Earth Systems Exam Study List

The primary source of energy powering the evaporation, condensation, and precipitation processes in the water cycle.

The gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth's oceans, causing them to bulge and recede.

The immense distances between planets make it challenging to create an accurate and proportional scale model of the solar system due to the limitations of space.

Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate describes the long-term average weather patterns in a region.

The process where certain gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the Sun, helping to regulate Earth's temperature.

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, influencing Earth's temperature.

Variations in water temperature and salinity create density differences, driving both surface and deep ocean currents.

The duration of time over which a statement applies determines if it describes weather (short-term) or climate (long-term).

The alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon influences the strength of tides. When they align (spring tide), the tidal forces are stronger.

A device that demonstrates Earth's rotation by showing the apparent shift in the pendulum's swing plane over time.

Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, playing a crucial role in regulating the planet's temperature.

Due to Earth's rotation, the Coriolis Effect causes moving objects like air and water to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Differences in water density, mainly due to variations in temperature and salinity, drive deep ocean currents.

Climate is the long-term pattern of temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation in a specific region, reflecting the average weather conditions over an extended period.

Greenhouse gases are responsible for trapping heat in Earth's atmosphere, contributing to the planet's overall temperature.

The alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon influences tidal forces, leading to stronger tides (spring tide) when they align and weaker tides (neap tide) when they are at right angles.

The waxing and waning phases of the Moon are caused by the changing angles of sunlight reflecting off its surface as it orbits Earth.

The vast differences in size and distances between celestial bodies make it extremely difficult to create a scale model of the solar system that accurately represents both the sizes and distances between objects.

Solar radiation, specifically the Sun's energy, is the primary energy source driving the water cycle, providing the heat needed for evaporation and powering the process.

The tilt of Earth's axis relative to its orbit around the Sun causes different parts of the Earth to receive direct or indirect sunlight during summer and winter seasons.

The Coriolis Effect is a result of Earth's rotation, causing moving objects like air and water to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, influencing wind patterns and ocean currents.

Climate encompasses the long-term average weather patterns in a particular region, characterized by the typical values of temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation over extended periods.

Greenhouse gases have a significant impact on Earth's temperature by trapping heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and influencing the planet's overall climate.

The varying alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon determines tidal strength. Stronger tides (spring tides) occur when they align, while weaker tides (neap tides) occur when they are at right angles.

Differences in water temperature and salinity create density variations, driving both surface and deep ocean currents, playing a crucial role in heat distribution and global climate patterns.

The duration over which a statement is observed determines whether it describes weather (short-term) or climate (long-term), highlighting the difference between immediate conditions and long-term patterns.

The gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth's oceans creates tidal forces, causing the water to bulge on the side facing the pulling object and the opposite side, resulting in high tides.

Greenhouse gases play a crucial role in Earth's climate by trapping heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect, which regulates the planet's temperature but is also linked to climate change.

The Coriolis Effect, caused by Earth's rotation, influences the movement of fluids like air and water, causing them to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, impacting weather patterns and ocean currents.

The primary energy source driving the water cycle is solar radiation, providing the heat necessary for evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, making it a continuous cycle of water movement.

The alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon plays a crucial role in determining the strength of tides. When they align, strong tides (spring tides) occur, while weaker tides (neap tides) occur when they are at right angles.

The waxing and waning phases of the Moon are caused by the changing angles of sunlight reflecting off its surface as it orbits Earth, resulting in the crescent, gibbous, and full moon phases.

The vast distances and size differences between celestial bodies in the solar system pose a significant challenge for creating accurate scale models. This discrepancy makes it difficult to represent both size and distances proportionally.