Chapter 4 Flashcards
Tropopause
The buffer layer between the troposphere and stratosphere temperature no longer decreases with altitude it flips and increases with altitude
Stratosphere
Above the Troposphere, the Ozone layer is in this atmosphere. The Ozone traps the high energy radiation of the sun holding some heat protecting the Troposphere and Earth’s surface from this radiation which is why temperature increases 20-50 Km from Earth’s surface
Mesosphere
80 KM above Earth’s surface the area where meteors usually burn up
Thermosphere
Thinnest gas layer located hundred and 110 KM above earth. Auroras is take place and space shuttles orbit also known as the Ionosphere
Ionosphere
Another name for the thermosphere they’re called ionosphere because of the ionization that takes place in this region. This region absorbs most of the energetic charged particles such as protons and electrons (solar wind) from the sun. It reflects radio waves that make long-distance radio communication possible
Weather
Day to day properties a.k.a. wind speed, direction, temperature, amount of sunlight, pressure and humidity
Climate
Constant patterns that prevail for 30 or more years
Meteorologist
Scientists who study climate and weather
prevailing winds
Belts of air that distributes heat and moisture unevenly
Convection currents
When solar energy warms earth surface. They he is transferred to the atmosphere by radiation heating. The warming gases expand and become less dense and rises creating vertical currents a.k.a. convection currents. (they hold lots of moisture compared to the surrounding air) as these large masses of warm moist air rises cool air flows along Earth’s surface into the area where the warm air was located. This flowing air is one way that surface winds are created.
Horizontal Airflow
Is one way that surface winds are created
Dewpoint
Is when warm moist air rises into cooler atmospheres where it cools to dew point. It is the temperature at which water vapor condenses into liquid water
Precipitation
When condensation drops get so big they can no longer be held by the convection in Earth’s atmosphere and fall
Convection Cell
Is one air warms and gatherers moisture causing it to rise then the water vapor condenses to liquid (condensation and precipitation occur). He is released into space and cool dry air is a knitted the denser air descends (cool dry air) the air is then pushed by surface winds across the warm grounds and the process repeats
Hadley Cells
starts it’s cycle over the equator wear warm moist air evaporates and rises in the atmosphere the precipitation in the region is one cause of the abundant Equatorial rainforests. The cold dry air then descend about 30° south and north of the equator forming the belts of the desert scene around earth at those latitudes and the cycle repeats.
Wind
air that is moving as the result of the unequal heating of Earth’s atmosphere. Part of the earths circulatory system moves: heat, moisture, soil, pollution around the planet
Trade Winds
blow between 30° latitude at the equator are steady and strong and travel at about the speed of about 11–13 mph
North East Tradewinds
trade winds that blow from the north east
South East Tradewinds
trade winds that blow from the south east
Westerly
moving air mass moves south and west in the northern hemisphere and north and west in the southern hemisphere near the equator. The movement of air that accounts for the westerlies is the Ferrell sell opposite of the Hadley cell.
Polar easterlies
winds that blow between latitudes of 60° at the north pole and winds that blow between latitudes of 60° at the south pole, they blow between the south and east
Horse latitudes
the region in between 30° to 35° north and 30° and 35° south of the equator
Doldrums
still air near the equator (because air at these locations is constantly rising and is not blowing) exist between 5° north and 5° south of the equator known as the ITCZ
Jet Stream
(moving air mass) high – speed currents of when that occur in the upper troposphere
Monsoons
seasonal winds that are usually accompanied by very heavy rainfall caused since the land heats up and cools down more quickly than the water does land heats quickly and warm dry air rises rising warm air front cools, forms clouds, precipitation occurs a cold front is created colder moist air moves into replace the rising warm air
Rainshadow effect
if air is forced her eyes it will pool and water will precipitate out of it onto the ocean side of a mountain it will become devoid of moisture as it passes over to the other side of the mountain the side of the precipitation is called the Windward side the side of the arid dried clothes/wind side is the Leeward side
Hurricanes
have strong winds (130 through 400 km/hr) rotating winds remove water vapor from the ocean surface, the energy helps increase windspeed
Typhoons
called this in the Pacific ocean but are actually hurricanes
They have more energy than a nuclear explosion but the Air Force is really slowly so the damage is less concentrated called this in the Atlantic Ocean
El Niño
climate variation that occurs in the Pacific ocean about every seven years they (trade winds) reverse or halt the surface waters of the Pacific away from the West Coast of central and south America. Resulting in a distraction of the Thermohaline Circulation. Northern US and Canada- warmer winters and a less intense hurricane season. Eastern regions of the US and Peru, Ecuador= usually dry now lots of rainfall. Philippines, Indonesia, Australia= drier than normal
Seawater
world’s oceans salinity of 3.5%. The most Celine open C is the Red Sea higher temperatures and confined circulation results in higher rates of surface evaporation
Freshwater
minimal quantities of dissolved salts comes from precipitation
Watershed
when a land area drains into a particular stream
Deltas
landforms made of deposited sediments, they are created when a river is a drop their set a Mentry load as they meet the ocean because there callosity decreases significantly at this junction
Estuaries
where the “arm” of the sea extenze inland to meet the mouth of a river rich with plans and species because of the fresh water which has high concentrations of nutrients and sediments shallow water and it fairly warm animals and plants in this area receive lots of sunlight
Littoral Zone
begins with the very shallow water at the Shoreline. Plants and animals that reside in the littoral zone receive abundant sunlight. The end of this zone is defined as the depth at which a rooted plants stop growing.
