Questions and Answers of Physical Geography Great Systems

What are the principal roles played by atmospheric ozone, carbon dioxide, and water vapor with respect to incoming or outgoing radiation?
Name the major factors controlling the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface?
With respect to the thermal conditions of Earth and Mercury, what is meant by a light-switch thermal regime?
Name Earth’s three primary heat reservoirs and define the sources of heat for each.
Why is air near the ground a good medium for monitoring the thermal conditions of the Earth’s surface.
Briefly explain the difference between heat and temperature. Define the calorie as an energy unit.
Earth can be described as a three-part energy system. Explain. What is meant by the term equilibrium surface temperature?
What is the difference between revolution and rotation in the motion of the Earth and what is the attitude of Earth’s axis with respect to the plane of the ecliptic?
What is the meant by the terms geocentric and heliocentric and who was responsible for developing the concept of the Universe as a perfectly balanced mechanical system?
Why do the Sun and the Earth produce vastly different types of radiation and why is the type of radiation produced by Earth so important to our planet’s thermal conditions?
What is the electromagnetic spectrum and what are the three types of radiation that make up the insolation band?
What is electromagnetic radiation, how does it travel, and what feature of this energy is used to define its various classes?
At the global scale, what is the primary difference between the shapes of lines of latitude and longitude? What are these lines called and how are they numbered?
Is Earth a true sphere? Elaborate. What is meant by the term geoid?
What is the difference between revolution and rotation with respect to the Earth’s motion in space?
What features visible from space reveal that Earth is a highly dynamic planet? What do these features suggest about the systems and processes operating on the planet?
Why is Earth the most colorful planet among the planets in this part of the Solar System? What do these colors tell us about the geographic character and organization of Earth?
Why were early seafarers and explorers so concerned about the development of a durable and highly accurate chronometer (clock)?
Why should we need to understand the geographic character of the Earth in order to be responsible citizens in today’s world?
Why should we consider humans a legitimate part of physical geography?
Distinguish between the metaphysical and physical realms of thought. Which of the approaches used in the scientific method relies mainly on the generation of extensive data in response to a question
What is meant by the remark that the Earth is a geographically unified planet? Cite a supporting example or two.
How is it that mountain building and atmospheric carbon dioxide can interact to change atmospheric temperature and where does feedback come into play in this scenario?
What evidence is there to justify calling planet Earth an open system?
Name a system with which you are familiar and identify its component parts, its interactions, and its geographic configuration.
To become a systems thinker requires looking at the world around us in a particular way. Just what is it that we look for that sets systems thinking apart from non-systems thinking?
Explain the concept of thresholds in the landscape with respect to stabilizing and destabilizing forces?
How is it that the atmosphere and lithosphere qualify as systems and what makes them great systems?
On the question of how we come to know nature, do you view it as essential to our existence that we possess a sense of nature and our place in it? Why?
What sort of population shift is humanity currently experiencing and what are some of its geographic consequences?
Compare the behavior of the quiet and active Sun. What is the solar constant?
Does the Sun broadcast anything into the Solar System besides radiation and, if so, what is(are) its effect(s) on the Earth’s surface environment?
Compare the Sun and the Earth as radiating bodies in terms of surface temperature and principal types of radiation produced.
What are the three sources of energy for the Earth’s surface? Which source provides the vast majority of this energy? Name several Earth systems which are powered by this energy.
Topographic maps are an example of what type map? What do topographic maps show and what are they used for?
Why is it important to select the proper symbols when constructing a map?
Identify the major characteristics of the three general types of maps.
What is the difference between map scale and resolution? Using your town and state or province, distinguish between large-scale and small-scale maps.
Besides mapping, are there any practical reasons for dividing the Earth into distinct belts of latitude and zones of longitude?
Distinguish between geological and historical time scales. Which of the four main divisions of geologic time best relates to human time?

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