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Unit 4 Flashcards

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1
Q

Core

A

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

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2
Q

Mantle

A

bulk of Earth’s interior; three layers

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3
Q

Magma

A

(molten rock) layer that slowly circulates due to heat from core

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4
Q

Asthenosphere

A

semi-molten, flexible outer layer of mantle, beneath the lithosphere

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5
Q

Lithosphere

A

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

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6
Q

Crust

A

very outer layer of the lithosphere, Earth’s surface

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7
Q

Tectonic plates

A

Lithosphere floats atop the asthenosphere and can move and break into large pieces

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8
Q

Convergent

A

Two plates pushed toward each other
One of the plates will be pushed deep into the mantle
Subduction occurs → results in uplifting plates to form large mountain chains

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9
Q

Divergent

A

Two plates moving away from each other
Causes a gap that can be filled with magma → cools to form a new crust

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10
Q

Transform fault

A

Two plates slide from side to side relative to each other

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11
Q

Mountains formed by….

A

Mountains formed by magma from earth’s interiors

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12
Q

Magma heated by earth’s core rises towards lithosphere
Rising magma forces oceanic plates apart
Creates . . .

A

mid ocean ridges, volcanoes, spreading zones or “seafloor spreading”

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13
Q

Oceanic-Oceanic

A

one plate subducts underneath other
Forces magma up to lithosphere surface, forming mid ocean volcanoes
Island arcs
Off-shore trench

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14
Q

Oceanic-Continental

A

dense oceanic plate subducts beneath cont. Plate & melts back into magma
Forces magma up to lithosphere surface
Coastal Mountains (Andes), Volcanoes on land, trenches, tsunamis

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15
Q

Continental-Continental

A

surface crust from both plates “buckles” upward (mountains)
Ex: Himalayas

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16
Q

Ring of Fire

A

pattern of volcanoes & earthquake zones all around pacific plate
Offshore island arcs (Japan)

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17
Q

Transform faults

A

likely location of earthquakes

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18
Q

Hotspots

A

areas of especially hot magma rising up to lithosphere
Mid-ocean Islands (Iceland, Hawaii)

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19
Q

Humus

A

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

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20
Q

Weathering

A

Breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces
Physical (wind, rain, freezing/thawing of ice)
Biological (roots of trees crack rocks)
Chemical (acid rain, acids from moss/lichen)
Weathering of rocks = soil formation
Broken into smaller and smaller pieces
Carried away and deposited by erosion

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21
Q

Erosion

A

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

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22
Q

Climate on soil formation

A

warmer = faster breakdown of org. matter;
more precip. = more weathering, erosion + deposition

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23
Q

Weathering of parent material(soil pH, nutrient content) produces

A

smaller, and smaller fragments that make up geological/inorganic part of soil
Sand, silt, clay
Minerals

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24
Q

O horizon

(organic horizon)

A

Uppermost horizon
Mostly made up of organic material including waste from organisms, bodies of decomposing organisms, live organisms
Dark crumbly material from the decomposition of organic material forms humus
Humus is rich in organic matter

