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200 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Hydrologic Cycle
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Model of the flow of water (liquid)
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Interception
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occurs when the precipitation strikes vegetation or other ground cover.
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Infiltration
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when water soaks into the subsurface and penetrates the soil surface.
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Percolation
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permeates soil or rock through vertical movement
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Soil-water Budget
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measured w/ precipitation input and the output of various water demands in the area considered.
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Precipitation
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the moisture supply to Earth's surface that arrives as rain
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Evaporation
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the net movement of free water molecules away from a wet surface into air.
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Transpiration
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the movement of water through plants and back into the atmosphere. It is a cooling mechanism for plants.
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Evapotranspiration
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the merging of the two terms
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Potential Evapotranspiration
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the ultimate demand for moisture – the amount of water that would evaporate and transpire under optimum moisture conditions (adequate precipitation and soil moisture).
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Lysimeter/Evaporation Pan
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measures Evapotranspiration
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Deficit
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unsatisfied POTET
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ACTET or Actual Evapotranspiration
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subtracting DEFIC from POTET
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Surplus
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if POTET is satisfied and the soil is full of moisture
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Overland Flow
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goes to streams and includes precipitation and ground water flows into river channels to make up the total runoff from the area.
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Soil Moisture Storage (STRGE)
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a "savings account" of water that receives deposits and provides withdrawals as water-balance conditions change.
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Hydroscopic Water
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in soil
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Wilting Point
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as available water is utilized
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Capillary Water
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generally accessible to plant roots because it is held in the soil by surface tension and hydrogen bonding between water and soil.
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Availible Water
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almost all capillary water that remains in the soil is available in soil-moisture storage.
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Field Capacity
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the available water remaining after water drains from the larger pore spaces.
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Gravitational Water
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what surplus water in the soil becomes when soil is saturated after a precipitation event.
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Soil-moisture Utilization
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removes soil water
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Soil-moisture Recharge
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the rate at which needed moisture enters the soil.
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Porosity
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The texture and the structure of the soil dictate available pore spaces.
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Permeability
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the degree to which water can flow through the soil. Depends on particle sizes and the shape of the packing of soil grains.
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Groundwater
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part of the hydrologic cycle
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Zone of Aeration
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where soil and rock are less than saturated and where excess surface water moves through.
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Zone of Saturation
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the water reaches this zone where the pores are completely filled with water.
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Aquifer
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a rock layer that is permeable to ground water flow in usable amounts.
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Aquiclude
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a body of rock that does not conduct water in usable amounts.
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Water Table
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upper limit of the water that collects in the zone of saturation. Contact surface between zones of saturation and aeration.
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Confined Aquifer
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bounded above and below by impermeable layers of rock or sediment.
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Unconfined Aquifer
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has a permeable layer on top and an unpermeable one beneath.
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Aquifer Recharge Area
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extends over an entire unconfined aquifier.
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Potentiometric Surface
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Water in a confined aquifier is under the pressure of its own weight
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Artesian Water
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groundwater confined under pressure; it may rise up wells and even flow out at surface without pumping
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Drawdown
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as water is pumped from a well
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Cone of Depression
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excessive pumping.
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Groundwater Mining
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a condition that occurs as aquifers are frequently pumped beyond their flow and air charge capacities.
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Withdrawl/Nonconsumptive Uses/Offstream
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Use removes water from the supply
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Consumptive Uses
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removes water from a stream but does not return it
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Desalination
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a water resource that involves the removal of organics
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Climatology
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the study of climate and attempts to discern similar weather statistics and identify climatic regions.
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Climatic Regions
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an area of homogenous climate that features characteristics regional weather and air mass patterns.
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Climatic Inputs
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insolation
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Climate
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basic element in ecosystem
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Classification
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the process of ordering or grouping data in related categories.
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Genetic Classification
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based on causative factors
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Empirical Classification
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based on statistical data
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Climograph
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plots data to display the characteristics of the climate.
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How many basic climate categories?
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6
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Tropical
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equatorial and tropical latitudes - rain forests
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Mesothermal
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mid-latitudes
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Microthermal
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mid and high latitudes
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Polar
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high latitudes and polar regions - tundra
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Highland
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have lower temperatures
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Desert
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permanment moisture defecits
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Dry and Semiarid climates are described by
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percipitation rather then temperature.
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The most extensive climate over Earth
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arid and semi arid climates (35%).
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Americans withdraw ___ of the available surplus runoff for irrigation
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industry and municipal uses
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Permeability of surface rocks depends on
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whether they conduct water readily (higher permeability) or tend to obstruct its flow (lower permeability). They can even be impermeable.
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Drought can occur through the 4 forms of
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meteorological drought
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Surplus may puddle on
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the surface
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To have sufficient water
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ideally _____ and ACTET are about the _____
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Streams represent ___ of all the water we use
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4/5
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Groundwater is the largest __________ _______ ________ of the hydrologic cycle and is tied to surface supplies
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largest potential freshwater source.