Limnetic Zone
surface of open water, the reason that extends to the depth that sunlight can penetrate. Organisms that are residents in this zone are short-lived and rely on sunlight to carry out photosynthesis
Profundal zone
water that is too deep for sunlight to penetrate. Because the Profundal zone is an aphotic zone (A zone that late cannot reach), Photosynthesizing plants or animals cannot live in this region
Benthic zone
The deepest layer in a body of water, characterized by very low temperatures and low oxygen levels
Coastal zone
this zone consists of the ocean water closest to lands. Usually it is defined as being between the shower and the end of the continental shelf.
Euphotic zone
the photic, upper layers of water. The Euphotic zone is the warmest region of ocean water, this zone also has the highest levels of dissolved oxygen
Bathyal zone
The middle region, this zone receives insufficient light for photosynthesis and is colder then the
Euphotic zone
Abyssal zone
this is the deepest region of the ocean. This zone is marked by extremely cold temperatures and a very low levels of dissolved oxygen, but very high levels of nutrients because of the decaying plant and animal matter that syncs down from the zones above
Epilimnoin
The uppermost and thus most oxygenated layer in freshwater
Hypolimnion
The lower colder and denser layer of freshwater
Thermocline
the demacration line between the Epilimnoin and Hypolimnion at which the temperature shifts dramatically in freshwater
Barrier islands
certain landforms that lie off coastal shores because barrier islands are created by the build up of deposited settlements their boundaries are constantly shifting as water moves around them, spits of lands are generally the first hit by offshore storms and they are very important buffers up for the shoreline behind them
Coral reef
in tropical waters it is quite common these barrier islands are formed not from the deposition of settlement but from a community of living things that organisms responsible for the creation of a coral reef are cnidarian that secrete a hard Calciferous shell. These shells provide homes and shelter for an incredible driver city of species they are also extremely delicate and thus very vulnerable to physical stress. Changes in light intensity changes in temperature and oceans depth and pH.
Upwelling
a seasonal movement of water from the cold noon and nutrient rich bottom to the surface they provide a new nutrient supply for the growth of living organisms in the photic regions they are followed by an almost immediate exponential growth in the population of organisms in the zones especially the single so algae that you may form of color called algebra lose these algae can produce toxins that make hellholes and the beds of filter feeders such as oysters and muscles.
Red tide
one notorious recurring toxic algae bloom is caused by proliferation of dinoflagellates
Interbasin transfer
it is a way people are dealing with potential waters to shortages in communities. During this process water is transported very long distances from its source through aqueducts or pipelines. And example is the big Thompson project 213, 000 acre feet of water are delivered annually to the Eastern slope of Colorado. It is a pipeline that exist between the western and eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Some of the negative effects it can result in is different geographic areas arguing over what rights it can also have a serious environmental repercussions interbasin transfer can increase the salinity of water and even change the climate of an ecosystem.
Groundwater
refers to any water that comes from below the ground Lake Wells or aquifers. Are you so groundwater has several detrimental environmental effects it can result in depressed but water table and the drying up of local groundwater sources. In the 1990s a drought in Florida resulted in such a severe reduction in aqua fires that road collapsed for lack of a structural support. Subsidence or sinking of earths surface is another serious consequence of groundwater withdrawal.
Aquifers
underground beds or layers of earth gravel or poorer stone that yield water
Unconfined Aquifier
is water that is free to flow both vertically and horizontally
Confined Aquifier
have boundaries that don’t readily allow the transporting of water
Water stressed
countries that have a renewable annual water supply of about 1000 to 2000 meters cubed per person
Water scarce
countries that have less than 1000 meters cubed per person
Riparian Right Appropriation
water rights that are given to those who have historically use the water in a certain area. In other words prior appropriation can be thought of as water squatters rights.
ENSO
stands for El Nino ans Southern Oscillation
Southern Oscillation
a low-latitude fluctuation of atmospheric pressure closely linked with El Niño events, specifically the periods of El Niño warming and La Niña cooling
La Niña
The reverse affect of El Nino to the extreme
Mantle
surrounds the outer core, mostly made of solid rock.
asthenosphere
located in the mantle. made up of slowly flowing rock
Lithosphere
a thin, rigid layer of rock that floats on top of the Asthenosphere. the outer most layer of the earth. contains the rigid upper mantle and the crust
Crust
solid surface of the Earth
tectonic plates
the lithosphere can move and break into large pieces called tectonic plates. made up of mantle and crust. majority of the land of earth sits on 6 of these plates. the remainder lie under the ocean.
