Earth Systems & Resources

Question 1

Plate Tectonic locations on map that should be known

Answer 1

Aleutian Islands, San Andreas Fault, Mariana trench, Himalayas, Mid-Atlantic ridge, Andes mountains, and Japan

Question 2

Divergent boundaries

Answer 2

Plates slide apart; space is filled with molten magma, can result in seafloor spreading, rift valleys, volcanoes, and earthquakes. Ex: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Question 3

Convergent boundaries

Answer 3

Collision of two plates that results in the creation of mountains, island arcs, earthquakes, and volcanoes.

Question 4

Oceanic plates & continental plates collide

Answer 4

Oceanic plate is denser, so it falls beneath* the continental plate
*Subduction zone is created
Ex: Andes Mountains, Grand Canyon

Question 5

Oceanic plates collide

Answer 5

The denser plate falls below* and magma from the mantle rises, forming “hot spots” or volcanoes
*Subduction zone is created
Ex: the “Ring of Fire”; island arcs, oceanic trenches

Question 6

Continental plates collide

Answer 6

The two plates “uplift” one another
Ex: Himalayas

Question 7

Transform boundaries

Answer 7

Plates slide past each other. Earthquakes occur when stress overcomes a locked fault; stored energy is then released
Ex: San Andreas Fault

Question 8

Rain shadow

Answer 8

The dry region formed on the leeward side of a mountain. It’s formed due to: humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side. A higher elevation area (like a mountain range) blocks precipitation from reaching here.

Question 9

Where are other examples of rain shadows around the world?

Answer 9

The Kona side of Mauna Kea
Atacama Desert (Andes Mountains)
Gobi Desert (Himalayas)
Sahara Desert (Atlas Mountains)
General aird parts of the Western USA (Rockies and Cascades)

Question 10

What is a watershed?

Answer 10

An area of land from which all water drains into a common body of water (such as a river, lake, or stream). Watersheds are often referred to as: drainage basins. We get our drinking water from these places

Question 11

Layers of the Atmosphere

Answer 11

The atmosphere is comprised of layers based on temperature. These layers are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere.

Question 12

Exosphere

Answer 12

Highest layer (very cold), Nitrogen 78% and Oxygen 21%

Question 13

Troposphere

Answer 13

Lowest layer of our atmosphere
Weather occurs here
Greenhouse gases are trapped here

Question 14

Stratosphere

Answer 14

Ozone layer (made up of O3 molecules) is found here and filters certain UV rays

Question 15

What’s going on in the thermosphere?

Answer 15

The temperature here is higher compared to other layers. Incoming UV and X-rays radiation from the sun is absorbed by molecules in this layer. This makes auroras possible!

Question 16

Water from a toilet drains in a different direction in the Southern Hemisphere compared to the Northern Hemisphere due to differences in how air and water circulate in each hemisphere

Answer 16

FALSE!!!!

Question 17

What is the Coriolis Effect and how does it explain global wind patterns?

Answer 17

A phenomenon that causes fluids, like air and water, to curve as they travel across or above Earth’s surface.

Question 18

How might the Sun have an effect on global wind patterns?

Answer 18

The Sun heats the Earth unevenly. Surrounding air is heated and rises due to low density which creates wind patterns

Question 19

How might the rotation of Earth affect global wind patterns?

Answer 19

The Earth’s rotation makes winds curve instead of moving straight, which is called the Coriolis effect. This curving creates circular wind patterns and helps form different wind belts, like the polar easterlies and the westerlies.

Question 20

Why is the air less dense at the Equator than at the poles?

Answer 20

The air is less dense at the Equator because it is warmer and contains more humidity. Warm air rises, making it lighter and allowing it to hold more water vapor, which reduces its density.

Question 21

The Hadley Cell

Answer 21

The air rises at the equator (0°) and sinks at about 30° N and S latitude moving back toward the equator at the surface. These surface winds are called Trade Winds and are winds blowing generally from east to west. Hurricanes develop in the Trade Winds

Question 22

“Normal” conditions:
What’s happening with the warm water?

Answer 22

It evaporates and adds moisture to the air above it, eventually producing rain storms

Question 23

“Normal” conditions:
What’s happening with the cold water?

Answer 23

It cools the air above it, producing little to no precipitation
An upwelling of cold water off the western S. American coast brings more nutrients- fish can thrive in these conditions

Question 24

What happens during an El Nino event?

Answer 24

These trade winds weaken → the warm water slowly makes its way back to the other side of the Pacific Ocean (off western coast of South America).

Question 25

Where is El Nino?

Answer 25

Occurs around the tropical/equatorial Pacific Ocean area

Question 26

La Nina

Answer 26

There’s an intensification of normal conditions. This means that the trade winds are stronger and the water is colder off of South America.

Question 27

You got it!

Answer 27

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