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Geo 101 OSU mid term cards
lectures 1-9, Labs 1-4
66
Geology
Undergraduate 2
07/20/2013

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Term
system
Definition
any part of the universe that can be isolated so that it can be observed and measure change.
Term
isolated system
Definition
the boundary of closed systems completely prevents both matter and energy exchange.
Term
closed system
Definition
closed systems allow energy to exchange between boundaries, but not matter.
Term
open system
Definition
an open system allows the exchange of both matter and energy.
Term
earth as a system
Definition
Earth can technically be considered an open system, but it is more useful to think of it as a closed system since the exchange of matter (like meteorites) is very rare.
Term
contour lines: what are they?
Definition
Contour lines are lines which describe the elevation on a topographical map. These points are drawn at a uniform vertical distance. Bold contour lines that are labeled with elevation are index contours.
Term
contour lines: What do diferant types of terrain features look like on a topographic map?
Definition
a steep slope is depicted by close contour lines while a gentle slope has contour lines which are farther apart. Furthermore, river valleys are depicted with “V” contour lines to depict an upstream flow.
Term
latitude
Definition
Latitude is measured in degrees N or S of the equator. The range of possible values (in degrees)for latitude is -90 to 90.
Term
longitude
Definition
Longitude is measured in degrees W or E of the prime meridian which is located at 0 degrees. The range of possible values (in degrees) for longitude is from -180 to 180.
Term
Why does the US have north latitude and west longitude?
Definition
because we are north of the equator (latitude) and west of the prime meridian (longitude).
Term
Earth's resevoirs in order of size
Definition
Oceans, Icecaps/glaciers, groundwater, rivers, lakes/rivers, atmosphere
Term
Fluctuations in the global water cycle
Definition
Precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, infiltration, runoff
Term
Precipitation
Definition
the change of atmospheric water vapor to liquid (rain) or solid (snow)
Term
Evaporation
Definition
the change of water from a liquid resevoir to atmospheric water vapor
Term
transpiration
Definition
the release of water into the atmosphere by plants and animal cells.
Term
infiltration
Definition
the movement of liquid water downward from the land surface into and through the soil and rock.
Term
runoff
Definition
amount of water flowing in a stream
Term
water use by sector
Definition
depends strongly on national wealth a degree of industrialization. For example, US has highest water consumption.
Term
water use distributions
Definition
1 agriculture
2 Industrial use
3 Domestic use
Term
instream water use
Definition
water used without being withdrawn from its source
Term
offstream water use
Definition
use of water that either diverts or removes water from its source.
Term
water rights
Definition
legal right to use water dictated by law, not a legal title to water.
Term
riparian doctrine
Definition
surface water regulation that the right to use water is restricted to landowners immediately adjacent to the stream. Reasonabe use that does not remove the water and is legal property.
Term
prior appropriation doctrine
Definition
separate from other property rights. The first person to divert and use water has the primary right. The right is appropriated (divied up) among different interests.
Term
groundwater rights
Definition
hard to manage.
Term
Stream property: discharge
Definition
volume of water carried per unit time
Term
Stream property: gradient
Definition
is the elevation change along the course of a stream. Rise over run.
Term
base level
Definition
the lowest point to which a river can flow or erode.
Term
meandering stream
Definition
a mature stream with a low gradient. Erodes the outside of the bends and depositing inside the bends. low elevation change, close to their base level
Term
braided streams
Definition
a stream with multiple and interconnected channels resulting from varying levels of sediment load and abundant course sediment
Term
young streams
Definition
a stram with a steep gradient. Erosion by a young stream is rapid due to the high velocity caused by elevation. Young streams are incised deeply into their enviornment and have a large drop in elevation from their base level.