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Water resources represent
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the ultimate output of Earth's water system.
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The flow of water links (3)
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through
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Paleoclimatology
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natural climatic variability over the span over the span of Earth's history.
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General Circulation model
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used to forecast climate patterns.
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Ecosystems
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self-sustaining associations of living plants and animals and their nonliving environments.
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Ecology
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the study of the relationships between organisms and their environments.
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Biogeography
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study of the distribution of plants and animals and the diverse spacial patterns they create.
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Niche
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the function or operation of a life form within a given community.
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Vascular Plants
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as plants evolved
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Stomata
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on the underside of leaves where the portals through which the plant participates with the atmosphere and hydrosphere.
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Photosynthesis
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what plants perform as sunlight stimulates a light-sensitive pigment called chlorophyll. It produces food sugars and oxygen to drive biological processes.
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Respiration
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the reverse of photosynthesis and is the way the plant derives energy by oxidizing carbohydrates.
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Net Primary Productivity
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the net photosynthesis of an entire community.
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Biomass
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stored chemical energy that the community generates
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Jet stream (geostrophic winds)
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From west to east
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During the daytime (sea breeze)
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Land heats up faster than water
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The equatorial and tropical rainforest biome is undergoing rapid ___________
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deforestation
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Specific conditions of humidity
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stability
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The longer an air mass remains stationary over a region
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the more _____ its physical attributes become
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The homogeneity of temperature and humidity in air mass sometimes extends through the
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lower half of the troposphere.
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M
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maritime (wetter)
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C
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continental (drier)
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A
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P
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Convergent lifting
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airflows conflict
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Convectional Lifting
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air passing over warm surfaces gains buoyancy.
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Orographic Lifting
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passage over a topographic barrier (mountain)
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Chinook Winds
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warm
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Orographic lifting creates _____ windward slopes and ____ leeward slopes
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wetter
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Squall line
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turbulent and wildly changing wind patterns and intense precipitation.
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A mountain acts as
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a topographic barrier to migrating air masses.
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An Orographic barrier enhances ________ activity and causes additional lifting during the passage of weather fronts extracting ____ ______ from passing air masses
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conventional
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Midlatitude/Wave cyclone
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a vast
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Cyclogenesis
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the birth of the lower pressure circulation.
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A _____ has a life cycle with birth
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maturity
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Occluded front
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produced when a cold front overtakes a warm front in the maturing cyclone.
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Stationary Front
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developed between conflicting air masses
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Derechos
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strong linear winds that can cause crop losses.
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Mesocyclone
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a spinning cyclonic column rising to midtrophosphere level.
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A ________ forms when a tornado circulation occurs over water
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waterspout
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Great damage occurs to coastal lands when hurricanes make landfall and when winds drive ocean water inland in ___________ _______
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storm surges.
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Ecosystem
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Association of biotic components and their abiotic physical environment.
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Ecology
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Study of the relationships between organisms and their environment and among various ecosystems
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Biogeography
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Spatial distribution of plants and animals
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Community
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biotic subdivision within an ecosystem
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Net Primary Productivity
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Net photosynthesis for an entire plant community; Amount of stored chemical energy
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Limiting Factors
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Physical or chemical abiotic component that most inhibits biotic operations
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Carbon Cycles
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Biogeochemcial cycles – key chemical cycles in nature
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Ecosystem Stability and Diversity
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The greater the biodiversity in an ecosystem results in greater stability and greater productivity.
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Biodiversity
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______ the functioning of ecosystems
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Ecological Succession
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When newer communities (greater complexity) replace older communities
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Climax Community
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A stable
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Biogeographic Realms
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A geographic region where a group of plant and animal species evolved. Transition boundaries known as ecotones
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Biomes
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Large terrestrial ecosystem characterized by specific plant and animal communities. Defined mainly by dominant vegetation. Also climate and soil.
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Deciduousness
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cold water or temperature. Waxy coating like leather.
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Where did all the water on earth come from?
