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AP environmental science > Enviro Unit 4 > Flashcards

Enviro Unit 4 Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

what is soil?

A

a mix of geological and organic components

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2
Q

soil components

A

⇨ sand, silt, clay
⇨ humus - main organic part of soil
⇨ nutrients - ammonia, nitrate, phosphates, etc.
⇨ water and air
⇨ living organisms - bacteria, worms, fungi

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3
Q

why is soil important?

A

⇨ medium for plant growth
⇨ carbon storage
⇨ filters water
⇨ habitat for organisms
⇨ breaks down organic material and recycled nutrients.

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4
Q

weathering
How?

A

breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces
- physical (wind, rain)
- biological (roots of trees)
- chemical (acid rain, moss, lichen)

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5
Q

erosion

A

transport of weathered rock fragments by wind, rain carried to new location and deposited.

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6
Q

soil formation from below

A

weathering of parent material produces smaller fragments that make up geological part of soil (sand, silt clay, minerals)

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7
Q

soil formation from above

A

⇨ breakdown of organic matter
⇨ erosion deposits soil particles from other areas.

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8
Q

effects on soil formation

A

parent material
topography
climate
organisms

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9
Q

effects on soil formation parent material

A

soil pH, nutrient content

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10
Q

effects on soil formation topography

A

steep slope = too much erosion
more level ground = deposition

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11
Q

effects on soil formation climate

A

warmer = faster breakdown of organic matter
more precipitation = more weathering, erosion and deposition

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12
Q

effects on soil formation organisms

A

soil organisms like bacteria, fungi, worms break down organic matter and mix up the soil

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13
Q

soil horizons O layer

A

Organic layer is layer of organic matter on top of soil provided nutrients and limits H2O loss

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14
Q

soil horizons A layer

A

top soil is a layer of humus and minerals with the most biological activity

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15
Q

soil horizons b layer

A

sub soil is lighter layer below topsoil, mostly sand, silt and clay some nutrients

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16
Q

soil horizons c layer

A

substratum is least weathered soil, composed of rock fragments no organic material

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17
Q

Soil degradation

A

the loss of the ability to support plant growth

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18
Q

loss of topsoil

A

tilling (turning soil) & loss of vegetation disturb soil and make it more easily eroded
loss of topsoil dries out soil, removes nutrients and soil organisms that recycle nutrients

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19
Q

compaction

A

compression of soil by machines (tractors) grazing, lifestock (cows), and humus reduces ability to hold moisture
- dry soil erodes more easily
- dry soil supports less plant growth, less root structure, leading to more erosion

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20
Q

nutrient depletion

A

repeadingly growing the same crops on the same soil removes key nutrients (N, P, K, Na, Mg) over time
- reduces ability to grow future crops

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21
Q

soil particles

A

geological portion of soil biggest to smalles
sand>silt>clay

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22
Q

soil texture

A

the % of sand silt and clay in soil
always adds up to 100% EX 40-40-20 = 40 sand 40 silt 40 clay

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23
Q

less compact soil vs compact soil

A

sand is bigger it has bigger pores (less compact) this allows water and air to eneter soil easily
clay has smallest pores wo its harder for air and water to enter heavy clay soils

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24
Q

porosity

A

the pore space within a soil

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25
Q

permeability

A

how easily water drains through
- more porosity = high permeability

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26
Q

H2O holding capacity

A

how well water is held
more porosity = low water holding Capacity
inverse relationship between porosity/permeability and H2O holding capacity

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27
Q

what is ideal soil for most plants

A

loam

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28
Q

soil fertility

A

abilty of soil to support plant growth

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29
Q

soil fertility nutrients

A

N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na (all positively charged)

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30
Q

to increases nutrients soil fertility

A
  • organic matter, humus
  • decomposer activity
  • clay
    clay particles are negatively charged and are atracted to positve nutrients
  • bases pH >7 means there is less hydrogen (positively charged) to displace nutrients
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31
Q

to decrease nutrients soil fertility

A
  • acids pH< 7 hydrogen displaces nutrients
  • excessive rain drains nutrients
  • excessive farming
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32
Q

to increases water holding capacity soil fertility

A
  • derated soil (biological activity)
  • compost/humus/organic matter
  • clay content
  • root structure (allows there to be gaps and spaces between soil particles therefore storing more water)
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33
Q

Decrease water holding capacity soil fertility

A
  • compact soil (cows, machines)
  • top soil erosion (contains humus)
  • sand
  • root loss
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34
Q

core

A

dense mass of solid (inner) and liquid (outer) iron, nickel and radioactive elements that release lots of heat

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35
Q

mantle

A

solid/ semi solid layer of rock/ magma surrounding core, kept malleable from imense heat form core

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36
Q

asthenosphere

A

softer layer of mantle, high pressure/ temp lead to magma

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37
Q

lithosphere

A

thin, brittle layer of rocks that includes solid upper mantle and crust (tectonic plates)

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38
Q

crust

A

very outer layer of lithosphere, earth’s surface

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39
Q

divergent plate boundary

A

-plates move away from each other
- forms mid oceanic ridges, volcanoes, seafloor spreading, rift valleys and earthquakes

