Unit 5: Earth Systems & Resources (AP ES)

Core

The innermost zone of Earth's interior, composed mostly of iron and nickel. It includes a liquid outer layer and a solid inner layer.

Mantle

The layer of Earth above the core, containing magma, the asthenosphere, and the solid upper mantle.

Magma

Molten rock beneath the earth's surface

Lithosphere

The outermost layer of Earth, including the solid upper mantle and crust.

Plate Tectonics

The theory that the lithosphere of Earth is divided into plates, most of which are in constant motion.

Earthquake

A sudden movement of Earth's crust caused by a release of potential energy from the movement of tectonic plates.

Volcano

A vent in the surface of Earth that emits ash, gases, or molten lava.

Tsunami

A series of waves in the ocean caused by seismic activity or an undersea volcano that causes a massive displacement of water.

divergent boundary

An area below the ocean where tectonic plates move away from each other.

Seafloor Spreading

Caused by a divergent boundary, in which rising magma forms new oceanic crust on the seafloor at the boundaries between those plates.

converget boundary

An area where one plate moves toward another plate and collides.

Subduction

The process in which the edge of an oceanic plate moves downward beneath the continental plate and is pushed toward the center of Earth.

Collision Zone

An area where two continental plates are pushed together and the colliding forces push up the crust to form a mountain range.

Transform Boundary

An area where tectonic plates move sideways past each other.

Fault

A fracture in rock caused by a movement of Earth's crust.

Igneous

Rock formed directly from magma

Sedimentary

Rock that forms when sediments such as muds, sands, or gravels are compressed by overlying sediments.

Metamorphic

Rock that forms when sedimentary rock, igneous rock, or other metamorphic rock is subjected to high temperature and pressure.

Rocky Cycle

The geologic cycle governing the constant formation, alteration, and destruction of rock material that results from tectonics, weathering, and erosion, among other processes.

Physical Weathering

The mechanical breakdown of rocks and minerals.

Chemical Weathering

The breakdown of rocks and minerals by chemical reactions, the dissolving of chemical elements from rocks, or both these processes.

Acid Precipitation

Precipitation high in sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Also known as Acid rain.

Erosion

the physical removal of rock fragments from a landscape or ecosystem

Parent Material

The underlying rock material from which the inorganic components of a soil are derived.

horizon

A horizontal layer in a soil defined by distinctive physical features such as color and texture.

O horizon

The organic horizon at the surface of many soils, composed of organic detritus in various stages of decomposition.

Humus

Rich, dark organic material formed by decay of vegetable matter, essential to soil's fertility

Porosity

Percentage of open spaces between grains in a rock.

Water Holding Capacity

The amount of water a soil can hold against the draining force of gravity.

Permeability

Ability of rock or soil to allow water to flow through it

Watershed

All the land in an area that drains into a particular stream, river, lake, or wetland.

insolation

incoming solar radiation; main source of energy on earth

Albedo

The percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface.

troposphere

0-17 km above Earth's surface, site of weather, organisms, contains most atmospheric water vapor. (temperature decreases with increasing altitude, pressure decreases)

Mesosphere

The layer of Earth's atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere; where meteors burn up

Stratosphere

2nd layer of atmosphere; extends from 10 to 30 miles up; location of ozone layer; absorbs 95% of Ultraviolet radiation; temperature increases with altitude increase.

Ozone

A pale blue gas composed of molecules made up of three oxygen atoms (O3).

Thermosphere

the region of the atmosphere above the mesosphere; location of northern lights. thermosphere is characterized throughout by an increase in temperature with height.

Exosphere

The outer layer of the thermosphere, extending outward into space.

adiabatic cooling

the cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands

adiabatic heating

the heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume

latent heat release

the release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water

Atmospheric convection current

Global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth.

Hadley Cell

A convection current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30° N and 30° S.

Coriolis effect

The deflection of an object's path due to the rotation of Earth.

Gyre

A large-scale pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Upwelling

The upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents.

Thermohaline circulation

An oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water.

Rain shadow

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

El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

A reversal of wind and water currents in the South Pacific.

La Niña

Following an El Niño event, trade winds in the South Pacific reverse strongly, causing regions that were hot and dry to become cooler and wetter.