CH2: THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT Flashcards

1
Q

innermost layer of the earth
solid inner (iron and nickel)
liquid outer (mostly iron)
super hot (5700K)

A

Core

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2
Q

middle layer of earth
semi-solid layer that helps transport portions of overlying crust

hot liquid inner
solid outer (more viscous and elastic)

rises and expands when heated, descends when cool

A

Mantle

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3
Q

solid outer layer; lithosphere

14 major plates

plates are buoyed by mantle movement and the thickness and density of the plate

A

Crust

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4
Q

the constant motion, moving against, away from, or sliding past of plates

large scale motion plates of the lithosphere

A

Plate Tectonics

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5
Q

denser, thinner, younger crust

A

Oceanic Crust

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6
Q

lighter, thicker, granite, older crust

A

Continental Crust

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7
Q

along mid-ocean ridges where new oceanic crust through volcanic activity

Magma emerges from mantle, fills space, cools as moves away from spreading center

ridges in middle of ocean where magma is below, pushes plates apart

A

Seafloor Spreading

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8
Q

at convergent boundaries where one plate moves under another and sinks into mantle

where oceanic and continental plates meet (oceanic sinks because heavier)

forms a trench

A

Subduction

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9
Q

submarine depression on the sea floor where two plates meet

A

Trench

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10
Q

plates collide

form subduction zones (trenches) or thrust zones (mountains

A

Convergent Boundaries

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11
Q

denser plate sinks (oceanic)

pressure and friction from subduction melt rock which emerges in cracks along the edge of continental crust as volcanoes

A

Oceanic-Continental Converging Boundary

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12
Q

similar density; subduction determined by plate size

pressure from subduction melt rock which emerges as volcanoes in cracks along edge of oceanic crust

A

Oceanic-Oceanic Converging Boundary

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13
Q

plates move apart

form rift zones where new crust is made

A

Divergent Boundaries

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14
Q

plates slide past in opposite directions

A

Transform Boundaries

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15
Q

What 2 things between plates can melt crust and create earthquakes?

A

Friction and Pressure

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16
Q

melted rock heats and expands, working its way through cracks and spaces in the overriding crust in water or through continental crust (volcano)

A

Magma

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17
Q

Where are oceanic islands commonly formed along?

A

Subduction Zones

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18
Q

areas of volcanic activity from superheated mantle plumes that melt through overlying plate, forming volcano/island

stationary even with moving plate

creates ISLAND CHAINS that MIGRATE over time bc of HIGH MAGMATIC ACTIVITY

A

Hotspot Volcanism

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19
Q

When were the Mariana Islands formed?

A

Cenozoic Era

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20
Q

When was Guam formed?

A

Mid Eocene Epoch

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21
Q

deposited in layers from different lava flows and eruption events

A

Volcanic (Igneous) Rock

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22
Q

deposited in layers from different erosion processes with particles of varying sizes and crystal compositions

A

Sedimentary Rock

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23
Q

type of sedimentary rock

growing parts break off and remains of corals and other calcareous animals and plants accumulate as sediments

A

Limestone

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24
Q

What 2 phases of buildup contributed to Guam’s geological history

A

Volcanic and Carbonate

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25
Q

No longer volcanically active

Primality submarine volcanism

Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan, FDM

A

Volcanic Phase

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26
Q

Onset coincided with rifting of the Marianas from the West Mariana Ridge

framework and detrital limestone formations

islands submerged, coral grows and deposits, then raised

volcanic base but north was submerged long enough to form an atoll then raised

A

Carbonate Phase

27
Q

How was Guam formed?

A

pacific plate subducted under Philippine plate, causing friction and heat, creating magma to form Guam’s volcanic base

28
Q

Guam’s oldest volcanic rock in Umatac

A

Facpi Formation

29
Q

2nd oldest Guam volcanic rock formation

A

Alutom Formation

30
Q

3rd oldest Guam volcanic rock formation

A

Umatac Formation

31
Q

2 Northern Major Limestone Types formed by ancient coral reefs and marine deposits

A

Barrigada Limestone and Mariana Limestone

32
Q

How atolls are formed

A

coral rubble piles from wave activity and erodes (making atolls dynamic)

33
Q

What is necessary for atoll habitability?

