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AP Environmental Science > Unit 4 > Flashcards

Unit 4 Flashcards

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

molen rock

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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

Lithosphere

A

the outermost layer of Earth, including the solid upper mantle and crust

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6
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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7
Q

Earthquake

A

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

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8
Q

Hot spot

A

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

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9
Q

Volcano

A

a vent in the surface of Earth that emits, ash, gasses or molten lava

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10
Q

Divergent

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 oceanic crust on the seafloor at the boundaries between those plates

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12
Q

Convergent boundary

A

an area where one 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 earth

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14
Q

Island arc

A

a chain or 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 muds, sand, 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, weather, and erosion, among 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 (acid rain)

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25
Erosion
the physical removal of rock fragments from a landscape or ecosystem
26
Parent material
the underlying rock material from which the inorganic components of a soil are derived
27
Horizon
a horizontal layer in a soil defined by distinctive physical features such as color and texture
28
O horizon
the organic horizon at the surface of many soils, composed of organic detritus in various stages of decomposition
29
Humus
the most fully decomposed organic matter in the lowest section of the O horizon
30
E horizon
a zone of leaching or eluviation, found in some acidic soils under the O horizon or, less often, the A horizon
31
B horizon
commonly known as subsoil, a soil horizon is composed primarily of mineral material with very little organic matter
32
C horizon
the least-weathered soil horizon, which always occurs beneath the B horizon and is similar to the parent material
33
Porosity
the size of the air spaces between particles
34
Water holding capacity
the amount of water a soil can hold against the draining force of gravity
35
Permeability
the ability of water to move through the soil
36
Cation exchange capacity (CEC)
the ability of a particular soil to adsorb and release cations
37
Base saturation
the proportion of soil bases to soil acids, expressed as a percentage
38
Watershed
all the land in an area that drains into a particular stream, river, lake, or wetland
39
Insolation
incoming solar radiation, which is the main source of energy on Earth
40
Albedo
the percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface
41
Troposphere
a layer of the atmosphere closest to the surface of Earth, extending up to approximately 16 km (10 miles)
42
Stratosphere
the layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, extending roughly 16 to 50 km (10-31 miles) above the surface of Earth
43
Ozone
a pale blue gas composed of molecules made up of three oxygen atoms
44
Mesosphere
the layer of the atmosphere above the stratosphere, extending roughly 50 to 85 km (31-53 miles) above the surface of Earth
45
Thermosphere
the layer of the atmosphere above the mesosphere, extending 85 to 600 km (53-375 miles) above the surface of Earth
46
Exosphere
the outermost layer of the atmosphere, which extended from 600 to 10,000 km (375-6200 miles) above the surface of earth
47
Saturation point
the maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature
48
Adiabatic cooling
the cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises high in the atmosphere and expands
49
Adiabatic heating
the heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume
50
Latent heat release
the release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water
51
Atmospheric convection current
global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth
52
Hadley cell
a convection current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30N and 30S
53
Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
the latitude that receives the most intense sunlight, which causes the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells to converge
54
Polar cell
a convection current in the atmosphere formed by air that rises at 60N and 60S and sinks at the poles 90N and 90S
55
Ferrell cell
a convection current in the atmosphere that lies between Hadley cells and polar cells
56
Coriolis effect
the deflection of an object’s path due to the rotation of Earth
57
Gyre
a large-scale pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
57
Upwelling
the upwell movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents
58
Thermohaline circulation
an oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water
59
Rain shadow
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
60
El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
a reversal of wind and water currents in the South Pacific
61
La Nina
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

AP Environmental Science (5 decks)

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