Earth Science Final

FLASHCARDS

The Urban Heat Island effect refers to __.

The phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than rural areas due to human-made materials that absorb and retain heat.

The type of land use that impacts water quality the most is __.

Industrial land use.

A nonrenewable energy resource is __.

A finite resource that is consumed much faster than it is replenished; examples include coal, oil, and natural gas.

Major drawbacks of burning fossil fuels include __.

Reduced air quality, increased atmospheric temperatures, and reduced water quality.

A renewable energy source is __.

A source of energy that comes from natural processes that replenish faster than they are used; examples include wind, solar, and hydropower.

Sustainable consumption means __.

Using goods and services that meet basic needs and improve quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials.

Bycatching is __.

The phenomenon of catching unwanted fish and other marine creatures during commercial fishing for a different species.

Bioaccumulation refers to __.

The gradual buildup of a chemical or toxin in an organism's body over time, occurring when the rate of intake exceeds the rate of elimination.

The major impact of bioaccumulation in ecosystems is __.

Biomagnification, which causes top predators and humans the most harm.

The major environmental impact of open-pit mining is __.

Loss of forests and habitats.

Carbon sequestration is __.

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to reduce climate change.

The organization that monitors the environmental impact of oil drilling in the Chukchi Sea is __.

The Department of the Interior (DOI).

A pollutant that can cause respiratory illness in humans is __.

Both nitrous oxide and particulates.

An increase in wildfires is associated with __.

Rising atmospheric temperatures.

Hydraulic fracking is __.

A process used to extract oil and natural gas from deep rock formations by pumping a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure into the rock.

The role of the ozone layer in the atmosphere is to __.

Absorb UV radiation and prevent it from reaching Earth.

Introducing a nonnative species to an ecosystem can lead to __.

It can take over the habitats of native species.

Inner planets are different from outer planets because __.

of their distance from the sun during their formation.

Water absorbs and retains heat differently than land because __.

Water has a high specific heat while land has a low specific heat.

Hurricanes are formed over oceans due to __.

Hot air and the energy of evaporating water.

The movement of water from oceans to the atmosphere and back is called __.

The water cycle.

The amount of salt in water is called __.

Salinity.

Types of ocean currents include __.

Deep and surface currents.

Deep ocean currents are caused by __.

Differences in water's density.

The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere is __.

Nitrogen.

The change of water from gas to liquid is called __.

Condensation.

The change of water from liquid to gas is called __.

Evaporation.

We live in the __ layer of the atmosphere.

Troposphere.

An example of a greenhouse gas is __.

Carbon dioxide, Methane, Water vapor.

The process when solid ice converts directly into gas is called __.

Sublimation.

The process by which water vapor escapes through leaves is called __.

Transpiration.

The underground porous rock layer that stores groundwater is called __.

Aquifer.

What percentage of Earth's water is ocean water? __.

97 percent.

What percentage of Earth's water is fresh water? __.

3 percent.

The ability of the atmosphere to hold water vapor is called __.

Humidity.

An example of point source pollution is __.

Discharge from a factory.

The main reason for rising global sea levels is __.

Polar ice caps melting.

Most weather phenomena occur in the __ layer of the atmosphere.

Troposphere.

The largest source of accessible fresh water is __.

Ground water.

As we go higher in the atmosphere, air pressure __.

decreases.

The solar system formed according to the Nebular theory from __.

a nebula, a giant cloud of gas and dust.

The age of our solar system is __.

4.6 billion years.

According to Kepler's first law, planets revolve around the sun in __.

an elliptical path.

Kepler's third law describes __.

the relationship between a planet's orbital period and its distance from the Sun.

What percentage of the Sun's mass is Hydrogen? __.

75 percent.

The Sun releases its energy in the form of __.

Electromagnetic radiation.

The elements that react in the Sun to cause nuclear fusion are __.

Hydrogen and Helium.

The layer of the atmosphere that blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun is __.

The ozone layer in the Stratosphere.

What blocks harmful Gamma radiation from sunlight before reaching the Earth? __.

Earth's Magnetic field.

The ingredients needed for photosynthesis are __.

