123 School Work

Physical Geography Global Patterns

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  Department of Geography
  GPY 203.1(.2) FINAL REVIEW LECTURE
  
  UNIT II: SOLID EARTH SYSTEMS
       C) GEOMORPHIC CYCLE
  1)     Weathering
  a)     Landmass denudation and equilibrium
       Dynamic equilibrium in landforms
       Differential resistance → differential weathering
  
  b)     The Weathering process
       Combined action of physical and chemical processes that disintegrate (mechanical fragmentation) and decompose (chemical alteration) rock at or near the earth's surface
  
  Weathering  Erosion Transport  Deposition
  
  c)     Mechanical and Chemical weathering
       Mechanical and chemical weathering not only occur simultaneously, they assist each other in the overall weathering process
  
  d)     Rates of weathering
       Amount of weathering is a function of the availability of H2O, heat, organic matter and rock type.
  
  e)     By-products of weathering
       Detritus
       New minerals
       Ions in solution
  
  2)     Mass movement and Geomorphic Systems
  All geomorphic agents work to re-distribute material across the earth's surface and form a critical component of the geologic cycle
  
  
  UNIT III: GLOBAL ENERGY & CIRCULATION SYSTEMS
  A) ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
  1) Earth's Atmosphere
       Atmosphere consists of various layers with different properties and functions
       Various E pathways and processes affecting them contribute to global circulation patterns
  
  
  2) Global Temperatures
       Variations in temperature across the globe due to:
  a) Latitude
  b) Temperature patterns (e.g. isotherms)
  c) Energy balance → energy budget
  
  3) Atmospheric Driving Forces
       4 major factors affecting the flow of air
  a)     Gravity
  b)     Atmospheric pressure differences,
  1.     Altitude, water vapour and temperature
  2.     PGF
  3.     Low and high pressure circulation
  
  c)     Earth's rotation → Coriolis force
  d)     Friction
  
       Results in 2 different types of wind: surface and geostrophic
  
  4) Patterns and Circulation
  a)     Macro-scale circulation and pressure cells
       Equatorial low-pressure trough (thermal) →trade winds, Hadley cells, ITCZ, doldrums
  
       Sub-tropical high (dynamic) →transfers E and M, descending Hadley, Westerlies and Easterlies
  
       Polar H, Rossby waves (thermal) → polar front, ridges and troughs.
  
       Jet stream (dynamic) → mid latitude, high alt...