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Volcanoes and comets
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Water
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Known as "universal solvent"—dissolves many solids and gasses
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Both water existing as a liquid on Earth and its high specific heat are due to
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hydrogen bonds
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Changes in heat accompanying water phase changes are very important for
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atmospheric circulation
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Latent heat of vaporization/evaporation
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the energy required to convert liquid water to water vapor
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Latent heat of condensation
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the energy released when water vapor condenses to liquid water
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Latent heat of sublimation
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the energy required to convert solid water to water vapor
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Latent heat of freezing/melting
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the energy required/released when water goes from solid to liquid or back
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Humidity
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refers generally to water vapor in air
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Relative humidity
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ratio of the water vapor content of air to the maximum water vapor content of air at that temperature
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Specific humidity
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the mass of water vapor (g) divided by the mass of air (kg)—this measure of humidity is independent of changes in pressure
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Dew point temperature
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the temperature at which air is saturated with water vapor
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Even though the water vapor content is higher in the summer than winter
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the air temperature is much
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Clouds
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aggregations of suspended microscopic water droplets and ice crystals
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Cloud formation
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the air must be saturated with water vapor (RH = 100%) and there must be microscopic nuclei for the vapor to condense onto
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Clouds are flat
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stratus
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Clouds are puffy
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cumulus
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Clouds are wispy
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cirrus
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Horizontal
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layered clouds are
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Vertically developed clouds are
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cumuliform
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High
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wispy clouds are
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Fog
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a layer of clouds in contact with the surface
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Advection Fog
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advection is simply horizontal mixing of air in response to pressure gradients - especially common type of fog along the CA coast
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Evaporation Fog
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this fog forms when cold air overlies a warm body of water
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Radiation Fog
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this kind of fog forms over land that undergoes nighttime radiative cooling
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Air mass
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A large volume of air (covering many hundreds or thousands of square miles). Characterized by its temperature and water vapor content (the surface below them) – slow movement of air
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As air masses migrate away from source regions
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their characteristics are ______ by the characteristics of the land over which they travel
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For condensation and precipitation to occur
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a parcel of air must either be
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What is the easiest/most likely way to cool an air mass to its dew point temperature?
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Lifting up the air mass aloft
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Move air to its dew point by expansion/cooling (adiabatic process) and then ______ occurs
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condensation
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Convergent
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air converges from all points to low pressure zones and the displaced air is lofted
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Orographic
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Air cools as it ascends - Dry air warms as it descends
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Convectional
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Unequal surface heating produces hotspots where 'bubbles' of air will rise
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Orographic Precipitation
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The moisture in the cloud gets squeezed out by condensation
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Cold Fronts
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Leading edge of cold air (denser) forces warm air (less dense) aloft
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Warm Fronts
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Leading edge of warm air (less dense) moves up and over cold air (denser)
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A _____ _____can form when a fast-moving cold front encounters warm air and violently uplifts it
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squall line
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Advancing Warm Front
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The active warm air mass slides over the 'wedge' of passive cold air
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Advancing Cold Front
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Air pressure and temperature at the front line fall dramatically
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Midlatitude Cyclone
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These migrating storm systems have low pressure cores
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Midlatitude Cycleone
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Warm air moves northward and cold air moves southward. This movement draws warm air from the south and cold air from the north
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Occluded Stage process
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the faster moving cold front overtakes the warm front and wedges beneath it
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Dissolving Stage process
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there is no more uplifting of air and the storm gradually fades
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ITCZ
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an elongated
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(converging trade winds
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ascending air flow)
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Jet stream (geostrophic winds)
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From west to east. Stronger during winter. Temperature contrast (north vs. south) is greater in winter
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During the daytime (sea breeze)
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Land heats up faster than water. Warm air = less dense rises. Onshore flow of cooler marine air fills
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During the nighttime (land breeze)
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Reverse of daytime. Radiation cooling of the land. Still warmer sea
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Cooler air subsides downslope into valleys at ____
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night
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Katabatic winds
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gravity drainage winds
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Santa Ana winds
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Intense air flow out of the topography (canyons). Faster winds.
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Thermohaline circulation
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"conveyor belt of water"
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Weather
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Shorter fluctuations Lasting hours
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Climate is
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weather over time
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Climatic regions
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areas with similar weather statistics
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Classification of Climatic Regions
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Process of grouping data into related categories
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Genetic classification
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Based on causative factors—air mass interactions
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Empirical classification
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Based on statistical data—temperature and precipitation
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Niche
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the function or operation of life form within a given community
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Stomata
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the underside of leaves where it works with the atmosphere and hydrosphere.
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Clorophyll
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a light sensitive pigment used in photosynthesis
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Photosynthesis
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produces food sugars and oxygen to drive biological processes.
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Respiration
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the reverse of photosynthesis and the way a plant derives energy by oxidizing carbohydrates.
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Life zone concept
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zonation of plants with altitude.
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Biogeochemical cycles
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way that life I sustained with circultion of gases and nutrients needs for growth of living things.
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Detritivores
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decomposers that release inorganic compounds and nutrients that break down organic materials.
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The _____ the biodiversity in an ecosystem
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the more ______ it is
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Agriculture is a ______ and is vulnerable to _____
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monodiverse
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Ecological succession
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older communities of plants and animals are replaced by newer and complex communities.
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Primary Succession
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an area of bare rock and soil with no trace of a former community.
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Pioneer Communit
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the initial community that occupies an area of early succession.
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Secondary Succession
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begins in an area that has a vestige of a previously functioning community in place.
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Ecosystems function in a ______ condition
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with succeeding communities
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_____ can disrupt a successional community
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widfire
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Biographical Realm
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region where a group of species evolved.
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Ecotone
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a boundary transition zone adjoining ecosystems.
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Terrestrial Ecosystem
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self-sustaining association of plants and animals and their abiotic environment that is characterized by specific plant formation classes.
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Biome
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a large stable ecosytem characterized by specific plant and animal communities.
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Biomes are divided into more specifc vegetation units called
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formation classes
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