GEG111 Final Exam Review

Define Geography - Study of Earth's physical features, inhabitants, and their spatial relationships/interactions Subfields of geographic study - Physical(landforms, water, soil, and animals) and Human(culture, economic and political) The Primary Steps of the Scientific Method - Observation, Hypothesis, Experimentation, Peer view, and Conclusion 4 primary environmental spheres - Atmosphere(air), Lithosphere(stone), Hydrosphere(water), and Biosphere(life) Latitude (parallels) - Lines go east-west and measure angular displace from the Equator Longitude (meridians) - Lines go north-south and measure angular displace from the Prime Meridian Map scale - Relationship between the length measured on the map and actual distance on earth Map projection - 2D representation of earths 3D surface 3 map projections classes - Cylindrical(Accurate shapes but inaccurate sizes), Planar(Displays one hemisphere well), and Conic(Displays small areas well)Longitude and standard time - It is the time along the Prime Meridian (0°) of longitude Distinguish between GPS, GIS, and Remote Sensing - GPS(relies on satellites in orbit), GIS(relies on software and databases with data of separate layers), and Remote sensing(relies on aircraft, spacecraft , and ground sensors) Solar System Formation - Formed from a large spinning cloud of dust and gas Annual March of the Seasons - March Equinox(03/21), June Solstice(06/21), September Equinox(09/21), and December Solstice(12/21) Season cause on Earth's orientation - Change of its rotational axis Insolation by latitude - Differences in the angle at which solar rays meet the surface at each latitude result in the uneven distribution of insolation, Solar insolation is strongest near the equator and weakest near the poles, and Seasonal changes in day length vary by latitude Changing declination of the sun and subsolar point - Latitude of the subsolar point that migrates between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn Solstices, Equinoxes and the subsolar point - Solstices-Declination of sun at 23.5 Equinoxes-Declination of sun at the equator Atmospheric Composition - 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% Trace Gases(including carbon dioxide, water vapor...)Athmospheric Structure - Troposphere(weather occurs), Stratosphere(O3 absorbs solar radiation), Mesosphere(Coldest Temperatures), and Thermosphere(Highest Temperatures) Anthropogenic Atmospheric Pollution - Burning fossil fuel and deforestation Natural factors that affect pollutants - Forest fires and volcanoes Insolation - Incoming solar radiation Energy scattering - Reflection and redirection of isolation by gas, water, and ice Energy refraction - Change in the direction and speed of energy when entering a different medium Albedo - Ratio of light that a surface reflects compared to the total sunlight that hits it Energy absorption - Molecules absorb radiation Conduction - Molecule to molecular transfer of heart(Touching) Convection - Transfer of heat by circulation(Boiling) Advenction - Horizontal convectionGreenhouse effect - Emission of radiation that gets trapped by Co2 gases in the atmosphere and increase temperatures Controls of temperature Latitude - Angle at which solar energy hits the Earth Controls of temperature Altitude - Temperatures decrease with increasing altitude