Term
continuity equation
Definition
the interrelated properties of a channels width, depth, velocity and discharge. Q= A*V
Q=dischrge
A= cross section of width by height
V+velocity
Term
bed load
Definition
coarse clastic matierials moved along the channel bed by rolling, sliding or bouncing
Term
suspended load
Definition
clastic matierials carried within water column by turbulent flow. Gives water muddy appearance and is 90% of the total sediment load
Term
dissolved load
Definition
the chemca weathering products carried in dissolved form by chemical solution. Gives ocean its saltiness and in closed basins evaporates to form salt deposits
Term
floodplain
Definition
the flat area adjacent to a stream channel. Floodplains develop where streams periodically over top their banks consistantly
Term
terrace
Definition
abandoned floodplain when a river cuts down to a new base level in response to gradient and sediment load.
Term
ox bows
Definition
form when adjacent meanders erode completely through their outside bends resulting in a straighter shorter channel
Term
pool
Definition
where channel is deeper and often form at bends in the channel
Term
riffle
Definition
places where the channel is shallower and often develop along straighter parts of the channel
Term
alluvial fans
Definition
piles of coarse sediment deposited where a stream emerges from a narrow canyon into a broad valley due to drop in velocity as the channel, no longer confined, spreads out.
Term
delta
Definition
forms as sediment is deposited where river velocity drops rapidly as it enters the ocean.
Term
salinity
Definition
total dissolved ion content of water
Term
8 major ions which cause salinity
Definition
Cloride, Sodium, Sulfate, Magnesium, Calcium, potassium, bicarbonate bromide, (CSSMCPBB)
Term
sources of salinity
Definition
chemical weathering, wind blown dust, and volcanic degassing
Term
Sinks of Ocean salinity
Definition
processes which remove dissolved ions.Removal by creatures in the creation of shells, absorption by clay
Term
salinity variability
Definition
becuase of differant rates of evaporation and precipiation, addition of fresh water via rivers and the freezing and melting of sea ice.
Term
causes of high salinity
Definition
where evaporation exceeds precipitation. Water evaporates quickly in the subtropics leaving salts behind.
Term
high salinity in the atlantic
Definition
water vapor does not encounter the mountanous barriers that the pacific does and so therefore does not encounter topographic lifting of air masses which produce precipitation
Term
stratification
Definition
the separation of liquids into layers based on density that are prevented from mixing. SALINITY DENSITY AND TEMPERATURE
Term
gyres
Definition
large circular ocean current systems dependant on the corolis force.
Term
Western Boundary Currents
Definition
the poleward component of the ocean gyres flowing from the equator to high altitudes. eg. The gulf stream carries warm water to northern europe
Term
Coriolis Force
Definition
Wind causing frictional drag due to the rotation of the earth.
Term
Deep water formation
Definition
Very dense, cold and salty water sinks and spreads.
Term
thermohaline circulation
Definition
the overturning circulation which distributes and redistributes warm and cold water across the globe through upwelling.
Term
Wave properties
Definition
1. Wave height
2. wavelength
3. wave period
Term
wave translation
Definition
wave length and velocity decreases while wave height increases.
Term
wave refraction
Definition
when wave crests bend as they approach a coastline.Waves encounter shallow water at headland and slow, releasing high amounts of energy with higher crests.
Term
longshore drift
Definition
when a series of waves strike a shoreline at an angle, they generate a current parallel to the shoreline. Redistributes sediment along beach.
Term
Eustatic sea level change
Definition
global change in sea level due to changing volume of water in the ocean or the volume of the ocean basins.
Term
local sea level changes
Definition
changes include: continental uplift, response to previous iceage.
Term
Tsunami causes
Definition
Earthquakes, submarine volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides, meteorite impact.
Term
wind generated waves vs. Tsunami
Definition
Tsunami have long periods, wave lengths of 100 km, doesnt easily loose energy and water moves straight-not circular.
Term
eutrophication
Definition
high concentrations of nutrients result in accelarated growth of plant life. 1. algae grows fast using up lots of oxygen and blocking sunlight. 2. aquatic plants die3.) dead matter provides food for microbes 4. increasing the competition for oxygen. 5.) water becomes doxygenated.
Term
100 year flood
Definition
the probability that a flood will exceed or equal a given discharge during any single year.
Term
effects of land use changes
Definition
forest converted to farmland- excess sediment clogs channel, diminishing water capacity.
urbanization.
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