is a spiral
galaxy. Our location is 2/3 of the way out on the Orion arm.
- Stars spend the bulk of their life as a _________________
___________________ star and their original mass determines what they
will turn in to.
- __________________________ Planets are close to the sun, rocky, high
density, small mass and relatively few to no moons.
- _________________________Planets are far from the sun, gas, low
density, high mass and many moons.
- The asteroid belt is in between ____________________ and
_____________________________ and separates the Terrestrial from the
Jovian planets.
- Planet rotation is its day and Planet revolution is its ________________.
- All planets revolve in ________________________________ orbits with
the sun at one of the foci.
- Because of the elliptical ____________________, planets will experience a
changing distance to the sun, changing orbital velocity, changing
gravitational attraction, changing apparent diameter of the sun and
changing potential and kinetic energy.
- As distance between foci increases eccentricity also
___________________.
-
Topic 4 – Motions of Earth, Moon and Sun
- Earth rotates from west to east at 150 per hour making all celestial objects
appear to rise in the _______________and set in the _______________.
- __________________________ motion is the apparent backward motion of
objects as earth passes them in their orbit.
- _____________________________ model the earth is in the center of the
solar system and stationary. All objects orbit it in circular paths.
- ___________________________model the sun is in the center of the solar
system and all orbit it in elliptical orbits with the earth now rotating as well as
revolving.
- Earth’s _________________________________ creates night/day, apparent
rising and setting of all celestial objects, star trails, motions of the Foucault
Pendulum and the Coriolis Effect.
- Earth’s ______________________________ causes different constellations
to be seen at different times of the year and combined with Earth’s tilt creates
the seasons.
- The moon rotates and revolves at the same speed in an elliptical orbit
causing us to always see the _________________________side of the
moon. (once every 27.3 days)
- __________________ ______________________ are caused by the
moon’s revolution around earth. Full cycle of phases if 29.5 days because
the moon has to catch up to the earth also moving in its orbit.
- Tides are caused by the gravitational attraction of the _________________
with high tide always following the moon’s position.
- ____________________are caused from the sun, earth and moon coming
into perfect alignment.
- ____________eclipse is when the sun is blocked from earth by the moon.
- ____________eclipse is when the moon is falling into the earth’s shadow.
-
Topic 5 – Energy in Earth Processes
- The sun gives off ___________________energy as a result of nuclear
fusion with the most intense energy reaching the earth in the form of visible
light. Infrared heat and ultra violet radiation also have a big effect on the
earth.
- __________________ can be reflected (bounced back), refracted (bent to a
different direction or wave length), scattered (spread in all directions),
transmitted (allowed to pass through), or absorbed by the earth’s
atmosphere or the earth.
- About ______________ of the sun’s rays actually reach the earth.
- Electromagnetic energy is differentiated by its wavelength with shorter
waves having ___________ frequency and higher intensity.
- Energy is transferred by ___________________in solids or from substance
to substance (collision of molecules), ___________________in fluids
(caused by uneven heating creating changes in density), or
___________________ that can travel through nothing and everything
when energy is absorbed and then given off.
- A good absorber is a good ________________of electromagnetic energy
- ___________ ___________ is the amount of energy required to heat a
substance. The higher the specific heat the more energy required to raise
the temperature, therefore the longer it takes to heat up. Quick heat = quick
cool.
- Melting = _______________ ____ _________________.
- Vaporization = ___________________ _____ _______________.
- Condensation = ____________________ ___ ___________________.
- Freezing/Crystallization = liquid to solid
- Energy is ___________________ by the substance during melting and
vaporization with the most being absorbed during vaporization.
- Energy is ______________________ by a substance during condensation
and freezing with the most being released during condensation.
- No temperature change is seen during a ______________
_________________ as heat is added. This is called latent (hidden) heat
and energy is being used to change the state of matter rather than increase
the temperature.
- As height increases, potential energy ___________________.
- As speed/velocity increases, kinetic energy _____________________.
