Earth Systems, Energy, and Temperature Overview

• These notes cover Earth's systems, insolation, temperature, atmospheric moisture, adiabatic processes, atmospheric stability, disturbances, and water resources.

Earth's Systems

• Earth consists of four interconnected spheres.
• Earth is a system with feedback loops and potential tipping points.

Latitude and Longitude

• Latitude zones include mid-temperate and polar regions.

Seasons and Time Zones

• Earth's rotation and revolution cause seasons and time zones.
• These factors influence temperature, humidity, wind, and seasons.

Energy Types

• Different energy types have real-world applications.

Temperature vs. Heat

• Temperature and heat are distinct concepts.

Solar Energy

• Solar energy follows the inverse square law.
• The electromagnetic spectrum includes shortwave and longwave radiation.

Warming and Cooling Processes

• Albedo affects arctic sea ice.
• Scattering influences sunsets and glacial ice.

Latitudinal Temperature Variations

• Angle of incidence and radiation balance cause temperature variations.
• Land and water influences temperature due to specific heat differences.

Global Energy Transfer

• Mechanisms of global energy transfer impact the planet.

Global Temperature Patterns

• Global temperature patterns can be observed and explained by prominent controls.
• Temperature has changed over the last century.

Atmospheric Moisture

• Atmospheric moisture impacts the landscape.

Nature of Water

• Water molecules have unique properties.
• Water properties include liquidity, ice expansion, density, surface tension, capillarity, solvent ability, and specific heat.

Phase Changes of Water

• Energy is transferred during phase changes.
• Latent heat is the energy absorbed or released during a phase change.

Water Vapor and Evaporation

• Evaporation rates vary.
• Vapor pressure indicates the amount of water vapor in the air.
• Saturation occurs when the air holds the maximum amount of water vapor.
• Latent heat is associated with weather phenomena.
• Evapotranspiration combines evaporation and transpiration.

Measures of Humidity

• Absolute humidity and specific humidity are different measures.
• Vapor pressure measures water vapor content.
• Relative humidity relates to temperature.
• Daily temperatures relate to sensible heat.
• Condensation occurs when water vapor changes to liquid.

Adiabatic Processes

• Diabatic processes involve heat exchange, while adiabatic processes do not.
• Air heats by compression and cools by expansion.
• The dry adiabatic lapse rate (DAR) affects air parcels.
• The lifting condensation level (LCL) is where condensation begins.
• The saturated adiabatic lapse rate (SAR) applies to saturated air.
• The rain shadow effect is a real-world example.

Cloud Classification

• Clouds are classified by form and family.
• Fog types vary by location.

Environmental Lapse Rate

• The environmental lapse rate (ELR) relates to DAR and SAR.
• Comparing ELR, DAR, and SAR indicates atmospheric stability.

Atmospheric Stability

• Stability can be unstable, stable, or neutral.
• Buoyancy relates to atmospheric stability.
• Warm air parcels are buoyant, while cool air parcels are not.
• Atmospheric, buoyancy, and cloud differences exist between stable, unstable, and conditionally unstable conditions.

Air Masses

• Air masses have characteristics and source regions.
• Air masses are classified with specific examples in North America.

Fronts

• Different types of fronts have unique properties.

Disturbances

• Disturbances compared to general circulation patterns.
• Midlatitude cyclones have conveyor belts.

Midlatitude Anticyclones

• Midlatitude anticyclones described.

Easterly Waves

• Easterly waves characteristics described.

Tropical Cyclones

• Tropical cyclones include types and hurricane structures.

Thunderstorms

• Thunderstorms can produce downbursts and lightning.

Tornadoes

• Tornado frequency is high in North America due to the Rocky Mountains.
• Tornadoes can result from hurricanes.
• Seasonal conditions influence tornadoes.
• There are changing patterns and trends, with vulnerable populations.
• Watches indicate possible tornadoes, while warnings indicate imminent tornadoes.

Hydrological Cycle and Oceans

• The hydrological cycle includes evaporation, transpiration, evapotranspiration, condensation, precipitation, runoff, groundwater flow, infiltration, percolation, and aquifers.
• Transpiration and evaporation are related.
• Advection and runoff play roles in the hydrologic cycle.
• Residence times vary for different water reservoirs.
• Ocean water has a chemical composition, increasing acidity, temperature, and density.
• Salinity varies at different scales.
• Oceans are becoming more acidic, impacting ecosystems.
• Gyres form due to ocean currents.

Movement of Ocean Waters and Permanent Ice

• Thermohaline circulation plays a role in oceans and the planet.
• This relates to the global conveyor belt circulation.
• Two high tides and two low tides occur daily.
• Tidal range, flood tide, ebb tide, spring tide, and neap tides defined.
• Cryosphere components include ice pack, ice shelf, ice floe, and iceberg.
• Permafrost is permanently frozen ground.
• Permafrost has a global distribution.
• Climate change impacts permafrost.

Surface Waters and Groundwater

• Lakes form physically and chemically.
• Reservoirs serve economic and ecological purposes.
• Wetlands include swamps and marshes.
• Rivers/streams transport sediment and fluvial materials.
• Drainage basins are watersheds.
• Groundwater distribution, flows, and impacts described.
• Porosity and permeability impact plant accessibility and groundwater recharge.
• Aquifers and aquicludes differ in their ability to transmit water.
• Confined aquifers develop under specific conditions.
• The zone of aeration and zone of saturation are key terms.
• The water table is the upper surface of groundwater.
• A cone of depression/well interference can occur.
• Artesian wells and subartesian wells differ.
• The Ogallala Aquifer is important.
• Groundwater pollution sources identified.