Unit 4 Part 1 Envi Sci Quiz

Question 1

Core

Answer 1

Dense mass of solid nickel, iron, and radioactive elements that release massive amount of heat

Question 2

Mantle

Answer 2

Liquid layer of magma surrounding core, kept liquified by intense heat from core

Question 3

Asthenosphere

Answer 3

Solid, flexible outer layer of mantle, beneath the lithosphere

Question 4

Lithosphere

Answer 4

Thin, brittle layer of rock floating on top of mantle (broken up into tectonic plates)

Question 5

Crust

Answer 5

Very outer layer of the lithosphere, earth’s surface

Question 6

Convection currents

Answer 6

Drive the movement of Earth’s rigid tectonic plates in the planet’s fluid molten mantle

Question 7

Divergent Plate Boundary

Answer 7

Plates move away from each other

Forms: seafloor spreading, mid-oceanic ridges, volcanoes
Ex. Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Question 8

Transform Fault Plate Boundary

Answer 8

Plates slide past each other in opposite directions

Forms: earthquakes
Ex. San Andres Fault in CA

Question 9

Convergent Plate Boundary

Answer 9

Plates move towards each other, leads to subduction

Forms: volcanoes, mountains, island arcs, earthquakes

Convergence of two continental plates results in mountain formation

Ex. Western Pacific plate (ring of fire), India into Asian (Himalayas)

Question 10

Soil

Answer 10

A renewable resource that develops gradually through the weathering of rocks and the accumulation of organic material (decomposition).

Question 11

Humus

Answer 11

Main organic part of soil (broken down biomass like leaves, dead animals, waste, etc.)

Question 12

What is Soil?

Answer 12

Sand, silt, clay

Question 13

What does soil help with?

Answer 13

Plants, water, nutrient recycling, & habitat

Question 14

How does soil form?

Answer 14

Weathering:
Breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces
Weathering of rocks = soil formation

Erosion:
Transport of weathered rock fragments by wind and rain
Carried to new location and deposited (deposition)

Question 15

O-Horizon (Soil Horizons) - 1

Answer 15

Layer of organic matter (plant roots, dead leaves, animal waste, etc) on top of soil

• Provides nutrients and limits H2O loss to evap.

Question 16

A-Horizon (Soil Horizons) - 2

Answer 16

Aka topsoil; layer of humus (decomposed organic matter) and minerals from parent material

• A-Horizon has most biological activity (earthworms, soil microbes) breaking down organic matter to release nutrients

Question 17

B-Horizon (Soil Horizons) - 3

Answer 17

Aka subsoil; lighter layer below topsoil, mostly made of minerals w/little to no org. matter

• Contains some nutrients

Question 18

C-Horizon (Soil Horizons) - 4

Answer 18

Least weathered soil that is closest to the parent material

Question 19

Soil Texture

Answer 19

Is the % of sand, silt, and clay in a soil

• Always adds up to 100% ex: 40-40-20

Question 20

Pores

Answer 20

Empty spaces between particles

Question 21

Porosity

Answer 21

Is the amount of pore space a soil has

• More sand in a soil = more porous/higher porosity (easier for water + air to enter)
• More clay in a soil = less porous/less porosity (harder for water + air to enter)

Question 22

Permeability

Answer 22

How easily water drains through a soil

• More porous/higher porosity = more permeable/higher permeability

~ Positive relationship between porosity + permeability

Question 23

Arable Land

Answer 23

Land that is able to be used for agriculture

• Approximately 12.5% of the earth’s land area is currently in agricultural production.

Question 24

Soil Degradation

Answer 24

The loss of the ability of soil to support plant growth

• Loss of Topsoil
• Compaction
• Nutrient Depletion

Question 25

Desertification

Answer 25

The transformation of arable, productive land to desert or unproductive land due to climate change or destructive land use. Deserts are spreading.

• Threatens 1/3 of the earth’s surface and over 1 billion people