plate boundaries
the edges of the plates. also where two plates interact
convergent boundary
two plates are pushed toward each other. one of the plates will be pushed into the mantle
divergent boundary
two plates are moving away from each other. this causes a gap that can be filled with magma, and when it cools new crust is formed.
transform fault boundary/ transform boundary
two plates slide from side to side relative to each other- like when you rub your hands back and forth.
subduction
converging ocean-ocean and converging ocean-continent boundaries. heavy ocean plate is pushed below the other plate and melts as it reaches the hot mantle.
volcanoes
formed by magma from the earths interior.
active volcanoes
are those that are currently erupting or have erupted within recorded history
dormant volcanoes
have not been known to erupt
extinct volcanoes
will never erupt again
rift volcanoes
when plates move away from each other. when erupts, new ocean floor is formed as magma fills where the plates have separated
subduction volcanoes
occur when plates collide and slide over each other
hot spot volcanoes
don’t form at the margin of plates. found over “hot spots” which re areas where magma can rise to the surface through the plates. (hawaiian islands)
earthquakes
the result of vibrations (of plates) which release energy. often occur when two plates side past one another at a transform boundary.
focus
the location at which it begins within the earth
epicenter
the initial surface location
seismograph
the size or magnitude is measured by using this instrument. made by charles richter in 1935
rock cycle
time, pressure, and the earths heat interact t create and recycle 3 basic types of rocks
igneous
results when rock is melted (by heat and pressure below the crust) into a liquid and then resolidifies. the magma comes to the surface of the earth and when it emerges its called lava. solid lava is igneous rock. ex. basalt
magma
molten rock
sedimentary
formed as sediment (eroded rocks and the remains of plants and animals) builds up and is compressed. one place this can occur is a subduction zone where ocean sediments are pushed deep into the earth and compressed by the weight of rock above it. ex. limestone
metamorphic
formed when a great deal of pressure and heat is applied to a rock. this can happen as sedimentary rocks sink deeper into the earth and are heard by the high temperatures found in earths mantle. ex. slate
abiotic
nonliving components
biotic
living components
clay
smallest particle of soil. less than 0.002 mm in diameter. little room for water. extremely compact.
silt
next largest particle. 0.002-0.05 mm in diameter.
sand
coarsest soil. 0.05-2.0 mm in diameter. can hold more water because they have larger pores.
acidity
important characteristic of soil types. if a soil is too acidic certain soil nutrients won’t be able to use that region. if a soil is more acidic, the ions of heavy metals like mercury (Hg) or aluminum (Al) leach into the ground water.
alkalinity
important characteristic of coil types. if soil is top basic certain soil nutrients won’t be able to use that region.
physical weathering/mechanical weathering
any process that breaks rock down into smaller pieces without changing the chemistry of the rock. typically wind and water
chemical weathering
occurs as a result of chemical interactions between water and other atmospheric gases and the bedrock of a region. ex. rust, which forms when iron and other metallic elements come in contact with water.
biological weathering
takes place as the result of the activities of living organisms, such as tree roots growing and expanding through rock.
horizons
distinct layers of soil
O horizon
uppermost horizon of soil. primarily made up of organic material including waste from organisms, the bodies of decomposing organisms, and live organisms.
humus
dark crumbly material that results from decomposition of organic material
A horizon
the horizon below O. made up of weathered rock and some organic material that has traveled down from the O layer. often referred to as top soil. plays an important role in plant growth.
leaching
found in the A horizon
E horizon
in-between A&B. leached of clay, iron, or aluminum oxides. minerals in this layer are silt and sand sized.
B horizon
below the A horizon. receives all the minerals that are leached out of A horizon as well as organic materials that are washed from the top soil. zone of illuviation.
illuviation
the movement of dissolved material from higher soil layers to lower soil layers due to the downward movement of water, which is caused by gravity. found in B horizon.
C horizon
the bottommost layer of soil. composed of larger pieces of rock that have not undergone much weathering.
R horizon
the bedrock which lies below all of the other layers of soil
arable
suitable soil for plant growth for human needs.
loamy
soil composed of roughly the same amount of all three textures (clay silt sand). best for plant growth.
monoculture
planting of just one type of crop in a large area.
crop rotation
prevents pests and disease with genetic variation. also allows different nutrients to be used at different times in the soil.
green revolution
the boom in agricultural productivity. has negative effects on the environment for example, chemical pesticides resulted in the emergence of new variety of insects that were pesticide resistant.
salinization
soil becomes water-logged and when it dries out, salt forms a layer on its surface. leads to land degradation.
land degradation
when land dries out and salt forms a layer on its surface.
drip irrigation
to combat salinization and land degradation. allots an area only as much water as is necessary and delivers water directly to the roots.
erosion
removes topsoil or deposits soil in undesirable places and becomes a problem. eroded soil usually ends up in bodies of date posing a problem for farmers and people. most significant portion of erosion by humans is from logging and slash-and-burn agriculture. cutting down and buying trees to clear land for agricultural purposes. makes the soil much more susceptible to the agents of erosion.
