Plate Tectonics and Soil Formation

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to plate tectonics, soil formation, and atmospheric sciences.

Lithosphere

The thin layer of rock on which humans live, floating on magma.

Tectonic Plates

Chunks into which the lithosphere is broken, colliding to create geological features.

Core

The dense, heavy central part of the Earth, mostly made of iron and nickel, generating internal heat.

Mantle

The thick layer of molten rock surrounding the core, where convection currents drive plate motion.

Asthenosphere

The semi-solid upper part of the mantle, allowing tectonic plates to glide over it.

Convergent Boundary

A plate boundary where tectonic plates move toward each other, leading to subduction and mountain formation.

Divergent Boundary

A plate boundary where tectonic plates move apart, leading to the formation of new oceanic lithosphere.

Transform Boundary

A plate boundary where tectonic plates slide past one another, leading to earthquakes.

Convection Currents

Circular movements in the mantle created by the heating and cooling of magma.

Hotspot

An area where magma rises directly to the lithosphere, forming volcanoes.

Soil

A mix of geologic and organic components; supports plant growth and recycles nutrients.

Weathering

The process of breaking down rocks into smaller pieces, which can occur physically, biologically, or chemically.

Erosion

The movement of weathered rock by wind or water, leading to the deposition of particles.

Soil Horizons

Layers of soil which include O Horizon (organic matter), A Horizon (topsoil), B Horizon (subsoil), and C Horizon (parent material).

Soil Permeability

The ease with which water drains through soil; influenced by particle size and distribution.

Albedo

The measure of how much sunlight a surface reflects; high albedo surfaces reflect more light.

Rain Shadow Effect

A phenomenon where one side of a mountain receives moisture while the other side remains dry.

Thermohaline Circulation

A global ocean current system driven by differences in temperature and salinity.

El Niño

A climate pattern characterized by warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific, affecting weather globally.

La Niña

A climate pattern characterized by cooler ocean temperatures in the Pacific, typically leading to different weather effects than El Niño.

Insolation

The amount of solar radiation reaching a given area, affected by the angle of the sun's rays and atmosphere thickness.