Earth Systems & Resources Flashcards
Plate Tectonic locations on map that should be known
Aleutian Islands, San Andreas Fault, Mariana trench, Himalayas, Mid-Atlantic ridge, Andes mountains, and Japan
Divergent boundaries
Plates slide apart; space is filled with molten magma, can result in seafloor spreading, rift valleys, volcanoes, and earthquakes. Ex: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Convergent boundaries
Collision of two plates that results in the creation of mountains, island arcs, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
Oceanic plates & continental plates collide
Oceanic plate is denser, so it falls beneath* the continental plate
*Subduction zone is created
Ex: Andes Mountains, Grand Canyon
Oceanic plates collide
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
Continental plates collide
The two plates “uplift” one another
Ex: Himalayas
Transform boundaries
Plates slide past each other. Earthquakes occur when stress overcomes a locked fault; stored energy is then released
Ex: San Andreas Fault
Rain shadow
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.
Where are other examples of rain shadows around the world?
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)
What is a watershed?
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
Layers of the Atmosphere
The atmosphere is comprised of layers based on temperature. These layers are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere.
Exosphere
Highest layer (very cold), Nitrogen 78% and Oxygen 21%
Troposphere
Lowest layer of our atmosphere
Weather occurs here
Greenhouse gases are trapped here
Stratosphere
Ozone layer (made up of O3 molecules) is found here and filters certain UV rays
What’s going on in the thermosphere?
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!
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
FALSE!!!!
What is the Coriolis Effect and how does it explain global wind patterns?
A phenomenon that causes fluids, like air and water, to curve as they travel across or above Earth’s surface.
How might the Sun have an effect on global wind patterns?
The Sun heats the Earth unevenly. Surrounding air is heated and rises due to low density which creates wind patterns
How might the rotation of Earth affect global wind patterns?
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.
Why is the air less dense at the Equator than at the poles?
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.
The Hadley Cell
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
“Normal” conditions:
What’s happening with the warm water?
It evaporates and adds moisture to the air above it, eventually producing rain storms
“Normal” conditions:
What’s happening with the cold water?
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
What happens during an El Nino event?
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).
Where is El Nino?
Occurs around the tropical/equatorial Pacific Ocean area
La Nina
There’s an intensification of normal conditions. This means that the trade winds are stronger and the water is colder off of South America.
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