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AP Environmental Science > Unit 4 > Flashcards

Unit 4 Flashcards

1
Q

Core

A

the innermost zone of Earth’s interior, composed mostly of iron and nickel; it includes a liquid outer layer and a solid inner layer

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2
Q

Mantle

A

the layer of Earth above the core, containing magma, the asthenosphere, and the solid upper mantle

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3
Q

Magma

A

molen rock

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4
Q

Asthenosphere

A

the layer of Earth located in the outer part of the mantle, composed of semi-molten rock

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5
Q

Lithosphere

A

the outermost layer of Earth, including the solid upper mantle and crust

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6
Q

Plate tectonics

A

the theory that the lithosphere of Earth is divided into plates, most of which are in constant motion

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7
Q

Earthquake

A

a sudden movement of Earth’s crust caused by a release of potential energy from the movement of tectonic plates

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8
Q

Hot spot

A

in geology, a place where molten material from Earth’s mantle reaches the lithosphere

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9
Q

Volcano

A

a vent in the surface of Earth that emits, ash, gasses or molten lava

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10
Q

Divergent

A

an area below the ocean where tectonic plates move away from each other

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11
Q

Seafloor spreading

A

caused by a divergent boundary, in which rising magma forms new oceanic crust on the seafloor at the boundaries between those plates

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12
Q

Convergent boundary

A

an area where one plate moves toward another plate and collides

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13
Q

Subduction

A

the process in which the edge of an oceanic plate moves downward beneath the continental plate and is pushed toward the center of earth

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14
Q

Island arc

A

a chain or islands formed by volcanoes as a result of two tectonic plates coming together and experiencing subduction

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15
Q

Collision zone

A

an area where two continental plates are pushed together and the colliding forces push up the crust to form a mountain range

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16
Q

Transform boundary

A

an area where tectonic plates move sideways past each other

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17
Q

Fault

A

a fracture in rock caused by a movement of Earth’s crust

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18
Q

Igneous rock

A

rock formed directly from magma

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19
Q

Sedimentary rock

A

rock that forms when sediments such as muds, sand, or gravels are compressed by overlying sediments

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20
Q

Metamorphic rock

A

rock that forms when sedimentary rock, igneous rock, or other metamorphic rock is subjected to high temperature and pressure

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21
Q

Rock cycle

A

the geologic cycle governing the constant formation, alteration, and destruction of rock material that results from tectonics, weather, and erosion, among other processes

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22
Q

Physical weathering

A

the mechanical breakdown of rocks and minerals

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23
Q

Chemical weathering

A

the breakdown of rocks and minerals by chemical reactions, the dissolving of chemical elements from rocks, or both these processes

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24
Q

Acid precipitation

A

precipitation high in sulfuric acid and nitric acid (acid rain)

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25
Q

Erosion

A

the physical removal of rock fragments from a landscape or ecosystem

26
Q

Parent material

A

the underlying rock material from which the inorganic components of a soil are derived

27
Q

Horizon

A

a horizontal layer in a soil defined by distinctive physical features such as color and texture

28
Q

O horizon

A

the organic horizon at the surface of many soils, composed of organic detritus in various stages of decomposition

29
Q

Humus

A

the most fully decomposed organic matter in the lowest section of the O horizon

30
Q

E horizon

A

a zone of leaching or eluviation, found in some acidic soils under the O horizon or, less often, the A horizon

31
Q

B horizon

A

commonly known as subsoil, a soil horizon is composed primarily of mineral material with very little organic matter

32
Q

C horizon

A

the least-weathered soil horizon, which always occurs beneath the B horizon and is similar to the parent material

33
Q

Porosity

A

the size of the air spaces between particles

34
Q

Water holding capacity

A

the amount of water a soil can hold against the draining force of gravity

35
Q

Permeability

A

the ability of water to move through the soil

36
Q

Cation exchange capacity (CEC)

A

the ability of a particular soil to adsorb and release cations

37
Q

Base saturation

A

the proportion of soil bases to soil acids, expressed as a percentage

38
Q

Watershed

A

all the land in an area that drains into a particular stream, river, lake, or wetland

39
Q

Insolation

A

incoming solar radiation, which is the main source of energy on Earth

40
Q

Albedo

A

the percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface

41
Q

Troposphere

A

a layer of the atmosphere closest to the surface of Earth, extending up to approximately 16 km (10 miles)

42
Q

Stratosphere

A

the layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, extending roughly 16 to 50 km (10-31 miles) above the surface of Earth

43
Q

Ozone

A

a pale blue gas composed of molecules made up of three oxygen atoms

44
Q

Mesosphere

A

the layer of the atmosphere above the stratosphere, extending roughly 50 to 85 km (31-53 miles) above the surface of Earth

45
Q

Thermosphere

A

the layer of the atmosphere above the mesosphere, extending 85 to 600 km (53-375 miles) above the surface of Earth

46
Q

Exosphere

A

the outermost layer of the atmosphere, which extended from 600 to 10,000 km (375-6200 miles) above the surface of earth

47
Q

Saturation point

A

the maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature

48
Q

Adiabatic cooling

A

the cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises high in the atmosphere and expands

49
Q

Adiabatic heating

A

the heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume

50
Q

Latent heat release

A

the release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water

51
Q

Atmospheric convection current

A

global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth

52
Q

Hadley cell

A

a convection current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30N and 30S

53
Q

Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

A

the latitude that receives the most intense sunlight, which causes the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells to converge

54
Q

Polar cell

A

a convection current in the atmosphere formed by air that rises at 60N and 60S and sinks at the poles 90N and 90S

55
Q

Ferrell cell

A

a convection current in the atmosphere that lies between Hadley cells and polar cells

56
Q

Coriolis effect

A

the deflection of an object’s path due to the rotation of Earth

57
Q

Gyre

A

a large-scale pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere

57
Q

Upwelling

A

the upwell movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents

58
Q

Thermohaline circulation

A

an oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water

59
Q

Rain shadow

A

a region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side

60
Q

El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

A

a reversal of wind and water currents in the South Pacific

61
Q

La Nina

A

following an El Nino event: trade winds in the South Pacific reverse strongly, causing regions that were hot and dry to become cooler and wetter

AP Environmental Science (5 decks)

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