Chapters Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen: Final Exam Flashcards
atmosphere
four layers of gases that surround the earth
troposphere
bottom layer of the atmosphere, seven miles deep
stratosphere
from seven to thirty one miles high, second layer of atmosphere
ozone
O3 present in the stratosphere
mesosphere
from the top of the stratosphere to 56 miles above earth, third layer
thermosphere
outer space
weather
the day-to-day pattern of precipitation, temperature, wind, barometric pressure, and humidity
climate
long-term weather pattern of a particular region
albedo
reflectivity of the earth’s surface
emissivity
capacity of a surface to radiate heat
air pollutant
any substance present in or released to the atmosphere
primary pollutants
emitted directly into the atmosphere
secondary pollutants
primary pollutants react with other things to form this
climate change
a shift in the Earth’s long-term weather patterns caused by the greenhouse effect
stratospheric ozone depletion
chemicals capable of destroying ozone accumulate in the upper atmosphere
acid surges
periods of short, intense acid deposition in lakes and streams
industrial smog
smoke pollution
photochemical smog
produced when volatile organic compounds react with nitrogen oxides and oxygen in the presence of sunlight
hazardous air pollutants
commonly called air toxics, group of chemical substances known or suspected of causing cancer
indoor air pollution
airborne contaminants present inside homes
rain shadow effect
only one side of a mountain gets precipitation
emission standards
limits on the amount of each pollutant that could be emitted by specific point sources
national ambient air quality standards
recommended limits on air pollution
surface water
bodies of water that are recharged by precipitation
runoff
precipitation that flows from high to lo elevation
watershed
the runoff area of a particular body of water
standing water habitats
relatively closed ecosystems with well-defined boundaries
oligotrophic lakes
low nutrients and are clear, deep blue in color, cold and deep with rocky bottoms
eutrophic lakes
warmer, lower oxygen content, muddy or sandy bottoms, much more productive
littoral zone
shallow, near shore area where rooted plants grow
limnetic zone
light can penetrate and support plankton populations
profundal zone
not enough light for photosynthesis in this section, organisms in this area rely on food that filters down from above
thermal stratification
separation of water of different temperatures
epilimnion
warm surface waters heated by the sun
hypolimnion
colder, denser water that sinks to the bottom
thermocline
the temperature gradient between layers
running water habitats
streams and rivers continuously moving
aquifer
a water-bearing geologic formation composed of layers of sedimentary material
water table
the depth at which the aquifer begins
unconfined
the material above the aquifer is permeable, allowing water to move into the water table
confined
aquifer topped with an impermeable layer so water can’t get in
euphotic zone
the area that light can penetrate in the ocean
neritic zone
the part of the euphotic zone that lies on the continental shelf
pelagic zone
the deep water of the open oceans
abyssal zone
the deepest part of the ocean
biological oxygen demand
a measure of the amount of oxygen needed to decompose organic matter in water
water stress
the episodic lack of renewable freshwater
adsorption
when organic compounds bind or stick to carbon particles but do not chemically combine with them
overdraft
removing more water from a source than can be naturally replenished
water mining
severe overdrafts
humus
partially decomposed organic matter
soil fertility
mineral and organic content
soil productivity
ability to sustain life, especially vegetation
tilth
the arrangement of soil particles, how they cling together
macroclimate
average weather pattern including precipitation and temperature
microclimate
weather conditions just above the surface of the ground
soil horizons
layers in soils
soil profiles
vertical series of soil horizons
topsoil
A horizon directly below the surface litter, most fertile part of the topsoil
zone of leaching
the E horizon lying between the topsoil and the less fertile layers below
subsoil of B horizon
not as fertile as the topsoil but deeprooted plants can draw water, minerals and oxygen from it
soil loss tolerance level
the amount of soil that can be lost through erosion without a decline in fertility
sustainable agriculture
farming that maintains the fertility and productivity of soil while ensuring a stable and healthy food supply
green manure
vegetation left on the ground or tilled under to fertilize the soil
windbreak
a row or group of trees and shrubs planted along the windward side of a field to reduce wind erosion
ridge tilling
planting a crop on top of raised ridges
low-till planting
tilling only once leaving 50 percent or more of previous crop residue on the ground’s surface
no-till planting
crops are planted amid stubble from the year before’s crop
strip cropping
the alternation of rows of grain with low-growing leaf crops or sod offering greater protection to the soil
contour plowing
tilling the soil in parallel to the natural contours of the land rather than in straight rows
contour terracing
used on steep slopes, level plateaus built into the hillside
trickle drip irrigation
the delivery of water through permeable or perforated pipes directly onto the soil surrounding the base of the plants
integrated pest management
using traps or by hand methods to attract and catch pests
perennial polyculture
growing a mixture of self-sustaining crops
germ plasm
the hereditary material of an organism
charismatic megafauna
large animal species that have symbolic value “save the pandas”