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40
Q

convergent plate boundary

A
  • plates move towards each other
  • leads to subduction
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41
Q

subduction

A

one plate being forced beneath the other
- forms mountains, island arcs, earthquakes, volcanoes

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42
Q

transform fault plate boundary

A
  • plates slide past each other in opposite directions
  • forms earthquakes
43
Q

transform fault boundary (step by step)

A
  • plates sliding past each other in opposite directions creates a fault
    – earthquakes = most common
    – occurs when rough edges of plates get stuck on each other
    – pressure builds as plates keep sliding but edges stay stuck
    – when stress overcomes the locked fault, plates suddenly release, slide past each other and release energy that shakes the lithosphere.
44
Q

ring of fire

A

pattern of volcanoes & earthquakes all around pacific plate
– offshore island arcs (japan)

45
Q

transform faults

A

likely location of earthquakes

46
Q

hot spots

A

areas of especially hot magma rising up to lithosphere.
- mid oceanic islands (Iceland, Hawaii)

47
Q

convergent boundary - oceanic - oceanic

A
  • forces magma up to lithosphere surface, forming mid ocean volcanoes
48
Q

convergent boundary- oceanic-continental

A

dense oceanic plate subducts beneath continental & melts back into magma.
- forces magma up to lithosphere surface
- coastal mountains, volcanoes, tsunamis, trenches

49
Q

convergent boundaries - continental continental

A

one plate subducts underneath other, forcing surface crust upward
- forms mountains.

50
Q

convection cycle (divergent)

A
  • magma heated by earths’ core rises towards lithosphere
  • rising magma cools & expands forcing oceanic plates apart
  • magma cools and solidifies into new lithosphere
  • spreading magma forces oceanic plates into continent
  • sinking oceanic plates melts back into magma
  • also forces magma up, creating narrow coastal mountains & volcanoes on land.
51
Q

atmospheric circulation due to

A
  • most solar radiation at equator
  • density properties of air
  • rotation of earth (Coriolis effect)
52
Q

air properties

A
  • warm air is less dense and rises
  • warm air holds more moisture
  • cold air is more dense and sinks
53
Q

Hadley cell

A
  1. more direct sunlight at equator causing warm air and lots of evaporation
  2. warm, moist air rises and as it rises it loosed moisture and heat. Moisture than rains back down over the equator. and air continues to rise
  3. as air cool and hits the Tropopause, it spreads.
  4. cool, dry air sinks over about 30° N and 30°S
  5. leaving air causes a vacuum which sucks cold air back into the middle over the equator.
54
Q

low and high pressure along lattitude lines

A

always switching
Low pressure at 0°
high at 30° N and S
low pressure at 60° N and S

55
Q

ferell cells

A

-happen at 30°-60°
-travel opposite direction as hadley cells but same concept
-air travels down at 30°

56
Q

coriolis effect

A

deflection of objects traveling through atmosphere due to spin of the earth

57
Q

earth spinning factors

A

1.earth is spinning fastest at widest point (equator) because it has to spin a further distance in the same amount of time as For example the poles
2. earth spins from West to East

58
Q

how is wind deflected?

A

– wind traveling towards the equator (0°-30°) (from slower to faster) is deflected to the west
– wind between 30°-60° is deflected to the east

59
Q

global wind patterns between 0° - 30°

A

0°-30° wind blow East to West
– Eastern trade winds
– drives ocean current clockwise in N hemisphere and counterclockwise in S hemisphere

60
Q

global wind patterns between 30° - 60°

A

30°-60° wind blow West to East
– westerlies
– drives weather patterns of North America

61
Q

gasses in earths atmosphere

A

nitrogen - 78%
oxygen - 21%
argon - 0.93%
water vapor - 0-4%
C02 - 0.04%

62
Q

troposphere

A

weather occurs here most dense due to gravity
– most of atm’s gas molecules here
– ozone in troposphere is harmful to humans

63
Q

stratosphere

A

less dense
– ozone layer is found here absorbs UV rays which damage DNA and cause cancer

64
Q

mesosphere

A

even less dense
– meteors encounter friction

65
Q

thermosphere

A

hottest layer
– absorbs harmful X-rays and UV radiation
– charged gas molecules glow under intense solar radiation causes aurora borealis

66
Q

exosphere

A

outermost layer where atmosphere meets space

67
Q

what is it called where layers meet?

