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Physical Geography
Study guide for terms within physical geography
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Mercurial Barometer | measures air pressure using liquid mercury. Atmospheric pressure pushes on the mercury in the reservoir, causing the mercury in the tube to rise or fall. It is usually measured in millimeters of mercury or mmHg |
| Aneroid Barometer | measures pressure without liquid. contains a small, sealed metal chamber with most of the air removed. When atmospheric pressure changes, the chamber expands or contracts. springs and levers translate that movement to a dial showing pressure. |
| normal atmospheric pressure at sea level | 1 atmosphere (1 atm) = 760 millimeters of mercury (760 mmHg) = 1013.25 millibars (mb) = 1013.25 hectopascals (hPa) = 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi). Meteorologists' use (mb) and (hPa) while barometers use (mmHg) |
| Cyclones | a low-pressure system. Low pressure at the center. Air moves inward toward the center and rises upward. North hemisphere = air rotates counterclockwise. South hemisphere = air rotates clockwise. |
| Cyclones continued | Regarding weather - Rising air cools and forms clouds and precipitation. Associated with stormy, wet, and unstable weather. Often brings rain, strong winds, and sometimes severe storms. Cyclone = C for Clouds |
| Anticyclones | a high-pressure system, pressure is at the center. Air moves outward from the center and sinks downward. In North hemisphere, air rotates clockwise. In Southern Hemisphere, it rotates counterclockwise |
| Anticyclones Continued | regarding weather - Sinking air prevents cloud formation. Produces clear skies, dry conditions, and stable weather. Often associated with sunny and calm weather. Anticyclone = A for Air sinking and clear skies. |
| Equatorial Low-Pressure Belt (Doldrums) | Latitudinal Location: Around 0° latitude (Equator) Characteristics: Low pressure, Warm air rises strongly due to intense solar heating, very weak surface winds and a Zone where the trade winds meet (Intertropical Convergence Zone) |
| Equatorial Low-Pressure Belt (Doldrums) continued | Associated Environment: Hot, humid climates, Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, Dense tropical rainforests |
| Subtropical High-Pressure Belt (Horse Latitudes) | Around 30° North and 30° South. High pressure Air sinks from higher altitudes Very dry and stable air Light winds and calm conditions. Deserts and semi-arid regions Clear skies and little precipitation |
| Subpolar Low-Pressure Belt | Around 60° North and 60° South. Low pressure Air masses from warmer and colder regions collide Rising air and frequent storm formation. Cloudy, wet, and stormy conditions Frequent mid-latitude cyclones |
| Polar High-Pressure Belt | Around 90° North and 90° South (the poles). High pressure, Very cold, dense air sinks, Air flows outward toward lower latitudes, extremely cold and dry Polar desert conditions little precipitation. Low → High → Low → High (0° → 30° → 60° → 90°) |
| Degree of Shift | Pressure belts shift about 5°–10° latitude north or south. The movement follows the movement of the Sun between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. In June belts move northward. In December belts move southward. |
| Effects of Shifting Pressure Belts | Seasonal Rainfall Patterns - As the equatorial low-pressure belt moves, the zone of rising air and rainfall moves with it. Regions near the equator experience wet and dry seasons only. This movement is tied to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). |
| Effects of Shifting Pressure Belts part 2 | Monsoon Systems Shifting pressure belts contribute to seasonal wind reversals known as Monsoon. In summer, low pressure over land pulls moist ocean air inland, producing heavy rains. In winter, high pressure over land causes dry winds blowing outward. |
| Effects of Shifting Pressure Belts part 3 | Movement of Global Wind Belts - Trade winds, westerlies, and other wind systems shift with the pressure belts. This affects storm tracks and climate patterns in many regions. |
| Effects of Shifting Pressure Belts part 4 | Changes in Climate Zones - Areas may move temporarily into different pressure zones during the year. This causes: Wet seasons when low-pressure belts move overhead. Dry seasons when high-pressure belts dominate. |
| major surface wind systems | Trade Winds, Westerlies, Polar Easterlies |
| Trade Winds | Latitudinal Location: About 30° latitude to the Equator (0°) in both hemispheres. Characteristics: Blow from subtropical high-pressure belts toward the equatorial low-pressure belt. Steady and reliable winds. Deflected by the Coriolis Effect. |
| Trade Winds 2 | Direction: Northern Hemisphere: Northeast → Southwest (Northeast Trade Winds) Southern Hemisphere: Southeast → Northwest (Southeast Trade Winds) |
| Westerlies | Latitudinal Location: Between 30° and 60° latitude in both hemispheres. Characteristics: Blow from subtropical high-pressure belts toward subpolar low-pressure belts. Generally strong and variable winds. Direction - Blow from west to east. |
