Quiz 1 Review

The first quiz will cover Chapters 1 through 3 (up to page 109). There will be 20-30 questions. Mostly multiple choice, but a few sentence answers and perhaps an essay.

The four spheres

atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere

Systems

Closed, open, dynamic equilibrium, positive and negative feedback
(remember, "positive" doesn't mean "good"; "negative" doesn't mean "bad" when it comes to feedback.)
Examples of each of these concepts

Geographic Grid System

Parallels and Meridians, Longitude and Latitude, degrees, minutes, seconds
Equator, Prime Meridian, International Date Line, North and South Poles

Earth-Sun relationship

Axis of rotation, angle of inclination (tilt of axis), orbital plane, perihelion and aphelion
Seasons and daily (diurnal) cycles at different locations
Significance (and degrees) of Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, Arctic and Antarctic Circles
Solstices and Equinoxes (what are they, when do they occur?)
Solar radiation (insolation) -- variations with latitude and seasons

Atmosphere

Structure and composition
decreasing air pressure with elevation (decreasing density)
how temperature varies with elevation
troposphere, tropopause, stratosphere, stratopause, mesosphere, mesopause, thermosphere
why does temperature drop with elevation in troposphere? why does it rise in stratosphere?
ozone layer, ionosphere
which gases make up atmosphere? In what proportions?
constant and variable gases, aerosols (dust, volcanic ash, pollutant particles, etc.)
ozone depletion, where and why? What are the consequences?

Energy balance of the earth

shortwave and longwave radiation (SW & LW)
visible light (SW), earth's emission of heat, infrared radiation (LW)
absorption (by ozone) and scattering of shortwave (solar) radiation
albedo (reflection of shortwave radiation)
conduction and convection of longwave radiation at earth's surface
longwave radiation from earth heating atmosphere
greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases (name them?)

Controls on temperature from place to place

latitude -- seasonality, day length, earth-sun geometry
altitude -- decrease in air pressure (density)
cloudiness, fog (reflects SW; absorbs and reradiates LW)
continentality and marine effects -- land-water differences
specific heat of water compared with rock, soil (specific heat of land versus water)
ocean currents, carry heat from low latitudes to high latitudes
surface cover, vegetation (albedo of surfaces)

Temperature statistics

means, temperature range (annual, seasonal, daily)
(e.g. where in the world is the seasonal temp. range highest? where is it lowest?

Acknowledgements

This list of review topics was compiled by Dolly Freidel.