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AP Environmental Science > Unit 4 > Flashcards

Unit 4 Flashcards

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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

Molten rock; makes up the innermost portion of the mantle

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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

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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6
Q

Earthquake

A

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

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7
Q

Hot spots

A

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

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8
Q

Volcano

A

A vent in the surface of Earth that emits ash, gases, or molten lava

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9
Q

Tsunami

A

A series of waves in the ocean caused by seismic activity or an undersea volcano that causes a massive displacement of water

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10
Q

Divergent boundary

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 ocean crust on the seafloor at the boundaries between those plates.

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12
Q

Convergent boundary

A

An area where on 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 the Earth

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14
Q

Island arcs

A

A chain of 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 mud, sands, 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, weathering and erosion, and 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. AKA (acid rain)

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25
Q

Erosion

A

The physical removal of rock fragments from a landscape or ecosystem

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26
Q

Parent material

A

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

27
Q

Horizons

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 orgonic matter in the lowest section of the O Horizon

30
Q

A Horizon

A

Frequently the top layer of soil, a zone of organic material and minerals that have been mixed together (topsoil)

31
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

32
Q

B Horizon

A

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

33
Q

C Horizon

A

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

34
Q

Porosity

A

The size of the air spaces between particles

35
Q

Water holding capacity

A

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

36
Q

Permeability

A

The ability of water to move through the soil

37
Q

Cation exchange capacity

A

The ability of a particular soil to adsorb and release cations

38
Q

Base saturation

A

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

39
Q

Watershed

A

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

40
Q

Insolation

A

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

41
Q

Albedo

A

The percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface

42
Q

Troposphere

A

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

43
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

44
Q

Ozone

A

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

45
Q

Mesosphere

A

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

46
Q

Thermosphere

A

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

47
Q

Exosphere

A

The outermost layer of the atmosphere, which extends from 600 to 10,000 km (375-6,200 miles) above the Earth

48
Q

Saturation

A

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

49
Q

Adiabatic cooling

A

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

50
Q

Adiabatic heating

A

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

51
Q

Latent heat release

A

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

52
Q

Atmospheric convection currents

A

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

53
Q

Hadley cell

A

A convection current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south

54
Q

Intertropical convergence zone

A

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

55
Q

Polar cells

A

Convection current in the atmosphere, formed by air that rises at 60 degrees north and south and sinks at the poles, 90 degrees north and south

56
Q

Ferrell cell

A

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

57
Q

Coriolis effect

A

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

58
Q

Gyre

A

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

59
Q

Upwelling

A

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

60
Q

Thermohaline circulation

A

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

61
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

62
Q

El Nino-Southern Oscillation

A

A reversal of wind and water currents in the South Pacific

63
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

64
Q
A

AP Environmental Science (7 decks)

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