| Polar Easterlies | Latitudinal Location: Between 60° latitude and the poles (90°). Characteristics: Cold, dense air flows outward from polar high-pressure areas. Generally cold and dry winds. Direction: Blow from east to west. |
| Jet streams | a fast-moving current of air in the upper troposphere (about 8–15 km or 5–9 miles above Earth’s surface). Wind speeds can reach 120–250 mph (190–400 km/h) or more. These winds form where there are strong temperature differences between air masses. |
| Jet streams 2 | found near the boundaries between major pressure belts, especially around: 30° latitude – the Subtropical Jet Stream 50°–60° latitude – the Polar Jet Stream. Occur in both hemispheres and go west to east |
| Jet stream benefits | Controls Weather Patterns, influences Climate, Aviation Benefits, Separates Air Masses |
| Monsoon | a seasonal wind system that changes direction during the year, usually bringing wet and dry seasons to a region. |
| Formation of Monsoons | Monsoons form mainly because land and water heat and cool at different rates and because of the seasonal movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. There is a summer Monson and a winter Monson. |
| Summer Monsoon | land heats faster than the ocean. creates low pressure over land and higher pressure over the ocean. Moist air from the ocean moves toward the land. As the air rises and cools, it forms heavy clouds and rainfall. Result: Warm, moist winds and heavy rains. |
| Winter Monson | During winter, land cools faster than the ocean. High pressure forms over land and lower pressure over the ocean. Dry air flows from land toward the ocean. This results in a cool dry air with rain climate |
| Effects of Monsoons | Heavy Rainfall, agriculture, flooding and natural hazards, and seasonal climate patterns |
| Heavy Rainfall | Brings large amounts of rain during the wet season. Essential for agriculture, especially rice farming. |
| Agriculture | Farmers rely on monsoon rains for crops in regions like South Asia and Southeast Asia. |
| Flooding and Natural Hazards | Strong monsoons can cause flooding, landslides, and damage to infrastructure. |
| Seasonal Climate Patterns | Creates distinct wet and dry seasons in many tropical regions. |
| 4 products of condensation | Clouds, Fog, Dew, Frost |
| Clouds | Form when water vapor in the air condenses into tiny water droplets or ice crystals high in the atmosphere. |
| Fog | A cloud that forms near the ground when air cools and water vapor condenses close to Earth’s surface. |
| Dew | Water droplets that form on surfaces like grass, leaves, or cars when air cools to the dew point during the night. |
| Frost | Forms when water vapor changes directly into ice crystals on cold surfaces when temperatures are below freezing. |
| 3 products of sublimation | Water Vapor, Shrinking snowpack, Glacier Ice Loss |
| Water Vapor | Ice or snow turns directly into invisible water vapor in the air. |
| Shrinking snowpack | Snow on the ground can gradually disappear without melting, especially in cold, dry conditions. |
| Glacier Ice Loss | Ice from glaciers can turn directly into water vapor, reducing the size of the glacier. |
| Changes in state of water | Melting, Freezing, Evaporation, Condensation, sublimation, Deposition |
| Melting | Change: Solid → Liquid Example: Ice turning into water. Energy: Absorbs heat from the surroundings. |
| , Freezing | Change: Liquid → Solid Example: Water turning into ice. Energy: Releases heat into the surroundings |
| Evaporation | Change: Liquid → Gas Example: Water turning into water vapor. Energy: Absorbs heat. |
| Condensation | Change: Gas → Liquid Example: Water vapor forming droplets in clouds. Energy: Releases heat. |
| sublimation | Change: Solid → Gas (skips the liquid stage) Example: Ice or snow turning directly into water vapor. Energy: Absorbs heat. |
| Deposition | Change: Gas → Solid Example: Frost forming when water vapor turns directly into ice. Energy: Releases heat. |
| Change in water taking most energy | evaporation because water molecules must gain enough energy to completely break free from liquid water and enter the atmosphere as vapor. |
| Fronts | Boundaries where two different air masses meet. The four fronts are Cold Front, Warm Front, Stationary Front, Occluded Front |
| Cold Front | Occurs when a cold air mass moves toward and pushes under a warm air mass. The cold, dense air forces the warm air to rise quickly. Has Heavy rain or thunderstorms Strong winds Rapid temperature drop After passage, skies usually clear and become cooler. |
| Warm Front | Occurs when a warm air mass moves toward and slides over a colder air mass. The warm air rises slowly and gradually. Has Light, steady precipitation (rain or snow) Cloudy skies Gradual warming of temperatures Precipitation may last many hours or even days |
| Stationary Front | Occurs when two air masses meet but neither moves significantly. Cloudy skies long periods of steady rain or drizzle Weather can remain the same for several days. |
