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79 Cards in this Set
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What are the two main factors influencing the pressure and temperature at the surface of the Earth that cause H20 to be liquid? |
Distance from the sun and the earth's size |
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The rates of exchange (called ____ ) in the hydrologic cycle are generally ____________ over short periods, so reservoir volume is somewhat ___________. |
The rates of exchange (called flux ) in the hydrologic cycle are generally balanced over short periods, so reservoir volume is somewhat quasi-constant. |
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5000 times more heat on earth is caused by _____ than from ___________. |
5000 times more heat on earth is caused by solar energy than from geothermal heat flux. |
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__% of water on earth is in the form of surface water. |
96% of water on earth is in the form of surface water. |
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The sea floor and geography of oceans are controlled by ___________. |
The sea floor and geography of oceans are controlled by plate tectonics. |
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What are the five controls of ocean movement? (He Saved Creation, Man, Woman) |
Heat, Salinity, The Coriolis Effect, The Moon's Gravity, and The Wind |
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Solar insolation (radiative heating) varies with latitude; this uneven distribution of thermal energy drives _________ of the oceans. |
Solar insolation (radiative heating) varies with latitude; this uneven distribution of thermal energy drives convective mixing of the oceans. |
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Together, temperature and salinity drive global ocean circulation via density; this is called ___________ circulation. It takes around ________ years for the entire ocean to fully mix. |
Together, temperature and salinity drive global ocean circulation via density; this is called thermohaline circulation. It takes around 1000 years for the entire ocean to fully mix. |
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The tendency of ocean and atmosphere to rotate clockwise in Northern Hemisphere, counter clockwise in southern, due to change in __________ vs. ________ overprinting thermohaline circulation |
The tendency of ocean and atmosphere to rotate clockwise in Northern Hemisphere, counter clockwise in southern, due to change in linear velocity vs. latitude overprinting thermohaline circulation |
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Ocean circulation infulenced by Coriolis is further constained by the ___________ resulting in major gyres (circular currents). |
Ocean circulation infulenced by Coriolis is further constained by the geometry of continents resulting in major gyres (circular currents). |
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A wave is the transfer of energy causing _____________. The energy moves through the water, but the water is restored to the original location. |
A wave is the transfer of energy causing retrograde circular particle motion. The energy moves through the water, but the water is restored to the original location. |
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A rocky coast indicates _____ wave energy |
A rocky coast indicates high wave energy |
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Swells in the open ocean become surf and "break" when water is ~20 meters deep. Abrupt shallowing = ____ waves. Gradual shallowing = ______ waves. |
Swells in the open ocean become surf and "break" when water is ~20 meters deep. Abrupt shallowing = big waves. Gradual shallowing = smaller waves. |
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Most waves are ______ to coastlines. The waves _______ as the wave decelerates, bending them into the shore. |
Most waves are oblique to coastlines. The waves refract as the wave decelerates, bending them into the shore. |
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Refraction focuses wave energy on promontories, reduces it in embayments, resulting in ________ coastlines of alternating sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. |
Refraction focuses wave energy on promontories, reduces it in embayments, resulting in scalloped coastlines of alternating sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. |
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_______ transport of sand creates and "spits"; barrier islands. The sand is constantly _________; inputs and outputs, like a budget. |
Longshore transport of sand creates and "spits"; barrier islands. The sand is constantly migrating; inputs and outputs, like a budget. |
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Is wave energy constant over time? |
No, it varies with seasons and storms |
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Seawater is made up of __% of dissolved solids |
Seawater is made up of 40% of dissolved solids |
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___ meters of chemical precipitates form from evaporation of 1km of seawater (85% of which is salt) |
15.9 meters of chemical precipitates form from evaporation of 1km of seawater (85% of which is salt) |
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Because salt is so soluble, it's "residence time" in oceans is ______ years, much longer than the 1000 year timescale of ocean mixing, and much longer than the residence time of Iron, which is 100 years. |
Because salt is so soluble, it's "residence time" in oceans is 48 million years, much longer than the 1000 year timescale of ocean mixing, and much longer than the residence time of Iron, which is 100 years. |
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The residence time of water in the ocean is ~______ years. |
The residence time of water in the ocean is ~3200 years. |
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Why did the earth's environment go from being anoxic to becoming oxygen rich? |
Anaerobic photosynthesis by the earliest life (cyanobacteria) |
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How do we know that cyanobacteria caused the earth's atmosphere to become oxygen-rich? |
Because of marine sedimentary rocks and banded iron formations |
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Has global average temperature decreased or increased throughout Earth's history? |
Global average temperature has decreased throughout Earth's history |
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What are the two main reasons that the earth has gradually become warmer? |
