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unit 4: earth systems and resources Flashcards

1
Q

plate tectonics

A

theory that the earth’s lithosphere is divided into plates, many of which are in constant motion

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2
Q

core

A

innermost zone of earth’s interior
liquid outer layer, solid inner layer
composed of iron + nickel

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3
Q

hot spots

A

places where molten material from the mantle reaches earth’s lithosphere
hawaiian islands were formed at one of these

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4
Q

subduction

A

one crustal plate passing under one another
seen in convergent plates

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5
Q

volcano

A

vent in earth’s surface that emits ash, gas, and molten lava
natural source of atmospheric CO2, particulates, and metals
left behind the hawaiian islands

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6
Q

divergent plate boundaries

A

oceanic plates move apart
as magma from mantle reaches crust, new rock is formed (seafloor spreading)

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7
Q

seafloor spreading

A

formation of new ocean crust as a result of magma pushing upward + outward from mantle to the surface
brings copper, lead, and silver to earth’s surface

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8
Q

convergent plate boundaries

A

plates move towards one another and collide

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9
Q

transform fault boundary

A

tectonic plates move sideways past each other

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10
Q

seismic activity

A

frequency and intensity of earthquakes over time

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11
Q

fault zone

A

large expanse of rock where a fault has occurred

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12
Q

earthquake

A

sudden movement of earth’s crust caused by a release of potential energy along a geological fault
vibration + trembling at earth’s surface

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13
Q

epicenter

A

exact point on surface of earth directly above location where rock ruptures during an earthquake

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14
Q

richter scale

A

measure of the largest ground movement that occurs during an earthquake
increases by a factor of 10 for each unit increase
a magnitude 6.0 earthquake is 10x greater than a 5.0

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15
Q

tsunami

A

series of waves in the ocean caused by seismic activity or an undersea volcano
caused the second-worst nuclear power plant incident ever

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16
Q

igneous rock

A

rock formed directly from magma

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17
Q

rock cycle

A

geologic cycle in charge of alteration, formation, and destruction of rock material
results from tectonic, weathering, erosion

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18
Q

intrusive igneous rock

A

igneous rock forming when magma rises + cools in an underground place

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19
Q

extrusive igneous rock

A

rock forming when magma cools ABOVE the earth’s surface

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20
Q

fracture

A

crack in the rock during cooling

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21
Q

sedimentary rock

A

rock forming when sediment (mud, sand, gravel) are compressed by overlaying sediments

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22
Q

metamorphic rock

A

rock formed at high temperatures and pressures

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23
Q

physical weathering

A

mechanical breakdown of rocks and minerals
caused by water, wind, freezing/thawing cycles

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24
Q

chemical weathering

A

breakdown of rocks and minerals by chemical reactions
AND/OR the dissolving of chemical elements from rocks

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25
primary minerals
chemical weathering usually occurs here
26
acid precipitation (rain)
precipitation high in sulfuric acid and nitric acid from reactions between water vapor, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides from atmosphere
27
erosion
physical removal of rock from a landscape or ecosystem caused by both weather patterns (like wind) and organisms that burrow under the soil
28
parent material
most prevalent in the C horizon inorganic components of soil are derived here
29
soil degradation
loss of some or all of soil's ability to support plant growth soil erosion (loss of topsoil) is a major cause
30
factors of soil formation
climate, topography, organisms, time
31
topography
surface slope and arrangement of a landscape soils on steep slopes are more subject to erosion soil at the bottom of steep slopes continually accumulates material from higher elevations + become deep
32
horizon
horizontal layer in soil defined by distinct physical features like texture and color
33
O horizon
organic horizon at surface of many soils comprised of organic detritus in stages of decomposition
34
humus
fully decomposed organic matter at the bottom of O horizon
35
A (topsoil)
organic material and minerals mixed together
36
E horizon
leaching and eluviation under some acidic soils under O or, less often, under the A horizon
37
B horizon (subsoil)
primarily mineral material, very little organic matter
38
C horizon (subsoil)
least-weathered and similar to the parent material
39
cation exchange capacity (CEC)
ability of a particular soil to absorb and release cations high levels are desirable for agriculture but if water is over 20 percent clay, water retention becomes too high for most plants
40
base saturation
proportion of soil bases to soil acids, expressed as a percentage determines ecosystem productivity
41
soil bases
calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium
42
soil acids
aluminum and hydrogen
43
soil organisms
80-90 percent: bacteria, fungi, protozoans also present: slugs, insects, earthworms, and rodents
44
crustal abundance
average concentration of an element on earth's crust
45
ore
concentrated accumulation of minerals from which economically valuable materials are extracted (gold, silver, diamond)
46
metal
element with properties that allow it to conduct electricity and heat energy, as well as other vital functions
47
troposphere
layer of earth's atmosphere closest to earth's surface (16 km extent) most nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor temp decreases with distance from ground
48
stratosphere
above troposphere, 16-50 ozone is here, absorbing sun's UV-B and UV-C radiation upper part is warmer than lower part because UV rays are transferred into heat temperature INCREASES as altitude INCREASES
49
as we move from the stratosphere upwards, atmospheric ___ and ___ DECREASE
pressure and density
50
thermosphere
blocks X-ray and UV radiation from reaching earth contains gas particles that glow when hitting light
51
albedo
percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface the higher this is, the more solar energy it reflects and the less it absorbs
52
differential heating of the earth
tropical regions near equator receive more solar energy than mid-latitude and polar regions, where the sun's rays strike earth at an oblique angle
53
saturation point
maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature when the air temperature falls, this decreases
54
four air properties
density, water vapor capacity, adiabatic heating/cooling, and latent heat release
55
porosity
the percentage of open space within a rock or sediment. larger soil particles (sand) are MORE porous
56
intertropical convergence zone
latitude that receives the most intense sunlight , causing ascending branch of hadley cells to converge
57
ferrell cells
lies between hadley and polar cells distributes warm air away from the tropics and cold air away from poles
58
coriolis effect
there is a deflection of an object's path due to the natural curvature of the earth, as well as its rotation
59
polar cells
60 degrees and above both north and south air dries as it moves towards the poles and water vapor condenses into precipitation
60
rain shadow
a region with dry conditions found on leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds on ocean causing precipitation on windward side
61
what does the release of latent air do?
increases air temperature
62
intertropical convergence zone
band of clouds consisting of showers and occasional thunderstorms that encircles the globe near the equator
63
saltwater intrusion
infiltration of salt water in an area where groundwater pressure has been reduced from extensive drilling of wells
64
floodplain
land adjacent to a river
65
cone of depression
causes shallow wells nearby to dry up
66
floodplains
increased fertility generally flat area of land next to a river or stream
67
groundwater recharge
water moves downward from the surface water to groundwater precipitation falls onto land, infiltrates into soil, and moves down through pore spaces can also occur in surface-water leakage
68
el nino
unusual warming of surface waters in eastern pacific ocean

apes unit 4: earth systems (1 decks)

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