Test 2 Review Flashcards
What are the four layers of the atmosphere. Give general details to describe each layer.
Troposphere: temp decreases with altitude, majority of atmospheric mass, weather
Stratosphere: temp increases with altitude, interaction of ozone with uv radiation
Mesosphere: temperature decreases with altitude, meteorites, little interaction with incoming solar radiation
Thermosphere: northern lights, temperature increases with altitude, absorbs sun’s radiation
What is convection and its connection to air circulation?
The process where heat is transferred through the movement of a fluid, like air or water.
In the context of air circulation: As the Sun heats the Earth’s surface, the air near the surface warms up. Warm air is lighter and tends to rise, creating a low-pressure area. As this air rises, cooler air rushes in to replace it, creating a cycle of circulation.
What are 3 convection cells in the atmosphere & the approximate latitudes of the cells?
Hadley, Ferrel and Polar circulation cells.
Hadley: between 30° and 0° N & S
Ferrel: about 60° to 30° N & S
Polar: 90-60° N & S
What are locations, names & wind patterns for the 3 major wind belts?
The trade winds: 30° N & S, blows east to west
Prevailing westerlies: 30° to 0° N & S, blows from the west to the east
Polar easterlies: 90° to 60° N & S, blows east to west
Describe the Coriolis effect
A force that affects a moving object over a rotating body.
It’s the reason why an airplane doesn’t travel in a straight line, the flight path is curved as an effect of a moving object moving over the rotating Earth
What is upwelling?
A process in which deep, cold water rises toward the surface
Describe ecological and economic impacts associated with El Nino events
Ecological: causes the Pacific jet stream to move South and spread further East. Leads to wetter conditions in the South & warmer conditions in the North. Also has a strong effect on marine life
Economic: causes droughts, crop failures, impacts fisheries, and food shortages
What 3 particles determine soil texture?
Sand, silt and clay
Describe differences between porosity & permeability
Porosity is the amount of space that can be filled with water & permeability is how easily water will flow throw that material
How does soil pH affect nutrients present in the soil?
In acidic soil, certain nutrients become more dissolvable, while in alkaline soil, some nutrients may become less available. Extreme pH levels can lead to nutrient deficiencies
What is cation-exchange capacity? Why would it be important for a farmer to consider their soil’s CEC? What soil particle is most responsible for the CEC value?
Its the amount of exchangeable cations a soil can hold. It would be important to consider because it’s a useful indicator of fertility. Clay particles are responsible
What is the usable form of Nitrogen for plants? Why is it important for plants health?
Nitrate / Nitrite & Ammonia. Primary elements needed for reproduction.
What’s the usable form of Phosphorus for plants? Why is it important for a plants health?
Phosphates. Main element in energy production & needed for replication
What’s the usable form of Potassium for plants? Why is it important for a plants health?
Potassium ions. Helps synthesize sugars & helps plants take in more water. If there’s excess of it in the soil, the plant can take in other soil nutrients
What is a soil profile? What are the typical soil horizons & characteristics associated with each?
The layers of soil on Earth. O, A, B, C, & R Horizons. E horizon happens when leaching is present.
Describe the process of primary succession
Happens when a patch of land is created or exposed for the first time. Occurs in an area with no life & no soil
How does secondary succession differ from primary?
Primary succession occurs in places where there was no life, while secondary succession occurs in places where life existed
What type of organisms transform bare rock to soil?
Lichens, algae & mosses
Where do the mineral & organic components of the new soil come from?
Chemical alteration in rocks & when lichen & algae die, they decompose and become organic material
What does the term climax community mean?
It’s the last stage in succession where an ecosystem reaches a stable state
What evidence supports the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
Locations of earthquakes & volcanoes, magnetic striping, position of Ocean trenches
Describe what occurs at a divergent plate boundary
When two tectonic plates move away from each other. Earthquakes are common and magma rises from Earth’s mantle to the surface, creating new oceanic crust
Describe what occurs at a convergent plate boundary
When two tectonic plates move toward each other. Subduction & collision
What happens at a transform plate boundary?
When two tectonic plates slide past each other. Causes earthquakes & does not create or destroy crust
Describe how plate tectonics account for the formation of mountains, volcanoes & earthquakes
Collision makes mountains, subduction creates magma and it rises to the surface resulting in volcanic eruptions, divergent cause earthquakes
Why do you think it took so long for scientists to discover an environmental system of such fundamental importance as plate tectonics?
Because it went against prevailing theories held by scientists before
Describe the difference between GPP and NPP
GPP is the total amount of food plants making during photosynthesis. NPP is GPP minus what the plants use for their own growth & maintenance
What is an ecological tolerance factor? Give 3 examples
Organisms can tolerate a certain range of a particular factor, but cant survive if there’s too much or too little of the factor
Examples
• There may be a coldest temperature and hottest temperature an animal can survive in their environment
• Getting too much or too little sunlight causes a plant stress
• Too low or too high pH levels in water may kill a plant
What are two factors that correlate to increase/decrease island biodiversity
How close the island is to the mainland & how large the island is
Describe economic & ecological impacts of decreasing biodiversity
Economic: loss of biodiversity can impact fisheries, loss of new sources of medicine, economic losses from flooding
Ecological: lowers the quality of an ecosystem’s services, greenhouse gas emissions, changes in water quality
Identify 4 types of ecosystem services & give examples of each
Provisioning: timber from trees able to be sold
Regulating: water purification
Supporting: bee pollinates crops & helps a farmer financially
Cultural: sense of home
Describe process of the scientific method
Making an observation, forming a hypothesis, making a prediction, conducting an experiment & analyzing the results
Describe how scientists are studying island biodiversity
Field surveys, genetic analysis, island biogeography, paleoecology, etc
Consider the vertical structure of the ocean in terms of temperature and salinity. What is the pycnocline?
The pycnocline is a layer where there is a rapid change in density with depth. This change is influenced by changes in temperature & salinity. Separates warm & cold waters
Describe changes in air circulation & ocean surface during an El Nino-Southern Oscillation
(ENSO) event and a La Nina
El Niño: warmer than normal ocean surface temps, trade winds weaken, impact is increased rainfall in central & eastern pacific leading to droughts in usually wet areas & heavy rainfall in usually dry areas
La Niña: colder than normal ocean surface temps, trade winds are stronger, brings more rainfall to western pacific & southeast asia, results in hurricane activity in the atlantic
Describe how biomes differ in terms of temperature and precipitation
Tropical Biomes occur at the equator due to continuous amounts of sunlight reaching the surface
Most to least precipitation at the equator: Tropical rainforest, tropical seasonal forest, scrubland, savanna, tropical desert
30N and 30S: less solar radiation during the year, therefore the temp varies a little more with cooler winter months & warmer summer months
Most to least precipitation: Temperate deciduous forests, Chaparral, Grasslands, Temperate Desert.
60N and 60S: even less solar radiation than the other latitudes. Changes in temp, cold winters & mild summers
Most to least precipitation: Taiga, subpolar deserts
90N and 90S: least amount of yearly solar radiation. Biggest changes in temp, very cold winters & short summers
Most to least precipitation: Tundra, polar desert
