Unit 2: Earth Systems & Resources

Question 1

Divergent boundaries

Answer 1

• Plates slide apart; space is filled with molten magma, can result in seafloor spreading, rift valleys, volcanoes, and earthquakes
• Ex: mid-atlantic ridge

Question 2

Convergent boundaries

Answer 2

• Collision of two plates that results in the creation of mountains, island arcs, earthquakes, and volcanoes
• Ex: Japan, Aleutian Islands (part of Alaska), Himalayas, Andes Mountains

Question 3

Oceanic plates & continental plates collide

Answer 3

• Oceanic plate is denser, so it falls beneath the continental plate
• Subduction zone is created
• Ex: Andes Mountains (western coast of south america), Grand Canyon (Arizona)

Question 4

Oceanic plates collide

Answer 4

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” (Pacific ocean); island arcs (Aleutian Islands), oceanic trenches

Question 5

Continental plates collide

Answer 5

• The two plates “uplift” one another
• Ex: Himalayas (in south Asia, stretches from Afghanistan to Pakistan to India)

Question 6

Subduction Zone

Answer 6

Earth’s tectonic plates dive back into the mantle

Question 7

Transform boundaries

Answer 7

• Plates slide past each other
• Earthquakes occur when stress overcomes a locked fault; stored energy is then released
• San Andreas Fault (california)
• Mariana Trench (Near philippines in Pacific Ocean)

Question 8

Incoming solar radiation (insolation)

Answer 8

Earth’s main source of energy. The angle of the Sun’s rays determines the intensity of solar radiation. The tilt of the Earth’s axis causes seasons and then number of hours of daylight in a particular location on Earth’s surface.

Question 9

rain shadow

Answer 9

A rain shadow is made possible because a higher elevation area (like a mountain range) blocks precipitation from reaching the other side. results in dry area on other side (leeward side) and rainier area on side with water (windward side). Wind blows toward leeward side.

Question 10

watershed/drainage basin

Answer 10

An area of land from which all water drains into a common body of water (such as a river, lake, or stream)

Question 11

What are the characteristics of any watershed?

Answer 11

• topography of the land (sloped or more flat, rocky vs grassy)
• type of vegetation and soil present (permeable vs impermeable)
• types of anthropogenic activities occurring in and around the area (deforestation, paving, agriculture)

Question 12

Troposphere

Answer 12

• lowest layer of atmosphere
• all weather occurs in this layer
• greenhouses gasses are trapped in this layer

Question 13

layers of atmosphere from surface -> up

Answer 13

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

Question 14

Stratosphere

Answer 14

• has ozone layer (made of O3 molecules)

Question 15

Thermosphere

Answer 15

• highest temperature in this layer
• this is because incoming UV and X-ray radiation from the Sun is absorbed by molecules in this layer
• this makes auroras possible

Question 16

Coriolis Effect

Answer 16

A phenomenon that causes fluids, like air and water, to curve as they travel across or above Earth’s surface. In northern Hemisphere, winds deflect right at the equator and in Southern Hemisphere winds deflect left. This is due to Earth’s rotation.

Question 17

How might the Sun have an effect on global wind patterns?

Answer 17

Warm air at the equator rises because it’s less dense, creating a low-pressure zone. As the warm air moves away from the equator and cools, it sinks, creating a high-pressure zone. This creates convection which drive wind patterns.

Question 18

Why is the air less dense at the Equator than at the poles?

Answer 18

The equator receives more direct sunlight than the poles, making the air at the equator much warmer. Warm air is less dense because its molecules move faster and spread apart, reducing the concentration of air molecules in a given volume.

Question 19

Hadley Cell

Answer 19

0° and 30° latitude
called Trade Winds
From the east to west

Question 20

Ferrel Cell

Answer 20

30° and 60° latitude
Prevailing Westerlies
From the west to east

Question 21

Polar Cell

Answer 21

60° and 90° latitude
Polar Easterlies
From the east to west

Question 22

How Do Ocean Currents Work?

Answer 22

Warm water at the top (less dense), cool water bottom. Cold water carries a lot of nutrients, warm water doesn’t. Because of trade winds, the warm water travels to west pacific ocean (australia) and part of it evaporates and part of it cools and travels back to east pacific ocean south america with lots of nutrients. In west/australia, lots of rain because warm water evaporates, cold water doesn’t. Cold water upwells on east side, bringing nutrients up. Commercial fishing in east/south america is abundant because of the nutrient rich water that provides foods to fish. In places with warm water (australia), water evaporates and causes rain storms. In places with cold water (south america), the cold water cools the air above it, producing little to no precipitation.

Question 23

What is El Nino?

Answer 23

trade winds weaken → the warm water slowly makes its way back to the other side of the Pacific Ocean (off the western coast of South America). Happens every 3-7 years, lasts 9-12 months.

Question 24

Effects of El Nino?

Answer 24

East Pacific:
Less nutrients off coast of south america so less fish (because they move or die) and then less larger organisms. Affects south american countries economies because they rely on fishing but there is less fish. More rain in south america because of the warm water coming back and then evaporating. Rain destroys infrastructure because of flooding. more rain -> more humid conditions -> prime for diseases to spread (mosquitoes can breed more rapidly) so diseases like malaria spread faster

West Pacific:
In western pacific ocean (australia), there is less warm water so less rain so crops, like rice, cannot grow because they require a lot of water. Warmer ocean waters → disrupts migration/survival of species who are temperature sensitive -> biodiversity decreases. Ex: coral reefs, fish normally found in cold upwellings.

Question 25

What is La Nina?

Answer 25

intensification of normal conditions
colder->even colder
warmer->even warmer
happens after el nino occurs

Question 26

When does the northern hemisphere have the most sunlight?

Answer 26

June Soltice
Also called summer Solstice, its on June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Earth’s North Pole has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. The summer solstice is when the Sun is at its highest position in the sky and the day has the longest period of daylight. Day length on this day ranges from about 13 hours (in Hawaii) to almost 24 hours (in northern Alaska).

Question 27

When does the northern hemisphere have the least sunlight?

Answer 27

December Solstice
Also called winter solstice, is on December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Earth’s North Pole has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. The winter solstice is when the Sun is at its lowest position in the sky and the day has the shortest period of daylight.

Question 28

how does el nino affect the U.S.?

Answer 28

Wetter weather and cooler than average temperatures in the southeastern states and warmer temperatures in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho)

Question 29

how does la nina affect the U.S.?

Answer 29

1. wetter Pacific northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho)
2. colder mid U.S. northern states
3. drier southern states
4. wetter and warmer northeastern states

Question 30

Exosphere

Answer 30

Highest layer (very cold)
What we think of as “space”