| Occluded Front | Occurs when a cold front overtakes a warm front, lifting the warm air completely off the ground. Clouds and precipitation Often moderate to heavy rain or snow Cooler temperatures after the front passes. |
| Cumulonimbus cloud | Very tall and vertically developed cloud. Dark base near the bottom. The top spreads out into a flat, anvil-shaped top high in the atmosphere. Often grows from a smaller Cumulus Cloud as rising warm air continues to build upward. |
| Importance of Cumulonimbus cloud | Thunderstorms, severe weather, major source of precipitation, and atmospheric energy transfer. |
| Cirrus Cloud | Thin, wispy, feather-like clouds. Very high altitude (20,000+ ft) in the upper atmosphere. They are important because they often indicate fair weather, but can signal an approaching warm front or storm system |
| Precipitation | Rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain, hail, drizzle |
| rain | liquid water droplets. |
| snow | ice crystals forming snowflakes. |
| sleet | rain freezes before reaching the ground. |
| freezing rain | large balls of layered ice from thunderstorms. |
| hail | rain freezes on contact with surfaces. |
| Drizzle | very small, light rain droplets. |
| Two Factors Affecting Wind Speed | Pressure Gradient = Difference in air pressure between two areas. Greater pressure difference = stronger winds. Surface Friction= Objects like mountains, trees, and buildings slow winds. Wind moves faster over oceans and smooth surfaces. |
| Two Factors Affecting Wind Direction | Coriolis Force =Deflects winds due to Earth’s rotation. Right in Northern Hemisphere, left in Southern Hemisphere. Pressure Gradient= Winds move from high pressure to low pressure. |
| Horse Latitudes | Location = Around 30° North and 30° South latitude. It is areas of high pressure and weak winds. Often associated with desert climates. |
| Four Types of Atmospheric Lifting | Convective Lifting = Warm air rises due to heating of the ground. Common in tropical regions and summer thunderstorms. Orographic Lifting = Air forced upward over mountains. Occurs in places like the Rocky Mountains. |
| Four Types of Atmospheric Lifting 2 | Frontal Lifting= Warm air lifted over colder air along fronts. Convergent Lifting = Air flows together and rises. Common near the Intertropical Convergence Zone. |
| Dew Point | The percentage of moisture in the air compared to the maximum it can hold at that temperature. |
| Two Ways to Change Relative Humidity | Change Temperature = Warmer air can hold more moisture. As temperature rises, relative humidity decreases. Change Moisture Content = Adding water vapor increases humidity. High in morning (cool air), and low in afternoon |
| Four Damaging Aspects of Hurricanes | Storm Surge – rising ocean water flooding coastal areas. Strong Winds – destroy buildings and vegetation. Heavy Rainfall – causes flooding. Tornadoes – small tornadoes can form within hurricanes. Storm surge (causes most deaths and damage). |
| Four Factors Affecting Precipitation Distribution | Latitude – tropics receive more rainfall. Topography – mountains cause orographic precipitation. Pressure Belts – low pressure areas bring rain. Ocean Currents – warm currents increase moisture. |
| Air Mass Types (Important for the U.S.) | Continental Polar (cP) = Cold, dry Maritime Polar (mP) = Cool, moist Continental Tropical (cT) = Hot, dry Maritime Tropical (mT) = Warm, humid |
| Polar Front | A Boundary where cold polar air meets warm tropical air. Significance: Major location for storm formation in mid-latitudes. |
| Tornado Alley | In Central United States including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. It is a Region with frequent tornado formation due to colliding air masses. |
| Rain Shadow Effect | Dry conditions on the leeward side of mountains because moisture is lost on the windward side. |
| Coriolis Force | The apparent deflection of moving air caused by Earth’s rotation. Effect: Right in Northern Hemisphere, and left in Southern Hemisphere |
| Four Characteristics of Rising Air | Low pressure Cooling as it rises Cloud formation Unstable weather and precipitation |
| Four Characteristics of Descending Air | High pressure Warming as it sinks Clear skies Dry, stable weather |
| Hydrologic Cycle | Definition: Continuous movement of water between atmosphere, land, and oceans. Processes include: Evaporation Condensation Precipitation Runoff |
| Air Mass Modification | Air masses change characteristics as they move over new surfaces. Example: Cold air moving over the Gulf of Mexico becomes warmer and more humid. |
| Windward vs Leeward | Windward: Side of mountain facing incoming wind. Receives more precipitation. Leeward: Opposite side. Dry due to rain shadow. |
| Ocean Currents | Warm Currents: Flow away from the equator toward poles. Warm the air above them. Cold Currents: Flow toward the equator. Cool and stabilize the air. Example: The Gulf Stream warms nearby regions. |
| Continentality | Definition: The influence of distance from oceans on climate. Effects: Interior locations have larger temperature ranges. Examples: Kansas, and Mongolia experience hot summers and cold winters because they are far from moderating ocean influences. |
Created by:
Aar_eds12