ENVIRSC 1C03 Weather and Climate Study Guide

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Questions and Answers

What term describes the buildup of toxic substances in an organism over time?

Thermohaline Circulation

Assimilative Capacity

Biomagnification

Bioaccumulation (correct)

Which phenomenon is characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures disrupting global weather patterns?

Thermohaline Circulation

Ecological Footprint

El Niño (correct)

La Niña

What does a high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) indicate?

Low levels of pollution

High levels of biodiversity

High levels of pollution (correct)

Sustainable water quality

Which law relates the peak wavelength of emission to the temperature of a black body?

Wien’s Law Signup and view all the answers

What does the ecological footprint measure?

Human demand on Earth's ecosystems Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the primary difference between weather and climate?

Weather is short-term and variable, whereas climate encompasses long-term trends Signup and view all the answers

What role do greenhouse gases play in the atmosphere?

They regulate Earth's temperature Signup and view all the answers

Which atmospheric hazard is characterized by extreme wind speeds and rapidly rotating air?

Tornado Signup and view all the answers

How does atmospheric pressure influence weather systems?

High-pressure systems usually bring clear skies Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes climate?

Long-term averages of weather conditions in a region Signup and view all the answers

What impact do aerosols and pollutants have on weather and climate dynamics?

They modify weather and climate patterns Signup and view all the answers

Which component makes up approximately 78% of the atmosphere?

Nitrogen Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of temperature on biodiversity?

It influences the types of ecosystems in a region Signup and view all the answers

What primarily affects the variation of humidity with latitude?

Distance from the Equator Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason the moist adiabatic rate is lower than the dry adiabatic rate?

Latent heat is released during condensation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the formula to calculate relative humidity?

(Actual water vapor content/Saturation water vapor content)×100 Signup and view all the answers

Which type of drought is characterized by a lack of sufficient moisture for crops?

Agricultural Drought Signup and view all the answers

What does an absolutely stable air condition indicate?

Environmental lapse rate is less than the moist adiabatic lapse rate Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cloud is primarily associated with thunderstorms?

Cumulonimbus Signup and view all the answers

How does the Palmer Drought Index measure drought severity?

Based on temperature and rainfall. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of overdrawing groundwater?

Land subsidence due to compaction. Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon occurs during orographic uplift?

Air rises and cools, potentially forming clouds Signup and view all the answers

What initiates the formation of acid rain?

Reaction of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides with water. Signup and view all the answers

How does warmer air influence its capacity to hold water vapor?

It can hold more water vapor as temperature increases Signup and view all the answers

Which process does NOT belong to the hydrologic cycle?

Soil salinization Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes nimbostratus clouds?

Thick and layered, associated with steady rain Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary indicator of moisture in the air at given temperature levels?

Relative humidity Signup and view all the answers

Which atmospheric force is responsible for the horizontal movement of air?

Pressure gradient force Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism for air rising in an orographic lifting scenario?

Air being forced to ascend over mountains. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary consequence of eutrophication in aquatic environments?

Anoxia/hypoxia Signup and view all the answers

Which process involves the accumulation of toxins in an organism's body?

Bioaccumulation Signup and view all the answers

Which element becomes problematic in aquatic systems when fixed by bacteria and used in agriculture?

Nitrogen Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of biodiversity does the diversity index measure?

Abundance and evenness of species Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary goal of stewardship principles?

Conservation and sustainable practices Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the ability of a water body to absorb pollutants without ecological harm?

Assimilative capacity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not classified as a type of pollutant?

Ecosystem services Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of GIS in environmental management?

Managing and analyzing geographic data Signup and view all the answers

What occurs on the leeward side of a mountain range due to orographic uplift?

Dry conditions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes groundwater?

Water found in voids in soils and rocks Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary consequence of eutrophication in water bodies?

Algal blooms and decreased oxygen levels Signup and view all the answers

Which formula is used to calculate biogeographical similarity between two regions?

I = C / (A + B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the Palmer Drought Index measure?

Precipitation and temperature anomalies Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of soil is primarily composed of weathered rock and minerals?