Carbon dioxide and water.

The Urban Heat Island effect is __.

The phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than rural areas due to human-made materials that absorb and retain heat.

The type of land use that impacts water quality the most is __.

Industrial land use.

A nonrenewable energy resource is __.

A finite resource that is consumed much faster than it is replenished; examples include coal, oil, and natural gas.

Major drawbacks of burning fossil fuels include __.

Reduced air quality, reduced water quality, and increased atmospheric temperatures.

A renewable energy source is __.

Renewable energy comes from natural sources that replenish faster than they are used; examples include wind, solar, and hydropower.

Sustainable consumption means __.

Using goods and services that meet basic needs and improve quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials.

Bycatching is __.

The phenomenon of catching unwanted fish and other marine creatures during commercial fishing for a different species.

Bioaccumulation refers to __.

The gradual buildup of a chemical or toxin in an organism's body over time, occurring when the rate of intake exceeds the rate of elimination.

The major impact of bioaccumulation in ecosystems is __.

Biomagnification, which causes top predators and humans the most harm.

The major environmental impact of open-pit mining is __.

Loss of forests and habitats.

Carbon sequestration is __.

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to reduce climate change.

The organization that monitors the environmental impact of oil drilling in the Chukchi Sea is __.

The Department of the Interior (DOI).

A pollutant that can cause respiratory illness in humans is __.

Both nitrous oxide and particulates.

An increase in wildfires is associated with __.

Rising atmospheric temperatures.

Hydraulic fracking is __.

A process used to extract oil and natural gas from deep rock formations by pumping a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure.

The role of the ozone layer in the atmosphere is to __.

Absorb UV radiation and prevent it from reaching Earth.

Introducing a nonnative species to an ecosystem can lead to __.

It can take over the habitats of native species.

Inner planets are different from outer planets because __.

of their distance from the sun during their formation.

Water absorbs and retains heat differently than land because __.

Water has a high specific heat while land has a low specific heat.

Hurricanes are formed over oceans due to __.

Hot air and the energy of evaporating water.

The movement of water from oceans to the atmosphere and back is called __.

The water cycle.

The amount of salt in water is called __.

Salinity.

Types of ocean currents include __.

Deep and surface currents.

Deep ocean currents are caused by __.

Differences in water's density.

The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere is __.

Nitrogen.

The change of water from gas to liquid is called __.

Condensation.

The change of water from liquid to gas is called __.

Evaporation.

We live in the __ layer of the atmosphere.

Troposphere.

An example of a greenhouse gas is __.

Carbon dioxide, Methane, Water vapor.

The process when solid ice converts directly into gas is called __.

Sublimation.

The process by which water vapor escapes through leaves is called __.

Transpiration.

The underground porous rock layer that stores groundwater is called __.

Aquifer.

What percentage of Earth's water is ocean water? __.

97 percent.

What percentage of Earth's water is fresh water? __.

3 percent.

The ability of the atmosphere to hold water vapor is called __.

Humidity.

An example of point source pollution is __.

Discharge from a factory.

The main reason for rising global sea levels is __.

Polar ice caps melting.

Most weather phenomena occur in the __ layer of the atmosphere.

Troposphere.

The largest source of accessible fresh water is __.

Ground water.

As we go higher in the atmosphere, air pressure __.

decreases.

The solar system formed according to the Nebular theory from __.

a nebula, a giant cloud of gas and dust.

The age of our solar system is __.

4.6 billion years.

According to Kepler's first law, planets revolve around the sun in __.

an elliptical path.

Kepler's third law describes __.

the relationship between a planet's orbital period and its distance from the Sun.

What percentage of the Sun's mass is Hydrogen? __.

75 percent.

The Sun releases its energy in the form of __.

Electromagnetic radiation.

The elements that react in the Sun to cause nuclear fusion are __.

Hydrogen and Helium.

The layer of the atmosphere that blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun is __.

The ozone layer in the Stratosphere.

What blocks harmful Gamma radiation from sunlight before reaching the Earth? __.

Earth's Magnetic field.

The ingredients needed for photosynthesis are __.

Carbon dioxide and water.