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Environment > Earth's Independent Systems > Flashcards

Earth's Independent Systems Flashcards

1
Q

abiotic

A

related to factors or things that are separate and independent from living things; nonliving

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2
Q

acid

A

any compound that releases hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. Also, a water solution that contains a surplus of hydrogen ions.

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3
Q

air mass

A

enormous bodies of air that move as a unit

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4
Q

A horizon

A

a soil horizon, the layer below the O horizon is called the A horizon; this is formed of weathered rock, with some organic material; often referred to as topsoil

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5
Q

alkaline

A

a basic substance; chemically, a substance that absorbs hydrogen ions or released hydroxide ions; in reference to natural water, a measure of the base content of water.

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6
Q

aquifer

A

an underground layer of porous rock, sand, or other material that allows the movement of water between layers of nonporous rock or clay. Aquifers are frequently tapped for wells.

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7
Q

arable

A

land that’s fit to be cultivated

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8
Q

asthenosphere

A

the part of the mantle that lies just below the lithosphere

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9
Q

atmosphere

A

the gaseous mass or envelope surrounding a celestial body, especially the one surrounding the earth which is retained by celestial body’s gravitational field.

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10
Q

barrier island

A

a long, relatively narrow island running parallel to the mainland, build up by the action of waves and currents and serving to protect the coast from erosion by surf and tidal surges.

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11
Q

biological weathering

A

any weathering that’s caused by the activities of living organisms.

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12
Q

biotic

A

living or derived from living things

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13
Q

B horizon

A

a soil horizon, B receives the minerals and organic materials that are leached out of the A horizon

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14
Q

chemical weathering

A

the result of chemical interaction with the bedrock that is typical of the action of both water and atmospheric gasses.

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15
Q

C horizon

A

a soil horizon, C is made up of larger pieces of rock that have not undergone much weathering

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16
Q

clay

A

the finest soil, made up of particles that are less that 0.002 mm in diameter

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17
Q

climate

A

weather conditions, especially temperature and precipitation, that remain constant over 30 years or more

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18
Q

conduction

A

the transmission or conveying so something through a medium or passage, especially the transmission of electric charge or heat through a conduction medium without perceptible motion of the medium itself

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19
Q

convection

A

the vertical movement of a mass of matter because of heating and cooling, this can happen in both the atmosphere and Earth’s mantle

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20
Q

convection currents

A

air currents caused by the vertical movement of air due to atmospheric heating and cooling

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21
Q

convergent boundary

A

a pate boundary where two plates are moving toward each other

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22
Q

coral reef

A

an erosion resistant marine ridge or mound consisting chiefly of compacted coral together with algal material and biochemically deposited magnesium and calcium carbonates

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23
Q

Coriolis effect

A

the observed effect of the Coriolis force, especially the deflection of an object moving above the earth, rightward in the Northern Hemisphere, and leftward in the Southern Hemisphere, as away from the equator.

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24
Q

crop rotation

A

the practice of alternating the crops grown on a piece of land to replenish soil nutrients, for example, corn one year, legumes for two years, then back to corn

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25
Q

delta

A

a usually triangular alluvial deposit at the mouth of a river

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26
Q

divergent boundary

A

a plate boundary at which plates are moving away from each other, this causes an upwelling of magma from the mantle to cool and form new crust.

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27
Q

doldrums

A

a region of the ocean near the equator, characterized by calms, light winds or squalls

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28
Q

drip irrigation

A

a method of supplying irrigation water through tubes that literally drip water onto the soil at the base of each plant

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29
Q

earthquake

A

the result of vibrations that release energy from within the earth. They often occur as two plates slide past one another at a transform boundary

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30
Q

El Niño

A

a climate variation that takes place in the tropical Pacific about every three to seven years, for a duration of about one year

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31
Q

erosion

A

the process of soil particles being carried away by wind or water. erosion moves the smaller particles first and hence degrades the soil to a corset, sandier , stonier texture

32
Q

estuary

A

the part of the wide lower course of a river where its current is met by the tides

33
Q

fault

A

the place where two tectonic plates abut each others

34
Q

Green Revolution

A

the time after the Industrial Revolution when farming became mechanized and crop yields in industrialized nations boomed as farmers began using large amounts of chemical fertilizers as pesticides.

