Global Physical Environment Unit 1

Front 1

What are the four parts of the earth system?

Back 1

1. Lithosphere
2. Hydrosphere
3. Atmosphere
4. Biosphere

Front 2

system

Back 2

Something consisting many individual parts fuctioning as a complex whole. A system exists when couplings, which connect state variables, for a complete circle.

Front 3

Open System

Back 3

Systems that require inputs and give off outputs, of energy and matter.

Front 4

Closed System

Back 4

Systems that do not have any inputs or outputs.

Front 5

External Forcings

Back 5

Things that have the ability to affect a system, but are not affected by the system.

Front 6

Positive Feedback Loops

Back 6

Feedback loops that amplify the original trend. They promote instability.

Front 7

Negative Feedback Loops

Back 7

Feedback loops that counteract the original trend. They act as stabilizers.

Front 8

Latitude

Back 8

Angular distance north or south of the equatorial plane. Also called a parallel.

Front 9

Longitude

Back 9

Angular distance east or west of an arbitrary point called the prime meridian. Also called a meridian.

Front 10

Great Circle

Back 10

Formed by a plane that intersects earth and crosses through Earth's center. The shortest distance bt/any two points on earth is a great circle.

Front 11

Small Circle

Back 11

Formed by a plane that intersects Earth and does not cross through the Earth's center.

Front 12

Map Ratio

Back 12

based on the size of the ratio:
1:20 large ratio
1:20,000,000 small ratio

Front 13

What four things can map projections distort?

Back 13

1. Distance
2. Direction
3. Area
4. Shape

Front 14

What are the four kinds of map projections?

Back 14

1. Cylindrical- preserves direction, compass bearing draws as straight line
2. Planar- there is 1 point with no distortion, can only map 1/2 of earth.
3. Conic- Area is preserved.
4. Oval/Tabular- spreads out distortion to make map look "normal"

Front 15

Mercator vs. Gnomonic

Back 15

Mercator- the line of constant bearing appears straight. (rhumb line)
Gnomonic- shortest distance is a straight line (great circle)

Front 16

How were they able to make the temperature curve for the last 1000 years?

Back 16

Using the rings of bristlecone pine trees, which vary in size according to temperature.

Front 17

What did Svante Arrhenius do?

Back 17

He was the first person to think that CO2 had an effect on temperature.

Front 18

What did G.S. Callendar do?

Back 18

Published a book that said humans were producing increased amounts of CO2.

Front 19

How much did past scientists think that the global average temp. could change with doubling CO2 concentration?

Back 19

Between 1 and 6 degrees C

Front 20

When and where were CO2 concentrations measured for the first time

Back 20

Antarctica and Hawaii, in 1957

Front 21

How does el nino affect atmospheric CO2 concentration?

Back 21

It increases it, this is due to a lack or rain and fires, which kill plants.

Front 22

Positive water vapor feedback loop

Back 22

Earth is warmer - Air holds more water vapor - water vapor traps heat in the atmosphere - earth warms

Front 23

Negative water vapor feedback loop

Back 23

Earth is warmer - more clouds form - clouds reflect more insolation - earth cools.

Front 24

Positive ice feedback loop

Back 24

Earth is warmer - ice and snow melts - earth's albedo decreases - more insolation is absorbed - earth warms

Front 25

How much do computer models predict that earth's average temperature will change if CO2 conc. is doubled?

Back 25

1.5 to 4.5 degrees C

Front 26

Definition of minerals?

Back 26

Inorganic, naturally occuring, crystalline, solid

Front 27

Major mineral groups

Back 27

Silicates
Carbonates

Front 28

Major Silicates

Back 28

Quartz - SiO
Feldspar - SiO plus Ca, K, Na
Mafic Minerals - SiO + Mg,Fe High Density
Clay - SiO, Al others

Front 29

Major Carbonates

Back 29

Calcite (CaCO3)
Dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2

Front 30

Definition of Rocks?

Back 30

made up mainly of minerals, but also contain other stuff (coal, volcanic glass, etc.)

Front 31

Three major classes of rocks?

Back 31

Igneous
Metamorphic
Sedimentary

Front 32

Types of igneous rocks depending on where they harden?

Back 32

Extrusive - harden on the surface of earth
Intrusive - harden within earth

Front 33

Two igneous rock examples

Back 33

Basalt- dense, high mafic mineral content, extrusive igneous rock
Granite- feldspar and quartz, intrusive rock, (large crystals)

Front 34

Two classes of sedimentary rocks?

Back 34

Clastic- form from sediment - conglomerate, sandstone, shale (mud)
Chemical Sedimentary Rocks- form from biological processes and dissolved ions (limestone, dolostone)

Front 35

What are metamorphic rocks?

Back 35

They form from igneous or sedementary rocks under high pressure and/or temperature.

Front 36

Mantle

Back 36

Deeper part

Front 37

Crust

Back 37

Surface Layer

Front 38

Lithosphere

Back 38

Surface Layer, rigid, brittle

Front 39

Asthenosphere

Back 39

Deeper layer, plastic

Front 40

How are mantle and crust differentiated?

Back 40

by their response to seismic waves

Front 41

How are the lithosphere and asthenosphere differentiated?

Back 41

behavior under stress

Front 42

Oceanic Crust

Back 42

Mainly basalt (high mafic mineral content), dense, thin layer

Front 43

Continental Crust

Back 43

Mainly Granite, less dense, thick layer

Front 44

What are the three different kinds of plate boundaries?

Back 44

Divergent
Convergent
Transform

Front 45

What is a divergent boundary?

Back 45

One is in the atlantic oceean, they form at upwellings of magma, which hardens in the lithosphere causing the ocean floor to move apart, dense basalt forms

Front 46

What is a transform boundary?

Back 46

when plates slide against each other, one is on the west coast of california

Front 47

What is a convergent boundary?

Back 47

Oceanic/Continental- (subduction)ocenic plate dives (denser) and magma forms as it melts, causing volcanoes
Continental/continental- (collision) causes major surface deformation and mountains form, formation of metamorphic rocks.

Front 48

What is a transform boundary?

Back 48

when plates slide against each other, one is on the west coast of california

Front 49

What is a convergent boundary?

Back 49

Oceanic/Continental- (subduction)ocenic plate dives (denser) and magma forms as it melts, causing volcanoes
Continental/continental- (collision) causes major surface deformation and mountains form, formation of metamorphic rocks.

Front 50

What is a transform boundary?

Back 50

when plates slide against each other, one is on the west coast of california

Front 51

What is a convergent boundary?

Back 51

Oceanic/Continental- (subduction)ocenic plate dives (denser) and magma forms as it melts, causing volcanoes
Continental/continental- (collision) causes major surface deformation and mountains form, formation of metamorphic rocks.