A

Waves have to replenish carbonate sediment that was reduced by erosion and dissolution

34
Q

sandy, near reef passages, change size but stay in same spot, vulnerable to storms

A

Type I Islets

35
Q

Largest and most stable, often inhabited, grows bigger over time, affected by typhoons

A

Type II Islets

36
Q

Long, narrow, curved, grow during storms and erode over time, fresh water under, support bigger life forms

A

Type III Islets

37
Q

complex, unstable, grow during storms, erode gradually; ex: Cocos Island

A

Type IV Islets

38
Q

long term patterns of factors (temp, rain, day-length, seasonal changes)

A

Climate

39
Q

short term changes in atmospheric factors (wind, humidity, rainfall, storms, typhoons; extreme - drought, famine)

A

Weather

40
Q

What seasons does Guam have?

A

Wet and Dry

41
Q

What are 2 things that vary between and within islands?

A

Rainfall and Temp

42
Q

What affects temperature on islands?

A

Mountains (higher altitudes - colder; air rises to cool and release rain on other side)

43
Q

How do mountains affect rainfall?

A

windward side gets more rain than sheltered leeward side

44
Q

What factors shape ecosystems?

A

island’s geological makeup (high, low, volcanic, coral)

geographic location (rainfall patterns, vulnerability to climate change)

45
Q

side where winds from ocean climb mountain on one side, cooling air and forming clouds for lusher land

A

Windward Side

46
Q

side where wind falls, dry and sucks moisture out of land making it drier

A

Leeward Side

47
Q

What defines different biomes?

A

Climate and Physiognomies
(climatic conditions dictate growth forms and can be similar even if not evolutionarily connected)

48
Q

What contribute to seasonal variation?

A

Temp, sunlight, rainfall, wind, and species reproduction, recruitment, and migration
(certain seasons allow for certain fruits to grow or fish to come and turtles to hatch)

49
Q

2 Common perturbations in tropical pacific islands

A

El Nino & Southern Oscillation
Typhoons & Hurricanes

50
Q

Atmospheric pressures change between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, weakening or reversing trade winds (Southern Oscillation), so warm water isn’t pushed West and pools in the middle of the Pacific, warming and preventing upwelling in the eastern Pacific

Effects: less rain in the western pacific (india, indonesia, aus; droughts, fires, famine) and more rain in the eastern pacific (peru; floods, failed fisheries, typhoons)

A

El Niño/Southern Oscillation

51
Q

Stronger trade winds push warm ocean water from the Pacific even further west, causing an increase in the upwelling of cold, nutrient rich water in the eastern pacific

A

La Niña

52
Q

giant whirlwinds with powerful winds and heavy rain that form over warm ocean waters that spin from coriolis effect.

A

Typhoon/Hurricanes

53
Q

typhoons/hurricanes that spin counterclockwise occur in the ___________ __________

A

Northern hemisphere

54
Q

typhoons/hurricanes that spin clockwise occur in the ___________ __________

A

Southern hemisphere

55
Q

tropical cyclone in western pacific

A

Typhoon

56
Q

tropical cyclone east of international date line; Atlantic ocean

A

Hurricane

57
Q

tropical cyclone in southern hemisphere and indian ocean

A

Cyclones

58
Q

tropical cyclone with max winds of 38mph (33 knots) or less

A

Tropical Depression

59
Q

tropical cyclone with max winds of 39-73 mph (34-63 knots)

A

Tropical Storm

60
Q

tropical cyclone with max winds of 74mph (64 knots) or higher

releases ridiculous amount of energy over miles

gains strength from warm water (weakens over land)

A

Typhoon

61
Q

tropical cyclone with max winds of 111 mph (96 knots) or higher with a 3-5 category on Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale

A

Major Typhoon

62
Q

How often does Guam have tropical storms?

A

1-2 years

63
Q

How often does Guam have weaker typhones?

A

4-5 years

64
Q

How often does Guam have super typhoons?

A

50-60 years