APES Unit 4 Study Guide

name earths layers (in order from top layer to bottom layer)

name earths layers (in order from top layer to bottom layer)

• lithosphere

• asthenosphere

• mesosphere

plates

the less dense upper portion of the earths crust

convergent plate boundary

• plates push towards each other (subduction occurs)

• typically results in volcano formation or earthquakes

divergent plate boundary

• plates push away from each other

• typically causes sea floor spread

transform plate boundary

• plates slide past each other

• typically causes shallow earthquakes

how is soil formed

when parent materials are weathered, transported, and deposited

name the soil profiles from highest to lowest

• organic matter

• surface horizon

• subsoil

• substrata

• bedrock

relationship between relativeness to parent material and depth of soil horizion

the lower the soil horizon the soil becomes more closely related to the parent material

human activities that increase erosion

• deforestation

• overgrazing

• use of pesticides and fertilizers

• tillage

water holding capacity

the total amount of water soil can hold

list physical soil tests that can be done

• assessing soil structure and texture

• soil density

• soil permeability

• soil porosity

• soil temperature

examples of chemical soil test

testing the soil for presence of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)

the soil texture triangle

relationship between particle size and percolation rate

the smaller the particle size, the slower the percolation rate since smaller particles have a higher surface area and less porosity

porosity

the amount of air space in the soil

chemical composition of the atmosphere

• nitrogen 78%

• oxygen 21%

• trace gases 1%

layers of the atmosphere

the Coriolis effect

states that the rotation of the earth deflects wind patterns

how does temperature affect global wind patterns

• hot air rises because it is less dense

• cool air falls because it is more dense

lines of longitude

watershed

a land area from which water, sediment, and dissolved materials drain to a common point along a wetland, stream, lake, or river

insolation definition and formula

• incoming solar radiation

• surface most perpendicular to the sun will have the highest concentration of direct solar radiation per unit area

• formula=solar radiation/area

seasons in the northern hemisphere

rain shadow effect

explains the presence and location of deserts in unexpected locations

where does ENSO (el nino southern oscillation) occur

pacific ocean, below the equator between Australia and south america

what is ENSA (el nino southern oscillation)

a regular event that occurs every 3-7 years beginning in December that causes normal wind patterns to shift from blowing east to west to stall

this can cause

• ocean currents to move west to east

• suppression of a nutrient upwelling in the ocean causing south Americas fish population to decrease

el nina

• mirrors normal/neutral conditions but they become more intense or enhanced

• causes an enhanced nutrient rich upwelling in ocean which allows for South America to support a larger fish population

difference between el nino and la nina