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apes unit 4: earth systems > unit 4: earth systems and resources > Flashcards

unit 4: earth systems and resources Flashcards

1
Q

plate tectonics

A

theory that the earth’s lithosphere is divided into plates, many of which are in constant motion

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2
Q

core

A

innermost zone of earth’s interior
liquid outer layer, solid inner layer
composed of iron + nickel

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3
Q

hot spots

A

places where molten material from the mantle reaches earth’s lithosphere
hawaiian islands were formed at one of these

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4
Q

subduction

A

one crustal plate passing under one another
seen in convergent plates

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5
Q

volcano

A

vent in earth’s surface that emits ash, gas, and molten lava
natural source of atmospheric CO2, particulates, and metals
left behind the hawaiian islands

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6
Q

divergent plate boundaries

A

oceanic plates move apart
as magma from mantle reaches crust, new rock is formed (seafloor spreading)

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7
Q

seafloor spreading

A

formation of new ocean crust as a result of magma pushing upward + outward from mantle to the surface
brings copper, lead, and silver to earth’s surface

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8
Q

convergent plate boundaries

A

plates move towards one another and collide

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9
Q

transform fault boundary

A

tectonic plates move sideways past each other

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10
Q

seismic activity

A

frequency and intensity of earthquakes over time

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11
Q

fault zone

A

large expanse of rock where a fault has occurred

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12
Q

earthquake

A

sudden movement of earth’s crust caused by a release of potential energy along a geological fault
vibration + trembling at earth’s surface

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13
Q

epicenter

A

exact point on surface of earth directly above location where rock ruptures during an earthquake

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14
Q

richter scale

A

measure of the largest ground movement that occurs during an earthquake
increases by a factor of 10 for each unit increase
a magnitude 6.0 earthquake is 10x greater than a 5.0

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15
Q

tsunami

A

series of waves in the ocean caused by seismic activity or an undersea volcano
caused the second-worst nuclear power plant incident ever

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16
Q

igneous rock

A

rock formed directly from magma

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17
Q

rock cycle

A

geologic cycle in charge of alteration, formation, and destruction of rock material
results from tectonic, weathering, erosion

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18
Q

intrusive igneous rock

A

igneous rock forming when magma rises + cools in an underground place

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19
Q

extrusive igneous rock

A

rock forming when magma cools ABOVE the earth’s surface

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20
Q

fracture

A

crack in the rock during cooling

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21
Q

sedimentary rock

A

rock forming when sediment (mud, sand, gravel) are compressed by overlaying sediments

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22
Q

metamorphic rock

A

rock formed at high temperatures and pressures

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23
Q

physical weathering

A

mechanical breakdown of rocks and minerals
caused by water, wind, freezing/thawing cycles

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24
Q

chemical weathering

A

breakdown of rocks and minerals by chemical reactions
AND/OR the dissolving of chemical elements from rocks

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25
Q

primary minerals

A

chemical weathering usually occurs here

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26
Q

acid precipitation (rain)

A

precipitation high in sulfuric acid and nitric acid

from reactions between water vapor, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides from atmosphere

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27
Q

erosion

A

physical removal of rock from a landscape or ecosystem
caused by both weather patterns (like wind) and organisms that burrow under the soil

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28
Q

parent material

A

most prevalent in the C horizon
inorganic components of soil are derived here

29
Q

soil degradation

A

loss of some or all of soil’s ability to support plant growth
soil erosion (loss of topsoil) is a major cause

30
Q

factors of soil formation

A

climate, topography, organisms, time

31
Q

topography

A

surface slope and arrangement of a landscape
soils on steep slopes are more subject to erosion
soil at the bottom of steep slopes continually accumulates material from higher elevations + become deep

32
Q

horizon

A

horizontal layer in soil defined by distinct physical features like texture and color

33
Q

O horizon

A

organic horizon at surface of many soils
comprised of organic detritus in stages of decomposition

