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ENV150 Exam 1

TermDefinition
Science (noun) a body of knowledge about the natural world.
Science (verb) a process to understand the natural world.
Hypothesis a logical statement that explains an observation(s).
Scientific Theory a logical statement that explains a series of observations.
Law a brief statement that describes a behavior.
Scientific Consensus collective judgement or position of the community of scientists in a field.
Weather The short-term conditions of the atmosphere.
Meteorology the study of the atmosphere and atmospheric processes.
Climate The long-term statistics and trends of a complex system.
Climatology The study of climate.
Climate Change A change in the statistics and trends of the climate system that persist for at least 10 years.
Climate System Five spheres of the Earth that interact and are interdependent to form a complex whole.
Atmosphere Thin envelope of gases held to the Earth's surface by gravity (gases, clouds, suspended solids and liquids, falling precipitation).
Hydrosphere Liquid water on or near the Earth's surface (oceans, lakes, rivers, wetlands, soil moisture, ground water).
Cryosphere The frozen (<0 degrees Celsius) portions of the Earth (icesheets, glaciers, sea ice, permafrost, seasonal ice, snow, and frozen ground).
Geosphere (AKA Lithosphere) The non-living (abiotic) crust of the Earth (rocks, minerals, sediments, fossils, soils).
Biosphere The living portion of the Earth (Bacteria, fungi, protists, plants, animals).
Forcing mechanisms A general dynamic, they are external and internal processes of the climate system that drive climate change.
Feedback mechanisms A general dynamic, they are internal processes of the climate system that alter changes already under way.
Positive Feedbacks Enhance or amplify the change already underway.
Negative Feedbacks Suppress or reduce the change already underway.
Response Time The amount of time it takes to fully react or respond to a change in climate forcing.
Essential Climate Variables Physical, chemical, or biological variable or set of linked variables that are critical to characterize Earth's climate.
In situ measurements In place, measure entity (something) with an instrument that is immersed in or in direct contact with entity.
Remote sensing Gathering information about an entity from a distance without direct contact.
Statistics An accepted methodology for dealing with (summarizing, displaying, and analyzing) large amounts of data.
Frequency Number of values/observations/measurements that have a given value or fall within a grange of values (class/bin).
Distribution Shape of frequency curve/graph
Central Tendency/Centrality Mean: average of data set, Median: middle value, Mode: most frequent value.
Climate Normal 30-year average of an ECV
Dispersion Evaluates spread of data set. Range: max-min. Mean deviation: average difference from mean of data set. Standard deviation: Square root of the mean squared deviation. Variance: mean squared deviation.
Climograph A single graph of climate, normal monthly value, average temperature with a line and total precipitation with bars.
Scatter plot (gram) Compares 2 variables (x, y).
Time series scatter plot where x=time
Trend line/curve Drawn through data to minimize the distance or difference between the line/curve and data points.
Regression Model the mathematical relationship between X and Y variables, represented by trend line/curve, allows us to predict values we didn't measure.
Moving Average Smooths data by non-random component, removes noises, decreases variation, plot the average of a given number of previous data, identify cycles.
Cycles Reoccurring fluctuation/movement in data.
Modulations Reoccurring fluctuation in the amplitude of a cycle.
Recurrence Interval Average amount of time between events of a given magnitude at a given location. Probability of an event occurring. P=I/RI
Spatial Data Information that is tied to a real world location.
Spatial Analysis Accepted process and techniques of examining to analyze spatial data.
Early Greek System (200 bc) Based entirely on latitude (sunlight is controlled by latitude).
Modified Koppen System Based on annual and monthly temperature and precipitation normals.
A - Tropical Humids Modified Koppen System Major Climate Group, warm temps all year round, high amount of precipitation. Primary control: Latitude (tropics), movement of ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone).
C - Mild Midlatitude Modified Koppen System Major Climate Group, clear summer and winter season (normals above 0 degrees Celsius), long and hot summer, short and mild winter, lower amount of precipitation. Controls: Midlatitudes, westerlies, cyclone activity.
D - Severe Midlatitude Modified Koppen System Major Climate Group, 4 clear seasons, transitional seasons, short warm/hot summer, long cold winter (<1 month below 0), precipitation variation lower. Controls: midlatitudes, westerlies, cyclonic activity, continental influence.
E - Polar Climates Modified Koppen System Major Climate Group, cold/cool all year round, every month the normal temp is <10, dryer due to temperature. Controls: latitude (near poles), closeness to oceans.
B - Dry climates Defined by moisture (<890 mm/yr), evapotranspiration (ET) exceeds precipitation, ET is temperature dependent. Controls: suptropical highers, adjacent to cold ocean currents, rain shadow of mountain range, areas where air sinks in atmosphere.
H - Highland climate Modified Koppen System Major Climate Group, based off of elevation, high lands are significantly different than surrounding lowlands.
Thornthwaite Climate Classification Based on a water budget, availability of water moisture. Precipitation vs. potential ET.
Spatial Synoptic Classification Looks at ambient weather (how frequently an air mass occupies a region).
Created by: user-2024182
 

 



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