Litho And Hydro Flashcards
What is the lithosphere
The hard shell of the earth consisting of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.
What is the earth’s structure (layers that have distinct composition)
Crust
Mantle (upper and lower)
Outer core
Inner core
What are minerals
Inorganic substances. They are made up of the same elements in an orderly crystalline structure. They have a defined composition and properties.
Give all the mineral properties/classifications
-colour
-transparency
-hardness
-streak
-magnetism
What are the properties of colour and describe them.
-idiochromatic (one colour)
-allochromatic (many colours)
What are the properties of transparency and describe them all.
-transparent (see through)
-translucent (see light through)
-opaque (cloudy, cannot see through)
What is the scale for hardness
Mohs Scale from 1(softest) -10(hardest)
Describe the significance of the streak property
When rubbed on porcelain, the power trace is unique
what are soil horizons
they are differentiated layers running roughly parallel to the surface of the ground
what is organic matter
decomposing vegetation by bacteria
what is top soil
mineral rich soil, organic matter, supports life.
what is subsoil
this layer accumulates minerals
what is fragmented rock
broken rock from parent rock
what is parent rock
layer of large unbroken rocks
what are the conditions of soil fertility
- useful minerals
- moisture.
- appropriate soil pH (for plant growth)
- oxygen for soil bacteria, worms, insects.
- dark soils contain higher conectrations of organic materals such as carbon, phosphates, nitrates
- plant growth is encouraged
- Peat, Humus, are good
- Sand and Clay are bad.
what is soil depletion
the loss of oil fertility, loss of nutrients to overuse, loss of soil to wind, water erosion
what is compaction
heavy machinery causes compaction so it reduces O’2 available to micro-organisms.
what is soil contamination
the abnormal presence of a harmful substance in an environment.
explain fertilizers in soil contamination
fertilizers get into water system and cause growth of blue-green algae
explain pesticides in soil contamination
pesticides kill micro-organisms that break down soil.
What forms acid rain and then acidic soil.
heavy metals from car exhaust, gasoline SO’‘2 and NO’‘x form acid rain and then acidic soil.
how does acidic soil affect nature
upsets the natures balance of pH and nutrients, can
kill micro-organisms and cause plants to grow slowly.
what is Buffering Capacity
soils ability to resist changes in pH when acidic or alkaline (basic) compounds are added.
How does one get better buffering capacity
getting finer texture
how does one help counter pH variations
organic matter and clay because they are both fine grain.
what is permafrost
ground whose temperature has been 0 degrees celsius for at least two years.
explain why permafrost melts?
permafrost melting is a consequence of global warming that releases methan, a powerful GHG
why do we build house on piles (stilts) in the north?
so the thermal energy from the house does not go into the ground and cause instability
give examples of fossil fuels
coal, oil, and natural gas
what is the result of decomposition of organic matter
fossil fuels
do the percentage of fossil fuels and what they are
99.9% plants
0.1% animals
what does 2/3 of the world depend on?
fossil fuels
in how many years may fossil fuels run out
50 years