INTRO

4 main spheres of the earth:

- Biosphere: all living organisms and their physical environment
- Lithosphere: earths crust and upper mantle
- Atmosphere: gaseous protective layer held by gravity
- Hydrosphere: water in all forms, liquid, ice and vapor, above and
below ground and in the air
Elements of spatial/geographic approach
- *THREE primary elements of spatial/geo approach
- movement
- distribution
- location
For my spatial/geo approach, there was a MOVEMENT of
meth DISTRIBUTION so I had to move to a new LOCATION
so I wouldnt get caught.
Physiography (under place): full range of physical features of a region
(climate, landscape) *think PHYSIcal photoGRAPH of CLIMATES and
LANDSCAPES
Two types of Scales:
- Spatial
- sPLACEtial
- micro (local)
- meso (regional)
- macro (global)
- Temporal
- TIMEporal
- weeks
- years
- thousands of years
Geographic grid:
X,Y coordinate system
Longitude and latitude
Latitudinal Geographical Zones
ASMEMSA Arctic, sub tropic, mid latitudinal, Equatorial, mid
latitudinal, sub tropic, antarctic
Map types: 2 categories
- General reference
- Thematic
1. thematic maps usually have a theme to them.
Elevation/depth, temp, atmos pressure, climate
2. ex. Isoline, topograph, relief

Proxy data: measurable data for conditions that cant be directly

measured
Ex. Use of ice cores to infer paleo-atmospheric temp/conditions
Remote sensing: using instruments at a distance to gather infor/data.
Like satellites. Think REMOTES you use them at a distance and get info
from TV
SYSTEM TYPES:
PASSIVE: registers reflections of solar radar from objects on earth/non
reflective radiation (heat from earth) think: energy gets PASSED on to
PASSIVE systems.
ACTIVE: registers reflections from its own energy source. sends out a
signal or pulse (radar, sonar, lidar) think: ACTIVELY sending out its own
energy
*both system types create an image for interpretation and analysis.
*advantage: Change detection, access to remote locations, detection
beyond range of human vision
Orbit
-

types:
geostationary orbit: orbits with earth, stays STATION with earth
polar orbit: orbits at its own speed
sun-synchronous: only takes pics in light of sun)

SUN, EARTH, ATMOSPHERE

Radiant energy/electromagnetic spectrum
Radiant energy is all objects above absolute zero (0 Kelvin)
Electromagnetic spectrum:
- gamma
- x rays
- UV
- Visible
- Near infrared
- Shortwave infrared
- Middle infrared
- Thermal
- Microwave
Insolation (Incoming Solar Radiation)
- radiation that enters the atmosphere coming IN the atmosphere
- Transmitted, reflected, absorbed
Insolation provides the energy that rives many of the physical
processes of the earth: basic life, circulation of water, atmos dynamics

Earths energy budget:

Shortwave energy in (solar), longwave out (re-radiaiton from earth)
Sun-Earth Geometry
Revolution:
Earths orbit around the sun. earth REVOLVES around the sun
Rotation: earth;s movement on its axis. Earth ROTATES on its axis.
Earth rotates from west to east (right to left)
Earths Axial tilt is 23.5 degrees
Equinox: (spring and Fall) Declination at 0 degrees. Meaning the earth
is not at its usual tilt, it is straight up which is why its generally cooler,
because the suns rays arent reaching completely at this angle
Solstice: (Summer Solstice) Declination at 23.5 degrees, earths axial
tilt. Meaning because it is tilted, the sun reaches more which is why its
hotter.
Atmospheric Profiles:
- atmospheric pressure decreases with alttitude to the edge of the
stratosphere
- rapid decreases (strong gradient) in troposphere (KNOW THE
MODEL, in power point sun,e arth, atmosphere, atmospheric
composition)
Troposphere: Constant and Variable
Constant components gases:
Proportions remain the same
- nitrogen 78%
- oxygen 21%
- argon .93%
Variable Components Gases:
Amount depends on time and place
- carbon dioxide .004%
- methane
- sulfur dioxide
- water vapor
Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM):
Suspended particles smaller than 100 microns.

Ex. Saharan Dust

Smaller particles can remain suspended for days weeks or longer
TOPICS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. FOUR MAIN SPHERES OF EARTH
The four main spheres of Earth are the Atmosphere, Biosphere,
Lithosphere, and Hydrosphere. The atmosphere is a gaseous
protective layer hold by gravity. It shields and insulates.
Hydrosphere is water in all forms, liquid, ice and vapor, above
and below the ground and in the air. Lithosphere is earths crust
and upper mantle. Biosphere is all living organisms and their
physical environment.
2. DESCRIPTION OF MAP TYPES
There are two types of maps, general reference and thematic. A
thematic map has a certain theme or theme to it. Can be Isoline,
Topograph or relief map.
3. REMOTE SENSING SYSTEM TYPES, APPLICATIONS, ADVANTAGES
There are two remote sensing system types, passive and active.
A passive system records reflection and radiation from a distance
of earth. Active systems send out their own energy, like a pulse.
A Bounce back for example, a sonar radar. Advantages of
remote sensing systems is change detection, they can record
data from inaccessible places. Like Active systems, they can
penetrate through dust and ash.
4. WHAT IS INSOLATION? DESCRIBE ITS PATH THROUGH THE
TROPOSPHERE
Insolation is Incoming Solar Radiation. Radiation that comes
through the atmosphere and reaches Earth
5. WHAT IS ALBEDO WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Albedo is reflection. 0 albedo would mean no reflection while 100
albedo would be reflection. The lower the albedo, the higher the
energy is stored. For example, a black top would have 5-10%
albedo which is what makes it so hot.