34
Q

humus

A

fully decomposed organic matter at the bottom of O horizon

35
Q

A (topsoil)

A

organic material and minerals mixed together

36
Q

E horizon

A

leaching and eluviation
under some acidic soils under O or, less often, under the A horizon

37
Q

B horizon (subsoil)

A

primarily mineral material, very little organic matter

38
Q

C horizon (subsoil)

A

least-weathered and similar to the parent material

39
Q

cation exchange capacity (CEC)

A

ability of a particular soil to absorb and release cations
high levels are desirable for agriculture
but if water is over 20 percent clay, water retention becomes too high for most plants

40
Q

base saturation

A

proportion of soil bases to soil acids, expressed as a percentage
determines ecosystem productivity

41
Q

soil bases

A

calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium

42
Q

soil acids

A

aluminum and hydrogen

43
Q

soil organisms

A

80-90 percent: bacteria, fungi, protozoans
also present: slugs, insects, earthworms, and rodents

44
Q

crustal abundance

A

average concentration of an element on earth’s crust

45
Q

ore

A

concentrated accumulation of minerals from which economically valuable materials are extracted (gold, silver, diamond)

46
Q

metal

A

element with properties that allow it to conduct electricity and heat energy, as well as other vital functions

47
Q

troposphere

A

layer of earth’s atmosphere closest to earth’s surface (16 km extent)
most nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor
temp decreases with distance from ground

48
Q

stratosphere

A

above troposphere, 16-50
ozone is here, absorbing sun’s UV-B and UV-C radiation
upper part is warmer than lower part because UV rays are transferred into heat
temperature INCREASES as altitude INCREASES

49
Q

as we move from the stratosphere upwards, atmospheric ___ and ___ DECREASE

A

pressure and density

50
Q

thermosphere

A

blocks X-ray and UV radiation from reaching earth
contains gas particles that glow when hitting light

51
Q

albedo

A

percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface
the higher this is, the more solar energy it reflects and the less it absorbs

52
Q

differential heating of the earth

A

tropical regions near equator receive more solar energy than mid-latitude and polar regions, where the sun’s rays strike earth at an oblique angle

53
Q

saturation point

A

maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature
when the air temperature falls, this decreases

54
Q

four air properties

A

density, water vapor capacity, adiabatic heating/cooling, and latent heat release

55
Q

porosity

A

the percentage of open space within a rock or sediment. larger soil particles (sand) are MORE porous

56
Q

intertropical convergence zone

A

latitude that receives the most intense sunlight , causing ascending branch of hadley cells to converge

57
Q

ferrell cells

A

lies between hadley and polar cells
distributes warm air away from the tropics and cold air away from poles

58
Q

coriolis effect

A

there is a deflection of an object’s path due to the natural curvature of the earth, as well as its rotation

59
Q

polar cells

A

60 degrees and above both north and south
air dries as it moves towards the poles and water vapor condenses into precipitation

60
Q

rain shadow

A

a region with dry conditions found on leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds on ocean causing precipitation on windward side

61
Q

what does the release of latent air do?

A

increases air temperature

62
Q

intertropical convergence zone

A

band of clouds consisting of showers and occasional thunderstorms that encircles the globe near the equator

63
Q

saltwater intrusion

A

infiltration of salt water in an area where groundwater pressure has been reduced from extensive drilling of wells

64
Q

floodplain

A

land adjacent to a river

65
Q

cone of depression

A

causes shallow wells nearby to dry up

66
Q

floodplains

A

increased fertility
generally flat area of land next to a river or stream

67
Q

groundwater recharge

A

water moves downward from the surface water to groundwater
precipitation falls onto land, infiltrates into soil, and moves down through pore spaces
can also occur in surface-water leakage

68
Q

el nino

A

unusual warming of surface waters in eastern pacific ocean

apes unit 4: earth systems (1 decks)

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