C horizon Signup and view all the answers

What does Stokes Law describe in relation to soil science?

Settling velocity of particles in a fluid Signup and view all the answers

What is the dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR)?

10°C per 1000 m Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

ENVIRSC 1C03 Study Sheet

The document is a study sheet for ENVIRSC 1C03
Contains study materials for different weeks (2-4, 5-9, 10-13) covering various topics, including GIS
A glossary is included starting on page 14

Week 2 - 4

Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility
Weather influences daily activities and agriculture, as well as transportation and infrastructure.
It plays a crucial role in disaster management and preparedness.
Climate is the average weather conditions over a long period (typically 30 years or more) in a particular region.
Climate determines biodiversity and ecosystems, and informs policies for addressing climate change and guides urban planning and agriculture.
Weather is short-term and variable atmospheric conditions
Climate is long-term trends and averages in atmospheric patterns
Key elements include temperature, precipitation, humidity, air pressure, wind, and solar radiation
Atmospheric Hazards: Hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, floods, and heatwaves

Week 5 - 9

Humidity variation decreases with distance from the equator
Specific Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air, measured in grams per kilogram of air.
Air saturation happens when the excess water vapor condenses into clouds, dew, or precipitation.
Relative Humidity is calculated as (actual water vapor content/saturation water vapor content) x 100%
Atmospheric moisture influences weather patterns, agriculture, and climate systems.
Atmospheric Stability refers to the tendency of air parcels to rise or sink
Absolutely stable air occurs when the environmental lapse rate (ELR) is less than the moist adiabatic lapse rate (MALR).
Absolutely unstable air occurs when the ELR exceeds the dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR).
Orographic uplift causes air to cool and lead to cloud formation and precipitation as air is forced over mountain ranges.
Warmer air can hold more water vapor, increasing saturation vapor pressure.
Relative Humidity changes in nature through temperature changes, water vapor addition/removal, and condensation/evaporation.
Dew-point temperature indicates the temperature at which air becomes saturated, while relative humidity measures the current saturation level.

Week 10 - 13

Overdrawing Groundwater leads to land subsidence, depletion of aquifers impacting ecosystems and agriculture, and salinisation of soils caused by irrigation in arid regions.
It decreases agricultural productivity and promotes desertification.
Groundwater is subsurface water filling voids in soils and rocks, found in aquifers, recharge zones, and groundwater flow systems.
Eutrophication is nutrient enrichment in water bodies leading to algal blooms and anoxia/hypoxia, which in turn disrupts ecosystems and leads to dead zones.
Eutrophication requires solutions like improved sewage treatment and controlling agricultural runoff.
Nutrient cycles include carbon (respiration, combustion, and photosynthesis), phosphorus (mined, used in fertilizers, and returned to soil through decay), and nitrogen (fixed by bacteria, used in agriculture, and contributes to eutrophication).

GIS

A platform for managing, analyzing, and applying geographic data
Function includes insight (analysis), record (data management), and engagement (interaction)
Tackles environmental issues like air pollution, climate change, water quality, land degradation, biodiversity loss and social issues like inequality, poverty, food insecurity, and sustainability.
Applications like Air Quality Monitoring (Road Dust Mapping) and Climate Change & Land Degradation are provided
Social impacts studies like Code Red (Hamilton) are also included in the pages

Glossary

Contains definitions for various terms including Adiabatic Processes, Orographic Uplift, Groundwater, Eutrophication, Anoxia/Hypoxia, Water Balance, Palmer Drought Index, Soil Horizons, Soil Texture, Stokes Law, Liming Problem, Species Richness, Species Diversity, Biogeographical Similarity, Atmospheric Pressure, Adiabatic Lapse Rate, Bioaccumulation, Biomagnification, Assimilative Capacity, El Niño, Thermohaline Circulation, Ecological Footprint, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Stefan-Boltzmann Law, and Wien's Law.

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Description

This study sheet covers essential concepts from ENVIRSC 1C03, focusing on the differences between weather and climate. Key topics include atmospheric conditions, their impact on daily life, agriculture, and urban planning. A glossary of important terms is also provided for better understanding.