test 2

Question 1

plate tectonics

Answer 1

states that Earth’s outer layer, the lithosphere, consists
of large geologic platforms, or plates, that move very slowly across
its surface.

Question 2

convection cells

Answer 2

The driving force behind tectonic plate theory are the convection cells resulting from heat differences within Earth’s mantle. These
cell circulate slowly, and in different directions, producing surface movement in the crustal tectonic plates. New plate material reaches the surface in the mid-oceanic
ridges, then moves away slowly from these divergent boundaries. As the plate material cools it tends to sink, creating subduction zones in convergent plate boundaries.

Question 3

volcanoes vs earthquakes

Answer 3

the loss of life from volcanoes is generally
a fraction of that from earthquakes.
In the 20th century, an estimated 75,000
people were killed by volcanic eruptions,
whereas approximately 1.5 million died in
earthquakes

Question 4

greenhouse effect

Answer 4

Incoming short-wave solar energy, called insolation, passes through
the atmosphere and is absorbed by Earth’s land and water surfaces. As
these surfaces warm, they reradiate heat back into the lower atmosphere
as infrared, long-wave energy. This reradiating energy, in turn, is
absorbed by water vapor and other atmospheric gases such as carbon
dioxide (CO2), creating the envelope of warmth that makes life possible
on our planet.

Question 5

weather vs climate

Answer 5

weather is the short-term expression of atmospheric
processes, and climate is the long-term average from daily
weather measurements. As pundits like to say, climate is what you expect
and weather is what you get.

Question 6

Koppen system

Answer 6

used to describe the world’s diverse
climates. Combinations of upper- and lower-case
letters describe the general climate type, along with
precipitation and temperature characteristics. Specifically,
the A climates are tropical, the B climates are dry, the
C climates are generally moderate and are found in the
middle latitudes, and the D climates are associated with
continental and high-latitude locations

pg 81/563

Question 7

Anthropogenic emissions

Answer 7

human-generated GHGs

Question 8

Kyoto Protocol

Answer 8

30 Western industrialized countries agreed to cut
back their emissions to 1990 levels by 2012

Question 9

Paris Agreement

Answer 9

It is an inclusive, international agreement, approved by 195
countries,
covering the economic spectrum from developed to
developing economies.

Question 10

biodiversity

Answer 10

rich diversity of plants and
animals covering its continents and oceans

Question 11

ice age

Answer 11

20,000 years ago