Topic 6 – Insolation and the Seasons
- As angle of insolation/incidence increases, intensity and temperature also
_____________________________.
- ________________________ is Incoming solar radiation or sun’s rays
- The ______________ __________________ is where short visible light is
absorbed by the earth and re-radiated as long infrared heat, then gets
trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases (CO2, water vapor, and
methane). This caused surface temperatures to increase.
- ___________________ rays of sunlight are 900 angle rays, which are the
most intense causing the highest temperatures. They only fall on one
location of earth at a time.
- Because of the earth’s tilt and revolution _________________ are created
because the direct rays move to different parts of earth at different times of
year.
- Summer solstice – June 21, direct rays are on the tropic of cancer 23.5 0N
marks the first day of __________________ in the Northern hemisphere.
- Winter solstice – Dec. 21, direct rays are on the tropic of Capricorn 23.5 0S
marks the first day of _________________in the Northern hemisphere.
- Vernal Equinox – March 21, direct rays on the equator marking the first day
of _____________ in the Northern hemisphere.
- Autumnal Equinox- Sept. 23, direct rays on the equator marking the first day
of _________________ in the Northern hemisphere.
- In summer the sun rises _______________of east and sets
______________ of west creating longer days in the north.
- On the equinoxes the sun rises ______________east and sets
____________ west creating ____________________amounts of night and
day at all locations on earth.
- Heat budget compares incoming insolation to outgoing re-radiation. If
incoming is greater than outgoing temperatures will _______________.
- Maximum insolation is experienced on June 21 each year but maximum
heat is not experienced until about 2 months later (time/temperature lag).
This is because the earth needs to ____________________the light and
give it off as heat.
- Maximum insolation is experienced each day at noon but maximum heat is
not experienced until 2-4 pm. Again, earth needs to absorb the light and
turn it into _________________ (time/temp. lag).
- As angle of insolation increases length of shadows decrease. All shadows
are shortest at _________________and longest at ___________________.
Topic 7 - Weather
- ______________ is the short-term condition of the atmosphere and is
fueled by the sun unevenly heating the earth causing different
temperatures, pressures, humidities, and convection.
- _____________________air is high temperature, high humidity, rising, low
pressure, cloudy and better chance of precipitation. (Lousy Lows are hazy,
hot, and humid)
- ___________________air is low temperature, low humidity, sinking, high
pressure, clear and little chance of precipitation. (Happy Highs are cool,
clear, and dry)
- ___________________ air is lighter than dry air causing it to rise and
create low pressure.
- Air’s ability to hold moisture is based on _______________. Warm air can
hold more moisture than cool air.
- The Dew Point is the temperature the air must cool to in order for it to
become __________________(full of moisture)
- As air temp. approaches the Dew Point temp. the Relative Humidity
______________________
- To predict rain look for how close the temp and the ___________
____________are, a greater amount of cloud cover and a falling barometric
trend.
- Wind is caused by uneven heating causing changes in air pressure. Wind
always blows from ________________pressure to_______________
pressure. The greater the change in pressure (pressure gradient) the
___________________ the wind.
- Closely spaced isobars indicate _________________ winds.
- __________________breezes form when the land heats up and is warmer
than the water, best between 2-4pm.
- _________________breezes form when the land is cools down and is
cooler than the water, best right before sunrise.
- Planetary wind belts drive weather patterns. ____________________
winds mean low pressure and high humidity. _______________winds
mean high pressure and low humidity.
- Weather travels from _____________ to ______________ or west to east
in the United States.
- Low-pressure cyclones have winds that blow ____________________ and
towards the center.
- High-pressure anticyclones have winds that blow ________________ and
outwards.
- Clouds form where warm, humid, low pressure is rising, expanding, cooling,
and condensing when the temp. meets the dew point temp.
- Rain generally occurs along a ____________where two air masses meet.
- A warm front brings a_________________ period of light precipitation in
front of the front.
- A cold front brings short, _________________precipitation on or behind the
front.