Unit 4-Earth Systems and Resources

Transform Plate boundary

A type of plate boundary where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally. This interaction can lead to earthquakes, as the stress builds up and is released.

Convergent Plate Boundary

A type of plate boundary where two tectonic plates collide, often resulting in mountain formation, subduction, and volcanic activity.

Subduction

the geological process in which one tectonic plate moves under another and sinks into the mantle, often leading to volcanic activity and earthquake formation.

Tsunami

A series of ocean waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, typically due to underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.

Divergent plate boundary

A type of plate boundary where two tectonic plates move apart from each other, often resulting in the formation of new oceanic crust and mid-ocean ridges.

Troposphere

The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where most weather occurs and temperatures decrease with altitude.

Stratosphere

The layer of Earth's atmosphere located above the troposphere, characterized by a temperature increase with altitude and the presence of the ozone layer which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Mesosphere

The layer of Earth's atmosphere located above the stratosphere, known for temperature decrease with altitude and where meteoroids burn upon entering.

Thermosphere

The uppermost layer of Earth's atmosphere, characterized by rising temperatures with altitude and where the ionosphere is found, facilitating radio communication and the phenomena of auroras.

Exosphere

The outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending from the thermosphere to outer space, where atoms and molecules are so sparse that they can travel hundreds of kilometers without colliding with one another.

Trade Winds

Prevailing patterns of east-to-west winds found in the tropics, important for global weather and ocean currents.

Coriolis Effect

The apparent deflection of the path of moving objects caused by the rotation of the Earth, leading to winds and ocean currents veering to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Gyre

A large system of rotating ocean currents, typically formed by global wind patterns and the Coriolis effect, influencing climate and ecosystems.

Soil

The upper layer of the Earth's surface, consisting of organic and inorganic material, where plants grow and which is critical for agriculture and ecosystems.

Arable

Land suitable for growing crops, characterized by fertile soil and adequate water supply.

Leaching

The process by which water soluble substances are washed out from soil or other material, often leading to nutrient depletion.

Weathering

The process that breaks down rocks and minerals into smaller particles through physical, chemical, or biological means, significantly influencing soil formation.

Soil Horizon O

The top layer of soil, known as the O horizon, rich in organic matter and nutrients, critical for plant growth.

Soil Horizon A

The layer directly beneath the O horizon, known as the A horizon, composed of a mix of organic material and minerals, essential for supporting plant life.

Soil Horizon E

A transitional layer between the O and B horizons, the E horizon is characterized by the leaching of minerals and nutrients, often leaving behind lighter-colored materials.

Soil Horizon B

The layer below the A horizon, known as the B horizon, accumulates minerals and nutrients leached from the upper layers and is often denser and darker, supporting a variety of plant roots.

Soil Horizon C

The layer beneath the B horizon, known as the C horizon, consists of weathered parent material and serves as the source for the upper soil layers.

Permeability

The ability of soil to transmit water and air through its pores, influencing drainage and water retention.

Porosity

The measure of the void spaces in soil, indicating its capacity to hold water and air.

Soil Texture

The classification of soil based on the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay, which affects drainage, nutrient retention, and plant growth.

Humus

The organic component of soil formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter, essential for nutrient availability and soil fertility.

Rainshadow effect

A phenomenon in which moist air is blocked by a mountain range, causing one side to receive heavy precipitation while the other side remains dry.

Albedo

The measure of the reflectivity of a surface, indicating how much sunlight is reflected rather than absorbed. High albedo surfaces, like ice and snow, reflect more sunlight, influencing local climate and temperature.

Ocean Current

A continuous, directed movement of seawater generated by various factors including wind, Earth's rotation, and differences in water density. Ocean currents play a crucial role in regulating climate and distributing heat across the planet.

Ocean Conveyor Belt

A large-scale system of ocean currents that circulates water around the globe, playing a key role in regulating climate and heat distribution.

Climate

The long-term average of weather patterns in a specific area, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation. Climate influences ecosystems and biodiversity.

Microclimate

A small, localized climate that differs from the larger regional climate, often influenced by factors such as terrain, vegetation, or human activity.

Arid

A climate characterized by low rainfall, resulting in dry conditions and limited vegetation.

Weather

The short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific area, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind, which can change rapidly.

Erosion

The process by which natural forces like wind, water, or ice wear away rocks and soil, transporting them from one location to another.

Deposition

The geological process in which sediments, soil, and rocks are added to a landform, typically as a result of erosion from other locations.

Watershed

An area of land that drains rainwater or snow into a particular body of water, such as a river, lake, or ocean, playing a crucial role in the water cycle.

Tributary

A stream or river that flows into a larger river or body of water, contributing to its flow and drainage system.

Floodplain

An area of land adjacent to a river or stream that is subject to flooding during periods of high flow, providing fertile soil and important habitats.

Upwelling

The process where deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface, often supporting high biological productivity in marine ecosystems.

El Nino

A climate pattern characterized by the warming of ocean surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific, impacting weather globally.

ENSO

A coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon characterized by the periodic fluctuations in sea surface temperatures and atmospheric conditions in the Pacific Ocean, impacting global weather patterns.

La Nina

A climate pattern characterized by the cooling of ocean surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific, often leading to opposite weather effects of El Niño.

Solar Radiation / Solar

energy emitted by the Sun, essential for Earth's climate and ecosystem functioning.

Insolation

the amount of solar radiation received by a given area over a specific time, influencing temperature and weather patterns.

Sun’s Rotation

the spinning of the Sun on its axis, taking approximately 25 days at the equator and up to 35 days at the poles.

Earth’s Tilt

The angle at which Earth is tilted on its axis, approximately 23.5 degrees, affecting seasonal changes and climate patterns.

Greenhouse gases

are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. They contribute to the greenhouse effect and climate change by preventing heat from escaping into space.

Parts per million (ppm)

a measurement unit used to describe the concentration of substances in air, water, or soil, indicating the number of parts of a substance per million parts of the total.

Infrared Radiation

Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light, typically emitted by heat sources and absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Effect

The process by which greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to a rise in global temperatures and climate change.

Positive Feedback loop

A process where the effects of a change in a system amplify that change, leading to an increase in the original effect, often contributing to climate change.

Negative Feedback loop

A process where the effects of a change in a system counteract that change, helping to stabilize the system and reduce the potential for extreme climate shifts.

Thermal Expansion

The increase in volume of water or other substances as they warm, contributing to rising sea levels as temperatures rise.

Permafrost

Soil that remains consistently frozen for at least two consecutive years, typically found in polar regions. It acts as a carbon sink and its thawing can release stored greenhouse gases.

Glacier

A large mass of ice that moves slowly over land, formed from compacted snow, and plays a significant role in the Earth's climate and hydrology.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.

Ocean Acidification

The decreasing pH levels of ocean water caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide, leading to harmful effects on marine life, particularly organisms with calcium carbonate shells and skeletons.

Mitigation

The actions taken to reduce the severity of climate change impacts, often involving strategies to decrease greenhouse gas emissions or enhance carbon sinks.

Emission

The act of releasing pollutants, particularly greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and air quality degradation.

Anthropogenic

Referring to environmental changes or effects that are a result of human activity, particularly in relation to climate change.