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25
A horizon
Made up of weathered rock and some organic material that has traveled down from the O layer Called “topsoil” Zone of leaching Important role in plant growth
26
E horizon (could occur beneath O or A horizon)
Leached of clay, minerals, and organic matter, leaving a concentration of sand and silt particles of quartz or other resistant materials – missing in some soils but often found in older soils and forest soils.
27
B horizon
Receives all minerals that are leached out of A horizon as well as organic materials that are washed down from the topsoil above Zone of illuviation Movement of dissolved material from higher soil layers to lower soil layers due to the downward movement of water (caused by gravity)
28
C horizon
Bottommost layer of soil Composed of larger pieces of rock that have not undergone as much weathering
29
R horizon
“Bedrock” Lies below all other layers of soil
30
Loss of Topsoil
tilling (turning soil for agriculture) + loss of vegetation disturb soil and make it more easily eroded by wind and rain Loss of top soil dries out soil, removes nutrients + soil organisms that recycle nutrients
31
Compaction
compression of soil by machines (tractors, bulldozers, etc.), grazing livestock, and humans reduces ability to hold moisture Dry soil erodes more easily Dry soil supports less plant growth, less root structure, leading to more erosion
32
Soil Degradation
The loss of the ability of soil to support plant growth
33
Nutrient Depletion
epeatedly growing crops on the same soil removes key nutrients (N, P, K, Na, Mg) over time Reduces ability to grow future crops Monoculture
34
Soil Pores
empty spaces between particles
35
Clay (less than 0.002 mm in diameter)
Easily adheres to each other There is little room between particles for water → clay soil is compact
36
Silt (0.002 - 0.05 mm)
Medium
37
Sand (more than 0.05mm)
Too large to easily stick together Sandy soils have larger pores → hold more water
38
Permeability
how easily water drains through a soil Soil that is too sandy (too permeable) drains water too quickly for roots + dries out Clay-heavy soil doesn’t let H2O drain to roots, or waterlogs (suffocating them) Ideal soil for most plant growth is loam, which balances porosity or drainage, with H2O holding cap.
39
pH
low acidic (low pH) or basic/alkaline (high pH) soil is. More acidic soil = less nutrient availability
40
Gasses of Earth’s Atmosphere
Nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21%, Argon, Water Vapor
41
Troposphere
Tropo = change (weather occurs here) - 0-16 km, most dense due to pressure of other layers above it Most of atmosphere’s gas molecules and water vapor are found here Ozone (O3) in the troposphere is harmful to humans (respiratory irritant) & damages plant stomata, and forms smog
42
Stratosphere: “S” for second - 16-60 km;
less dense due to less pressure from layers above Thickest O3 layer is found here; absorbs UV-B & UV-C rays which can mutate DNA of animals (cancer)
43
Mesosphere
Meso = for middle; 60-80 km, even less dense
44
Thermosphere
Therm = hottest temp; absorbs harmful X-rays & UV radiation charged gas molecules glow under intense solar radiation producing northern lights (aurora borealis)
45
Exosphere
Outermost layer where atmosphere merges with space
46
Air properties
Warm air rises (less dense) Warm air holds more moisture than cold Rising air experiences less pressure, expands in volume Expansion causes it to cool (adiabatic cooling) Cool air can’t hold as much H2O vapor (condenses → rain) Sinking air experiences more pressure, decreases in volume Contraction causes it to warm (adiabatic warming)
47
Coriolis Effect
Appearance of deflection of objects traveling through atm. due to spin of earth Objects above 30 N in NH deflected right Objects below 30 S in SH deflected left Trade winds push objects between equator and 30 N and 30 S to left due to trade winds
48
Hadley Cell
Convection cell accounts for land and sea breezes, on global scale, these are hadley cells Large hadley cell starts its cycle over the equator → warm moist air evaporates and rises into the atmosphere (precipitation in the region near the equator is one cause of abundant equatorial rainforests) → cool dry air descends about 30 degrees North and South of the equator (forming belts of deserts seen around the earth at those latitudes)
49
Watersheds
All of the land that drains into a specific body of water (river, lake, bay, etc.) Determined by slope; ridges of land divide watersheds (diff. runoff directions)
50
Vegetation, soil composition, slope play a large role in how watersheds drain
More vegetation = more infiltration & groundwater recharge Greater slope = faster velocity of runoff & more soil erosion Soil permeability determines runoff vs. infiltration rates
51
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
6 state region that drains into a series of streams/rivers & eventually into Chesapeake Bay Mix of fresh & salt water + nutrients in sediment make estuary habitats like the salt marshes in the bay highly productive
52
Nutrient pollution (N & P) leads to eutrophication in the Bay
Algae bloom due to increase of N/P → decreased sunlight → plants below surface die → bacteria use up O2 for decomp. → hypoxia (low O2) & dead zones
53
Major N/P sources:
Discharge from sewage treatment plants (N/P levels from human waste) Animal waste from CAFOs Synthetic fertilizer from ag. fields & lawns
54
Effects of Clearcutting on Watersheds
