Physical Systems Vocab Flashcards
Ring of Fire
An extensive zone of volcanic and seismic activity that coincides roughly with the western, northern, and eastern borders of the Pacific Ocean.
Plate Tectonics
a theory explaining the structure of the earth’s crust and many associated phenomena as resulting from the interaction of rigid lithospheric plates that move slowly over the underlying mantle.
Weathering
the action of the weather conditions in altering the color, texture, composition, or form of exposed objects; specifically
Erosion
A type of weathering in which surface soil and rock are worn away through the action of glaciers, water, and wind.
El Niño
an irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes affecting the equatorial Pacific region and beyond every few years, characterized by the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water off northern Peru and Ecuador, typically in late December.
La Niña
a cooling of the water in the equatorial Pacific that occurs at irregular intervals and is associated with widespread changes in weather patterns complementary to those of El Niño, but less extensive and damaging in their effects.
Ecosystem
a complex set of relationships among the living resources, habitats, and residents of an area. It includes plants, trees, animals, fish, birds, …
Climate
the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.
Weather
the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.
Desertification
the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.
Monsoon climate
A wind system that influences large climatic regions and reverses direction seasonally.
Soil
the upper layer of earth in which plants grow, a black or dark brown material typically consisting of a mixture of organic remains, clay, and rock particles.
Monoculture
the cultivation or growth of a single crop or organism especially on agricultural or forest land
LACEMOPS
Latitude, Air Currents, Continentality, Elevation, Mountain Barriers, Ocean Currents, Pressure and Prevailing Winds, Storms.
HEI ( Human Environment Interaction )
interactions between the human social system and (the “rest” of) the ecosystem.