The atmosphere is more C02 rich, and the earth's orbit has been stabalized by the moon |
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The first life (anaerobic prokaryotes) evolved from amino acids ___ billion years ago |
The first life (anaerobic prokaryotes) evolved from amino acids 3.5 billion years ago |
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The first multi-celled organisms (metazoans) appeared ____ million years ago. |
The first multi-celled organisms (metazoans) appeared 700 million years ago. |
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"Ediacaran" fauna appeared ____ million years ago |
"Ediacaran" fauna appeared 600 million years ago |
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The "explosion" of life which occured 545 million years ago is called the _____ radiation |
The "explosion" of life which occured 545 million years ago is called the Cambrian radiation |
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What are the five possible causes of the mass extinction events? |
1. Meterorite Impacts 2. Volcanism 3. Glaciation 4. Gas release 5. Human activity |
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What are the 4 characteristics of a complex system? |
1. Numerous components 2. Components are linked and interconnected 3. Intricate, sensitive 4. Complex, hard to understand |
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What are the four "spheres" of the earth? |
1. Atmosphere 3. Hydrosphere 3. Solid earth 4. Biosphere |
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Spheres interact with each other by ________. |
Spheres interact with each other by exchanging matter and/or energy. |
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The earth's surface is generally ______ as far as matter exchange, but _______ as far as energy. |
The earth's surface is generally closed as far as matter exchange, but open as far as energy. |
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Interaction of spheres makes them interdependent (“______________”); a change of one affects the _____________________________ that control the other. |
Interaction of spheres makes them interdependent (“coupled”); a change of one affects the boundary conditions that control the other. |
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Events that are rare (low probability, but cyclic) yet large magnitude and have a huge effect are called ____________________. |
Events that are rare (low probability, but cyclic) yet large magnitude and have a huge effect are called stochastic. |
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The atmosphere is made up of 78% _______, 21% _______, and 1% ________ |
The atmosphere is made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% argon |
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Ozone in the ______ is good, ozone in the _______ is bad |
Ozone in the stratosphere is good, ozone in the troposphere is bad |
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03 is made when long wavelength UV radiation splits 02 molecule, this is called _______ |
03 is made when long wavelength UV radiation splits 02 molecule, this is called photolysis |
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__________ consumes and blocks UV radiation from the sun, producing heat, explaining the warm layer of the upper stratosphere |
Photolysis consumes and blocks UV radiation from the sun, producing heat, explaining the warm layer of the upper stratosphere |
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UV-c is the ________ wavelength and is absorbed ozone, CO2 and H20 |
UV-c is the shortest wavelength and is absorbed ozone, CO2 and H20 |
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_____ is mostly blocked and is the most harmful to DNA in epidermal cells |
UV-b is mostly blocked and is the most harmful to DNA in epidermal cells |
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_______ penetrates through ozone, goes deeper into skin, causes premature agin and hurts DNA |
UV-a penetrates through ozone, goes deeper into skin, causes premature agin and hurts DNA |
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The _____ Protocol on 1987 curtails production of CFC's |
The Montreal Protocol on 1987 curtails production of CFC's |
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What are the 6 main factors controlling the earth's atmosphere? |
1. Geography 2. Circulation in the atmosphere and oceans 3. Orbital parameters 4. Variation in sun's output 5. "albedo" (reflectivity 6. The Greenhouse effect |
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What are the three main ways that the history of climate on earth are determined? |
1. Ocean chemistry 2. Gas bubbles trapped in the ice record 3. Proxies of climate change |
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The Mesozoic and most of the Cenozoic were ________ than current conditions |
The Mesozoic and most of the Cenozoic were much warmer than current conditions |
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The least ice age peaked ~______ years ago. Since then, it has been warming up. The Holocene is a warm interglacial period. |
The least ice age peaked ~18,000 years ago. Since then, it has been warming up. The Holocene is a warm interglacial period. |
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The ice ages contained many i___ s_______ , moraines, glacial deposits (till), k_____s, eskers, erosion by ice. As well as _____, _______, different ecosystems, and ___________. |
The ice ages contained many ice sheets, moraines, glacial deposits (till), kettles, eskers, erosion by ice. As well as permafrost, "steppes", different ecosystems, and altered drainage networks. |
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During the 1st Ice age, Africa (where the people were) was ______ but ________ |
During the 1st Ice age, Africa (where the people were) was cooler but dryer |
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How did early humans respond to the cycles of prolonged drought? (3 ways) |
1. Retreat to refugia 2. Innovation; Interaction, social structure, and passing on of knowledge, language and trade 3. Migration |
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The Beringia migration to North America occured approximately _____ years ago |
The Beringia migration to North America occured approximately 13,000 years ago |
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The idea that humans were lured southward by easy game and exterminated the large mammals living there is called the "______" hypothesis |
The idea that humans were lured southward by easy game and exterminated the large mammals living there is called the "overkill" hypothesis |
