Earth Systems and Resources

Question 1: Explain how Earth's tilt with respect to the Sun is connected to solar intensity and seasons at different latitudes.

Answer 1: -During one revolution around the Sun, Earth's tilt changes: At one point in the year, the North Pole and northernmost latitudes are constantly light; six months later, the South Pole and southernmost latitudes are constantly light. This change in the Earth's tilt causes the Sun's rays to hit Earth more directly in some places than others at any one time. Where sunlight is most direct in a place, solar intensity is greatest, the temperature is highest, and the season is summer. Where the Sun's rays are least direct, the solar intensity is least, the temperature is lowest, and the season is winter. Spring and autumn occur when Earth is tilting away from its extreme positions—autumn as sunlight becomes less intense, and spring as sunlight becomes more intense. The northern and southern hemispheres have opposite seasons.

There are lots of good resources about Earth Systems that you can find available.

Question 2: Outline the structure and composition of the atmosphere.

Answer 2: Structure- Upper atmosphere Exosphere - Helium and hydrogen gases become denser in the direction away from outer space and toward Earth's surface. Thermosphere - Temperature decreases from the top (at more than 1,000 degrees Celsius) down. This layer includes the ionosphere. Mesosphere - Temperature increases toward Earth.- Lower atmosphere Stratosphere - Ozone, which traps ultraviolet radiation, protecting life on Earth, makes up most of this layer. Troposphere - This is the layer closest to Earth's surface. It contains most of the air molecules and extends about 10 kilometers. Here weather occurs, air pollutants collect, and airplanes travel.CompositionThe atmosphere is composed of gases. About 78 percent is nitrogen, about 21 percent is oxygen, and these percentages are fairly constant. Up to 4 percent is water vapor, and about 0.03 percent is carbon dioxide. About 0.01 percent is varying amounts of hydrogen, methane, helium, ozone, and other gases.

Question 3: Define weather, climate, the Coriolis Effect, and ENSO.

Answer 3: Weather - day-to-day conditions such as temperature, wind, and precipitation in a particular placeClimate - long-term average weather conditions in a particular placeCoriolis Effect - effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of high winds and other moving particles, causing diversion to the right north of the equator and diversion to the left south of the equator. It helps create global wind systems such as the doldrums, easterlies, and westerlies. ENSO - El Niño/Southern Oscillation - occasional change in ocean currents that replaces cool water with warm water along South America's Pacific coast. The water current shift is caused by an atmospheric change, when easterly Pacific winds weaken. The water current shift then causes more atmospheric change, bringing warmer and wetter weather to the tropics and letting the Jet Stream move south. ENSO is an example of atmospheric-ocean interactions that affect temperature, precipitation, sea ice, wind, and water currents.

Previous: Earth and Space Science, Part 9 - Next: Economics, International Business, and the Global Economy, Part 1

Flashcard Secrets provides test preparation products for a variety of examinations - all trademarks are property of their respective trademark owners.

3827 Phelan #179

Beaumont, TX 77707