A

a pause
EX Tropopause

68
Q

order of layers of atmosphere

A

Troposphere
stratosphere
mesosphere
thermosphere
exosphere

69
Q

temperature gradient troposphere

A

troposphere – temperature decreases as air gets further away from warmth of earths surface

70
Q

temperature gradient stratosphere

A

temperatures increases due to ozone layer absorbing UV radiation formation of ozone from 02 releases heat

71
Q

temperature gradient mesosphere

A

temperature decrease because density decreases leaving less molecules to absorb sun

72
Q

temperature gradient thermosphere

A

temperature increases due to absorption of highly energetic solar radiation

73
Q

watersheds

A

all the land that drains into a specific body of water

74
Q

what are watersheds determined by

A

slope
–greater slope = faster velocity of runoff & more soil erosion
vegetation
– more vegetation = more infiltration
permeability determines runoff vs. infiltration rates

75
Q

human activity within a watershed that impact water quality

A

agriculture, clearcutting, urbanization, dams

76
Q

chesapeake bay watershed

A

-Drains into a series of streams and rivers & eventually chesapeake bay
-estuary that is being heavily polluted
- estuaries and wetlands provide ecosystem services

77
Q

human impacts on watersheds Nutrient pollution

A

nutrient pollution (N & P) leads to eutrophication in bay
Major N and P sources
1) discharge from sewage treatment plants
2) animal waste from CAFOS
3) synthetic fertilizer from agricultural fields

78
Q

human impacts on watersheds sediment pollution

A

sediment pollution is due to deforestation, urbanization and tilling of agricultural fields
– incr. turbidity & covers rocky stream bed habitats
– reduced sunlight / photosynthesis
– animals covered by sediment may suffocate/ can’t see

79
Q

direct affets of clear cutting

A

soil erosion
– caused by loss of stabilizing root structure
– removes soil organic matter & nutrients from forest
– deposits sediments in local streams which warms up water temp and makes it more turbit

80
Q

increase water temp due to…

A

deposited sediments in streams
loss of tree shade incr. soil and water temp.

81
Q

insolation

A

the amount of incoming solar radiation (energy from sun’s rays) reacting on area measured in Watts/m2

82
Q

turbidity

A

how cloudy and dusty the water is

83
Q

solar intensity and lattitude depends on

A

–the angle how directly rays strike earths surface
– the amount of atmosphere rays pass through

84
Q

where on earth is the highest insolation

A

at the equator because sun’s rays hit at 90 degrees perpendicular

85
Q

polar day vs polar night

A

polar day is when there is 24 hour light
polar night is when there is 24 h darkness
when polar day in North, polar night in South

86
Q

what causes seasons on earth’s surface

A

the orbit and tilt of earth causes some areas of the earth to be further or closer to the sun, changing the seasons

87
Q

Solstices

A

June and December: N and S hemisphere are maximally tilted toward the sun (summer and winter)

88
Q

equinox

A

March and September: N and S hemisphere are equally facing the sun (spring and fall)

89
Q

albedo

A

the amount of light that is reflected by a surface

90
Q

what affects albedo

A

color plays a large role
surface with high albedo reflect more light and have a lower temperature

91
Q

urban heat island

A

urban areas are hotter than surrounding rural areas due to low albedo of blacktop

92
Q

climate is largely determined by insolation

A

higher altitudes recieve less insolation: cooler, less precipitation especially at 30degrees
equator recieves most intense insolation: higher temp, air rises high precipitation

93
Q

geography also determined climate

A

mountains disrupt wind and produce rain shadow effect
oceans moderate temp and add moisture to air

94
Q

rain shadow effect

A

– warm moist air from ocean hits the windward side of mountain, rises and cools condensing H20 vapor and causing rain (leads to lush vegetation)
– dry air descends down leeward side of mountain warming as it sinks (leads to arid conditions)
ex Andes mountains

95
Q

gyres

A

large ocean circulation patterns due to global wind clockwise in N and anticlockwise in S

96
Q

upwelling zones

A

areas of ocean where winds blow warm surface water away from land mass, drawing up colder water to replace it
productive fishing

97
Q

thermohaline circulation

A

connects all of world’s oceans mixing salt, nutrients and temperature throughout
1. warm water from gulf of mexico moves toward north pole
2. cools and evaporates as it moves toward poles
3. saltier and colder water @ poles sinks because its denser
4. spreads along ocean floor
5. rises back up into shallow warm ocean current at upwelling zones

98
Q

El nino southern oscillation

A

enso: pattern of shifting atmospheric pressure and ocean temp in the equatorial pacific ocean. oscilate regularly from el nino (warmer rainier) to la nina (cooler drier) conditions

99
Q

effects of el nino

A

–suppressed upwelling in south america
–warmer winter in N america
– incr. precipitation in americas
– drought in SE asia
–decr. hurricane activity in atlantic ocean
–weakened monsoon in india and SE asia

100
Q

effect of la nina

A

–stronger upwelling and better fisheries in S america
– worse tornado activity in US and hurricane in atlanctic
– cooler drier weather in americas
– rainier warmer incr. monsoon in SE asia

101
Q

normal year conditions

A

– trade winds blow equatorial water E to West
– warm equatorial current brings heat and precipitation to SE asia
– high pressure in east pacific
– low pressure in west pacific

102
Q

el nino year conditions

A

– trade winds weaken or reverse W to East
– warm equatorial current brings heat to americas
– cooler, drier conditions in SE asia
– high pressure in west pacific
– low pressure in east pacific

103
Q

la nina year conditions

A

– stronger than usual trade winds
– incr. upwelling in south america
– warmer rainier than normall in SE asia

AP environmental science (4 decks)

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