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In some ways, climate change helped humans; adversity fostered development of knowledge, _________ and _________, and complex culture (language, teaching). |
In some ways, climate change helped humans; adversity fostered development of knowledge, adaption and innovation, and complex culture (language, teaching). |
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The human brain today is basically the same as 200,000 years ago, what's different is _________ and _________. |
The human brain today is basically the same as 200,000 years ago, what's different is knowledge and society. |
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When the ice age ended, humans were ___________. Rapid expansion of habitable land enabled population growth and rise of civilization. |
When the ice age ended, humans were nomadic hunter-gatherers (stone tools, crude shelters, fire, primitive art, no writing). Rapid expansion of habitable land enabled population growth and rise of civilization. |
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The mid-Holocene warm period (wet, stable) after the Younger Dryas saw the rise of _________ in Mesopotamia and Levant, first as transition from foraging to domestication, the experimentation with crops, leading to the Neolithic age. |
The mid-Holocene warm period (wet, stable) after the Younger Dryas saw the rise of agriculture in Mesopotamia and Levant, first as transition from foraging to domestication, the experimentation with crops, leading to the Neolithic age. |
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What are the four possible implications of global warming? |
1. Sea-level rise 2. Heat waves 3. Precipitation 4. Shifting climate patterns |
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If all the ice melted today, sea level would rise ____ meters |
If all the ice melted today, sea level would rise 65 meters |
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Sea level has risen ______ in the last 100 years |
Sea level has risen half a foot in the last 100 years |
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The hottest day that used to occur once in 2 decades will now occur every ___ years |
The hottest day that used to occur once in 2 decades will now occur every 2 years |
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The hottest day that occurs once in 2 decades will increase 2-5º by ______ |
The hottest day that occurs once in 2 decades will increase 2-5º by 2040 |
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Models predict that what was a ____ year event will occur each decade |
Models predict that what was a 20 year event will occur each decade |
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The global change in annual average precipitation has increased by ___% over the last century |
The global change in annual average precipitation has increased by 20% over the last century |
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There is a predicted increase in the number of consecutive ____ days. Some areas shift a lot, such as SW U.S. and N. Africa |
There is a predicted increase in the number of consecutive dry days. Some areas shift a lot, such as SW U.S. and N. Africa |
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What are the four main pieces of evidence that the earth has warmed over the past century? |
1. Glaciers are melting worldwide 2. The arctic sea ice extent 3. Melting permafrost 4. Global average temperature has risen 1ºC in the past 100 years, and 0.5ºC in the past 30 years. |
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The hottest year on record during the last 100 years was ____. |
The hottest year on record during the last 100 years was 2010. |
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9 of the hottest years since 1880 were since _____ |
9 of the hottest years since 1880 were since 2000 |
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The greenhouse effect is known __________ from _________ |
The greenhouse effect is known quantitatively from physics |
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C02 has been risen ___% since the industrial revolution; change is consistent with release by burning fossil fuels |
C02 has been risen 30% since the industrial revolution; change is consistent with release by burning fossil fuels |
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C02 in the atmosphere is projected to be greater than ____ppm by 2030 |
C02 in the atmosphere is projected to be greater than 450 ppm by 2030 |
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C02 hasn't been this high in a few million years |
Wow that's insane |
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Increase in C02 will trap heat, but other factors affect climate; _____________, cloud formation; predicting climate is complex |
Increase in C02 will trap heat, but other factors affect climate; ocean circulation, cloud formation; predicting climate is complex |
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Does the rise in C02 and general historical association of CO2 and temperature prove causality? |
No |
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The only way to test if the increase in C02 will make climate warmer is with __________ of climate. |
The only way to test if the increase in C02 will make climate warmer is with Global Circulation Models of climate. |
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What is the GCMs confidence in their findings that the rise in temperature could not happen without anthropogenic factors? |
They have a 95% confidence in their findings |
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How are GCMs tested? |
They try to predict something that already happened |
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GCMs are successful at predicting _____________________________ based on orbital variations and ocean circulation |
GCMs are successful at predicting how climate would change over the past few million years based on orbital variations and ocean circulation |
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GCMs in the 1980s took radiative forcing factors of greenhouse gasses, added this to natural climate change, and predicted global average temperature would rise ______ degrees per decade. Over 20 years, the actual change has been _____ degrees per decade. |
GCMs in the 1980s took radiative forcing factors of greenhouse gasses, added this to natural climate change, and predicted global average temperature would rise 0.15-0.3 degrees per decade. Over 20 years, the actual change has been 0.2 degrees per decade. |
