Geology, Food Systems & Soil

Question 1

Explain convection and how it leads to plate tectonics.

Answer 1

Hot, less dense material in the Earth’s mantle rises, while cooler, denser material sinks, creating circulation patterns called convection currents. These currents exert forces that move the tectonic plates on the Earth’s surface

Question 2

What evidence do we have for Pangea and the Theory of Plate Tectonics?

Answer 2

the shapes of continents (Africa and South America,) matching fossil records, and similar rock formations found on different continents

Question 3

What are the three types of plate boundary interactions?

Answer 3

divergent boundaries, convergent boundaries, and transform boundaries

Question 4

What types of geologic hazards or geographic formations are associated with divergent boundaries

Answer 4

Mid-Ocean Ridges - Long underwater mountain ranges
Rift Valleys - Deep valleys formed on land where a continent is splitting.
Volcanic Activity
Hydrothermal Vents - Found along mid-ocean ridges, these are hot springs on the seafloor where heated water rich in minerals escapes from the crust.

Earthquakes
Volcanic Eruptions

Question 5

What types of geologic hazards or geographic formations are associated with convergent boundaries

Answer 5

Mountain Ranges
Volcanic Arcs - Chains of volcanoes formed when an oceanic plate subducts beneath another plate and melts, generating magma.
Ocean Trenches - Deep underwater valleys at subduction zones where one plate dives beneath another.

Earthquakes
Volcanic Eruptions
Tsunamis
Landslides

Question 6

What types of geologic hazards or geographic formations are associated with transform boundaries

Answer 6

Strike-Slip Faults
Linear Valleys or Troughs - Created along the fault line due to crustal movement.
Scarps and Pressure Ridges - Ridges or cliffs formed by repeated horizontal movement and compression along the fault.

Question 7

divergent boundaries

Answer 7

away from each other

Question 8

transform boundaries

Answer 8

horizontally past each

Question 9

convergent boundaries

Answer 9

towards eachother

Question 10

What is the ring of fire?

Answer 10

a horseshoe-shaped area around the Pacific Ocean where a majority of the world’s earthquakes and volcanoes are located. It’s not a literal ring, but rather an arc of active volcanoes and frequent seismic activity tracing the boundaries of several tectonic plates. This region is characterized by subduction zones,

Question 11

subduction

Answer 11

a geological process where one tectonic plate slides beneath another at a convergent plate boundary

Question 12

What is the difference between oceanic and continental crust

Answer 12

Oceanic crust is thinner, denser, and younger than continental crust, and it is primarily composed of basalt, while continental crust is thicker, less dense, and older, and is mainly composed of granite.

Question 13

how do oceanic and continental crust interact when converging?

Answer 13

the denser oceanic crust subducts, or sinks beneath, the less dense continental crust

Question 14

What are some ecosystem services of Soil?

Answer 14

regulating water supply, nutrient cycling, and habitat provision, as well as playing a role in carbon sequestration and air quality maintenance.
agriculture

Question 15

What is weathering?

Answer 15

the process where rocks break down at the Earth’s surface due to natural forces like water, ice, wind, plants, and animals

Question 16

How is biological weathering different from chemical weathering?

Answer 16

Biological Weathering:
This type of weathering is caused by the actions of plants, animals, and microorganisms. For example, plant roots can grow into cracks in rocks, widening them and eventually causing the rock to break apart

Chemical Weathering:
This involves chemical reactions, such as oxidation, acid rain, hydrolysis, and dissolution, that alter the rock’s chemical composition and weaken it.

Question 17

How is soil the “interface of biology and geology”?

Answer 17

it’s the zone where geological processes, like weathering, interact with biological processes, like decomposition and plant growth. Essentially, soil is a dynamic, living system formed by the interaction between the Earth’s rock and mineral components (geology) and the organisms that inhabit it (biology).

Question 18

What are two processes that work in tandem to create new soil?

Answer 18

weathering and compsoting

Question 19

what is a food system

Answer 19

encompasses all the activities and actors involved in producing, processing, distributing, consuming, and disposing of food

Question 20

food system steps

Answer 20

Production: Growing crops, raising livestock, fishing, and other forms of food generation. This involves farmers, fishers, and agricultural systems.

Processing: Transforming raw agricultural products into food products (e.g., turning wheat into flour, or milk into cheese).

Distribution: Transporting and storing food so it reaches retailers, restaurants, or directly to consumers, selling it to places

Consumption: The ways people buy, prepare, and eat food.

Question 21

What is a food desert?

Answer 21

an area that has limited access to food that is plentiful, affordable, or nutritious.

Question 22

what is a food swamp

Answer 22

a geographic area where there is an abundance of unhealthy food options, such as fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and liquor stores, while there is limited access to fresh, nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Question 23

What is the “Green Revolution”?

Answer 23

was a period of major agricultural innovation

Question 24

when did the green revolution happen and why

Answer 24

the 1940s and the late 1970s, with its peak impact in the 1960s and 1970s.

After World War II, many developing countries faced rapidly growing populations, leading to concerns about food shortages and famine.
Traditional farming methods were not producing enough food to meet demand.
Breakthroughs in plant breeding, fertilizers, and irrigation made higher crop yields possible.

Question 25

what was the green revolutions main outcome?

Answer 25

Reduce hunger and famine in many regions. Boost economies through increased agricultural output. Lay the groundwork for modern agribusiness in parts of the world. Environmental degradation (soil depletion, water shortages, pollution from agrochemicals). Loss of biodiversity, as traditional crop varieties were replaced. Social inequality, as wealthier farmers benefited more from the new technologies, while poorer ones were often left behind.

Question 26

What are agricultural practices that lead to soil regeneration?

Answer 26

cover cropping, crop rotation, composting, no-till farming, and managed grazing

Question 27

messages from the movie

Answer 27

Biodiversity is Key to Sustainability Instead of relying on chemicals, they use natural predators (like coyotes owls, and birds) to control pests. Each species plays a role in supporting the health of the whole system. Regenerative Agriculture Can Restore Land The Chesters transform degraded, lifeless soil into rich, fertile land. They use cover crops, compost, rotational grazing, and other regenerative practices to rebuild the ecosystem. Balance Comes from Working with Nature, Not Against It Problems (like gopher infestations or coyote attacks) are often solved not by force, but by creating ecological balance. The film shows that trying to control nature often backfires, while collaborating with it brings harmony.