Test 2: Review
71%
of earth surface (70% of our bodies)
mean
sea level risen 8-16 in over 100 years
Oceans
= 97%, Freshwater = 3%, Rivers/lakes/streams = 1%
States of
water:
ice, liquid and vapor (page 184-186)
Properties of
Water
Polarity
= hydrogen bonding, sticks to and dissolves things
Surface
tension = things float
Capillary
action = pulls in its neighbors
Phase change from liquid to solid water: 9% increase in volume
Relationship between water, heat and energy (30% of
energy that powers the general circulation of the atmosphere)
Phase changes and caloric absorption and liberation- latent heat exchange is the dominant cooling
process in earth’s energy budget- know Figure 7-4 (fill in arrows)
Humidity (water vapor content),
warm air holds more vapor than cold
Relative
humidity:
ratio of amount of water vapor in air to holding capacity. Varies due to evaporation, condensation or
temperature changes.
Saturation: At 100% relative
humidity, any change in temp (cooler) or addition of more vapor results in
condensation (precipitation)
Dew-point
temperature:
temperature at which a mass of air would become saturated
Cloud- aggregation of tiny
moisture droplets and ice crystals suspended in air
Cloud
Formation Process (Type of Clouds, page 200-201) Know association of clouds to weather
patterns.
Cumulonimbus- associated with
thunderstorms.
Cirrus- associated with
approaching precipitation.
Stratocumulus- associated with clearing
weather.
Weather- short-term, day to day
conditions
Climate- long-term average of
conditions with extremes
Air mass- distinctive body of air (source
region defines it as cold, moist, tropical, etc.) Defined (classified) by moisture and temperature
Four
Atmospheric Lifting Mechanisms (page 215- Figure 8.6):
·
Convergent- air flows toward an area
of low pressure (along ITCZ)
·
Convectional- stimulated by local
surface heating (create afternoon showers)
·
Orographic- air forced over a barrier
(rain shadow- dry side of mountain)
·
Frontal- along leading edges of
contrasting air masses
Simple
midlatitude cyclonic life cycle (motion) generated by:
1.
pressure gradient force
2.
coriolis force
3.
surface friction
Midlatitude
Cyclone-
(wave cyclone) conflict between contrasting air masses, dominate weather
patterns in middle and higher latitudes of Northern and Southern Hemispheres
Cyclogenesis- atmospheric process of low
pressure system development and strengthening
Formation of
a Tornado-
from mesocyclone circulation and cold front interaction
Energy exchanges between
water and atmosphere drive weather systems.
Water flow links the spheres
through exchanges of energy and matter.
(Precipitation = receipt) and (evapotranspiration = expenditure)
Hydrologic Cycle:
Know all of the
components and their percentages (page 247)
Ocean =
86% of evaporation
Land = 22%
of precipitation (20% of moisture from ocean)
Runoff is 8% (of the
20%- above- from ocean)- overland flow and streamflow
Soil-water Budget:
Measures precipitation input against demands of evaporation, transpiration and soil moisture storage
Use the soil-water
balance equation to model this (PAGE 234)
Precipitation: The input (moisture supply) into the equation =
rain, sleet, snow, etc.
Actual
Evapotranspiration = evaporation
(movement of water from wet to air) and transpiration (plant cooling process)
Potential Evapotranspiration = PE = The amount of evapotranspiration that could
happen given optimal moisture conditions.
It needs adequate precipitation and soil moisture supply
Soil Moisture
Storage = Volume of water stored in
soil accessible by plant roots
Soil moisture has 2
kinds of water:
1.
Hygrosopic-
(molecule-thin layer of water, unavailable to plants) and
2.
Capillary-
(accessible to plants- available to plants)
Field capacity- amount of water available to plant after drainage (runoff and
percolation)
Wilting point- condition of soil when only remaining water is unextractable
(hygroscopic) by plants
Goal
of irrigation: avoid soil moisture deficit and reduction of plant growth
Understand the soil water budgets on
pages 240-241.
Groundwater:
Aquifer: rock layer that is permeable to groundwater flow-
water-bearing rock strata. Bordered by
an aquiclude.
Water table: upper limit of water that collects in the zone of saturation (where subsurface
water accumulates.)
Review sections on Overuse and Pollution
of groundwater (page 248-252.)
Climate is a conceptual,
statistical construction from these measured weather elements.
Global climate change may be producing:
·
record global
temperatures
·
glacial ice melt
·
changing
soil-moisture conditions
·
affecting crop
yields
·
disease patterns
·
species
distribution
·
reef and
fisheries health
·
permafrost
thawing.
Classification – process of grouping data in related categories
Empirical Classification: based upon statistical data of observed effects
·
Thornthwaite’s
Water-budget approach (chapter 9)
·
Koppen’s climate
classification
Genetic Classification: based upon causative factors
Cfa and Cwa climates support large populations
PRECIPITATION IS THE KEY CLIMATE CONTROL FACTOR.
Temperature and
precipitation (empirical) are the keys to climate classification (see Figure
10-3).
Climate Designations: Know
page 267-68 and review Continental US (Figure 10-4 and 10-5.)
Cfa and Cwa climates support large populations: Where
are they?
Tropical Climates- 36% of Earth’s surface- most extensive climate category
Carbon Dioxide CO2: (64% of warming trend
and increasing .5%/year) and H2O vapor are the principal radiatively active
gases (causing greenhouse effect.)- Transmit heat but delay heat-energy loss to
space. We aggravate this by burning of
fossil fuel/deforestation
Consequences of Global Warming: Regional changes in temperature, precipitation,
soil moisture (10% less) and air masses.
Monoculture agriculture high risk.
Need more energy, water and resources to adapt. Climate shift of 90 to 350 miles toward the
poles. Major species redistribution (30%
change in forest cover.) Health impacts
include malaria, yellow fever, etc all at subtropical and mid-latitude areas.
Sample Essay Questions
1. Explain the concept and
components of the soil-water balance equation.
Write the equation. (page 249)