35
Q

greenhouse effect

A

the phenomenon whereby the earth’s atmosphere traps solar radiation, caused by the presence in the atmosphere of gases such as CO2, water vapor, and methane that allow incoming sunlight to pass through but absorb heat radiated back from earth’s surface

36
Q

Hadley cell

A

a system of vertical and horizontal air circulation that creates major weather patterns, predominately in tropical and subtropical regions

37
Q

headwaters

A

the water from which a river rises, a source

38
Q

horizon

A

a layer of soil

39
Q

humus

A

a dark, crumbly, nutrient rich material from decomposing organic material, also product of composting organic waste

40
Q

hurricane (typhoon/cyclone)

A

a severe tropical storm from equatorial regions of the Atlantic or Caribbean, or Eastern Pacific, that travels north, northwest or northeast from its point of origin, involves high speed winds and heavy rains

41
Q

inner core

A

the molten core of earth

42
Q

insolation

A

the delivery rate of solar radiation per unit of horizontal surface

43
Q

jet stream

A

high speed meandering wind current, moving from west at 250+ mph (400km), at altitudes of 10-15 miles (15-25km)

44
Q

land degradation

A

deterioration of land quality—topsoil, organisms, vegetation, water quality, caused by exploitation

45
Q

La Niña

A

a cooling of the ocean surface off western coast of SA, occurring ever 4-12 years and affecting Pacific and other weather patters

46
Q

lithosphere

A

the outer part of earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle, 100km (62mi) thick

47
Q

loamy

A

soil of sand, clay, silt and organic material

48
Q

mantle

A

the layer of earth between crust and core

49
Q

monoculture

A

cultivation of single cron on a farm or region or country, a single, homogenous culture without diversity or dissension

50
Q

monsoon

A

a wind system that influences large climatic regions and reverses direction seasonally

51
Q

O horizon

A

uppermost layer, of Organic material, like waste, bodies and live organisms

52
Q

physical/mechanical weathering

A

process of rock breaking without chemistry change, done by wind and water

53
Q

prior appropriation

A

when water rights are given to those who have historically used the water in a certain area

54
Q

rain shadow effect

A

the low rainfall region on the leeward side of mountains

55
Q

red tide

A

bloom of din flagellates that causes reddish discoloration of coastal ocean waters. Gonyamlax produces toxins that kill fish and contaminate shellfish

56
Q

R horizon

A

bedRock

57
Q

riparian right

A

the right as to fishing or use of a riverbed, of one who owns and adjacent to a river or stream

58
Q

salinization

A

soil becomes waterlogged from excess irrigation and then dries out. As water evaporates, salt crystallizes and forms a layer of the surface. prevents growth

59
Q

sand

A

coarsest soil, with particles 0.05-2.0 mm in diameter

60
Q

silt

A

soil with particles 0.002-0.05 mm in diameter

61
Q

Southern Oscillation

A

the atmospheric pressure conditions corresponding to the periodic warming of El Niño and cooling of La Niña

62
Q

subduction zone

A

where oceanic plate slides under continental plate

63
Q

thermocline

A

the layer in a large body of water, such as a lake, that sharply separates regions differing in temperature, so that the temperature gradient across the layer is abrupt

64
Q

thermosphere

A

the outermost shell of the atmosphere, between the mesosphere and outer space, where temperatures increase steadily with altitude

65
Q

topsoil

A

the A horizon of soil, most important for growth

66
Q

trade winds

A

the winds blowing in horizontal directions over earths surface, as part of Hadley Cells

67
Q

transform boundary

A

transform faults, boundaries at which plates slide sideways

68
Q

tropical storm

A

a cyclonic storm having winds ranging from 48-121 km/h

69
Q

upwelling

A

a process in which cold, often nutrient rich waters from the ocean depths rise to the surface

70
Q

volcanoes

A

an opening in the earth’s crust through which molten lava, ash and gases are ejected

71
Q

watershed

A

the region draining into a river system or other body of water

72
Q

water-scarce

A

countries that have a renewable annual water supply of less that 1000 m cubed per person

73
Q

water-stressed

A

countries with renewable annual water supply of 1000-2000 m cubed per person

74
Q

weather

A

the daily variations in temperature, air pressure, wind, humidity, and precipitation mediated by the atmosphere in a region

75
Q

weathering

A

gradual breakdown of rock into smaller particles, caused by natural chemical, physical and biological factors

76
Q

wetland

A

a lowland area, such as a marsh or swamp, that is saturated with moisture, especially when regarded as the natural habitat of wildlife

Environment (7 decks)

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