ECCB 303 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ACCURATE ANSWERS
Biogeochemistry - Answers - interactions of the biology and chemistry of the Earth's
System
(focus on cycle of crucial elements needed for life CHNOPS)
CHNOPS - Answers - Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Sulfur
Earth's systems - Answers - atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere
Material and energy that enter a system must - Answers - stay in or leave
If storage equals inputs > outputs then it's a ____ - Answers - sink
Source; flux - Answers - If storage equals outputs > inputs then it's a _____ and can
estimate ____
Flux - Answers - movement of energy in different parts expressed in a rate
Pool - Answers - Storage space for energy and matter expressed as mass,
temperature, or concentration
75% - Answers - From Earth's surface to the Troposphere (5-10 miles), what percent of
total atmospheric mass does this portion hold?
Climate - Answers - Average weather that occurs over many years for a particular
location
Weather - Answers - State and changing nature of the atmosphere surrounding Earth
atmosphere --> oceans --> ice --> land --> vegetation (back to atmosphere) - Answers -
Solar inputs for a climate system
1. Angle that rays hit earth (concentrated @ equator, spread out @ poles)
2. Path length through atmosphere (shorter & direct @ equator, longer @ poles) -
Answers - Why are solar inputs unequal?
Atmospheric convection currents - Answers - Involving transfers of heat between the
surface of earth and the atmosphere
-temp decrease w/ increasing latitude
-location of biomes
, -atmospheric convection currents
-climate variation
-uneven heating of Earth's surface - Answers - Uneven heating from solar inputs causes
what?
1. Air density
2. Water vapor saturation point
3. Latent heat release
4. Adiabatic cooling & warming - Answers - What 4 properties influence atmospheric
convection?
Water vapor saturation point - Answers - The max amount of water the air can hold at a
given temp (warm air holds more water than cold air)
Relative humidity - Answers - Amount of moisture air could hold at that temp if saturated
increases - Answers - Saturation point ______ exponentially with temp
Latent heat release - Answers - Energy transfer due to condensation of water
If water vapor exceeds saturation point - Answers - water vapor condenses into liquid
water (energy released and warms surrounding air)
If water vapor is below saturation point - Answers - liquid water turns into water vapor
(requires energy and cools air)
540 cal/g H2O - Answers - Heat of vaporization of water
Adiabatic cooling and warming - Answers - Change in temperature due to changes in
pressure and volume (without the loss or gain of heat)
Pressure-Volume-Temperature relationship - Answers - Ideal gas equation
PV=mRT
Relative Humidity - Answers - amount of moisture in air
-amnt moisture air could hold @ temp if saturated
-RH=100% -> temp=dew point
Lapse rate - Answers - change in temp w/ altitude
Dry adiabatic lapse rate - Answers - 5.5 degrees F/1000 ft (unsaturated air)
Moist adiabatic air - Answers - Air cooled to saturated point (relative humidity at 100%
or temp ≤ dew point)
ACCURATE ANSWERS
Biogeochemistry - Answers - interactions of the biology and chemistry of the Earth's
System
(focus on cycle of crucial elements needed for life CHNOPS)
CHNOPS - Answers - Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Sulfur
Earth's systems - Answers - atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere
Material and energy that enter a system must - Answers - stay in or leave
If storage equals inputs > outputs then it's a ____ - Answers - sink
Source; flux - Answers - If storage equals outputs > inputs then it's a _____ and can
estimate ____
Flux - Answers - movement of energy in different parts expressed in a rate
Pool - Answers - Storage space for energy and matter expressed as mass,
temperature, or concentration
75% - Answers - From Earth's surface to the Troposphere (5-10 miles), what percent of
total atmospheric mass does this portion hold?
Climate - Answers - Average weather that occurs over many years for a particular
location
Weather - Answers - State and changing nature of the atmosphere surrounding Earth
atmosphere --> oceans --> ice --> land --> vegetation (back to atmosphere) - Answers -
Solar inputs for a climate system
1. Angle that rays hit earth (concentrated @ equator, spread out @ poles)
2. Path length through atmosphere (shorter & direct @ equator, longer @ poles) -
Answers - Why are solar inputs unequal?
Atmospheric convection currents - Answers - Involving transfers of heat between the
surface of earth and the atmosphere
-temp decrease w/ increasing latitude
-location of biomes
, -atmospheric convection currents
-climate variation
-uneven heating of Earth's surface - Answers - Uneven heating from solar inputs causes
what?
1. Air density
2. Water vapor saturation point
3. Latent heat release
4. Adiabatic cooling & warming - Answers - What 4 properties influence atmospheric
convection?
Water vapor saturation point - Answers - The max amount of water the air can hold at a
given temp (warm air holds more water than cold air)
Relative humidity - Answers - Amount of moisture air could hold at that temp if saturated
increases - Answers - Saturation point ______ exponentially with temp
Latent heat release - Answers - Energy transfer due to condensation of water
If water vapor exceeds saturation point - Answers - water vapor condenses into liquid
water (energy released and warms surrounding air)
If water vapor is below saturation point - Answers - liquid water turns into water vapor
(requires energy and cools air)
540 cal/g H2O - Answers - Heat of vaporization of water
Adiabatic cooling and warming - Answers - Change in temperature due to changes in
pressure and volume (without the loss or gain of heat)
Pressure-Volume-Temperature relationship - Answers - Ideal gas equation
PV=mRT
Relative Humidity - Answers - amount of moisture in air
-amnt moisture air could hold @ temp if saturated
-RH=100% -> temp=dew point
Lapse rate - Answers - change in temp w/ altitude
Dry adiabatic lapse rate - Answers - 5.5 degrees F/1000 ft (unsaturated air)
Moist adiabatic air - Answers - Air cooled to saturated point (relative humidity at 100%
or temp ≤ dew point)