Soil Erosion Caused by loss of stabilizing root structure Removes soil organic matter & nutrients from forest Deposits sediments in local streams Warms water & makes it more turbid (cloudy) Increased soil & stream temp. Loss of tree shade increases soil temperature Soil has lower albedo than leaves of trees Loss of tree shade along rivers & streams warms them Erosion of sediments into rivers also warms them
55
Insolation
the amount of solar radiation reaching a given area
56
Solar intensity of insolation (W/m2) depends on:
Angle: how directly rays strike earth’s surface The amount of atmosphere sun’s rays pass through
57
Equator =
higher insolation than higher latitudes
58
Orbit of earth around sun & tilt on axis changes angle of sun’s rays
This causes varying insolation, varying length of day, and seasons Tilt of earth’s axis stays fixed during orbit June & December Solstices: N or S hemisphere is maximally tilted toward sun (summer/winter) March & Sept. Equinox: N & S hemispheres equally facing sun
59
March Equinox
Equator receives most direct insolation N & S hemisphere get 12 hours of sunlight Spring in N/Fall in S hemispheres
60
June Solstice
N tilted max. toward sun Longest day in N (start of summer) Shortest day in S (winter)
61
Autumn equinox
Equator receives most direct insolation N & S hemisphere get 12 hours of sunlight Fall in N/Spring in S hemispheres
62
December Solstice
S hem. tilted max. toward sun Longest day in S (start of summer) Shortest day in N (start of winter)
63
Albedo
the proportion of light that is reflected by a surface
64
Surfaces with higher albedo...
reflect more light, and absorb less (ice/snow) Absorb less heat
65
Surfaces with low albedo ....
reflect less light, and absorb more (water, pavement, vegetation) Absorb more heat
66
Surface temperature is affected by albedo because
When sunlight is absorbed by a surface, it gives off infrared radiation (heat) Areas w/lower albedo, absorb more sunlight light (heat)
67
Urban Heat Island
urban areas are hotter than surrounding rural area due to low albedo of blacktop
68
Thus, polar areas are...
Polar regions are colder due to higher albedo
69
Climate is largely determined by insolation (latitude → angle of insolation & atmosphere)
Higher latitudes receive less insolation: cooler, less precipitation (especially 30o) Equator receives most intense insolation: higher temp, air rises, high precipitation
70
Geography also plays a role
Mountains: disrupt wind & produce rain shadow effect Oceans: moderate temperature & add moisture to the air
71
Rain Shadows
Dry air descends down “leeward” side of mtn, warming as it sinks Leads to arid (dry) desert conditions Warm, moist air from ocean hits the “windward” side of the mtn, rises, cools (condensing H2O vapor & causing rain) → lush, green vegetation
72
Gyres
large ocean circ. patterns due to global wind (clockwise in N hem, counterclockwise in S hem.)
73
Rain Shadow Ex
Eastern trade winds blow moist air from Atlantic across SA Windward (E) side of Andes receives heavy rainfall Leeward (W) side of Andes receives arid (dry) air
74
~30o latitude also contributes to lack of rain
high pressure, dry, descending air from Hadley cell
75
Eastern trade winds between 0-30o push eq. current W ← E Westerlies between 30-60o push mid lat. currents W→ E
76
Upwelling Zones:
areas of ocean where winds blow warm surface water away from a land mass, drawing up colder, deeper water to replace it Brings O2 & nutrients to surface → productive fishing
77
El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
pattern of shifting atmospheric pressure & ocean currents in the pacific ocean between South America and Australia/Southeast Asia Oscillates, or shifts regularly from El Niño (warmer, rainier) to La Niña (cooler, drier) conditions along coast of South America
77
Process for Thermohaline Circulation
Warm water from Gulf of Mexico moves toward North Pole Cools & evaporates as it moves toward poles Saltier & colder water @ poles, is more dense, making it sink Spreads along ocean floor Rises back up into shallow warm ocean current @ upwelling zones
78
Thermohaline Circulation
Connects all of the world’s oceans, mixing salt, nutrients, and temperature throughout
79
Effects of El Niño
Suppressed upwelling & less productive fisheries in SA Warmer winter in much of N America Increased precip & flooding in Americas (W coast especially) Drought in SE Asia & Australia Decreased hurricane activity in Atlantic ocean Weakened monsoon activity in India & SE Asia
80
La Niña
Stronger upwelling & better fisheries in SA than normal Worse tornado activity in US & Hurricane activity in Atlantic Cooler, drier weather in Americas Rainier, warmer, increased monsoons in SE Asia
81
During a normal year...
Trade winds blow eq. water W ← E Cool H2O upwelled off coast of SA (cool temp + good fi$herie$) Warm eq. current brings heat & precip. to Australia & SE Asia High pressure in east pacific (SA) Low pressure in west pacific (Australia & SE Asia)
82
During an el nino
Trade winds weaken, then reverse (W → E) Warm eq. current brings heat & precip. to Americas (N & S) Suppressed upwelling off SA coast (damaging fi$herie$) Cooler, drier conditions in Australia & SE Asia H pressure in west pacific (Australia & SE Asia) L pressure in east pacific (SA)
83
During a la nina
Stronger than normal trade winds (W ← ← ← E) Increased upwelling off SA coast brings cooler than normal conditions, extra good fi$herie$ Warmer & rainier than normal in Australia & SE Asia

Apes (4 decks)

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