AP Environmental Science

Earthquakes

sudden movements of Earth's crust followed by a series of shocks

Convergent boundary

A plate boundary where two plates move toward each other.

Divergent boundary

A plate boundary where two plates move away from each other.

Transform boundary

A plate boundary where two plates move past each other in opposite directions

divergent oceanic-oceanic

two ocean plates move apart. The landforms formed by this boundary are mid-ocean rigdes.

Examples: Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Iceland volcano

convergent oceanic-oceanic

2 oceanic plates push together, older plate sub ducts and forms a chain of volcanic islands, ex. Aleutian Islands and Japanese Islands

Plate tectonic theory

the theory that the lithosphere is broken up into large plates that move and then rejoin; considered the unifying theory of geology

Tectonic plates

a block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle

Plate boundaries

the edges of tectonic plates.

Seafloor spreading

The process that creates new sea floor as plates move away from each other at the mid-ocean ridges

Volcanoes

openings in Earth's crust from which molten rock, dust, ash, and hot gases flow or erupt

Convergent Oceanic-Continental

Features: volcanic arcs, volcanoes, trench

Examples: , Andes Mountains

Convergent Continent-Continent

A landform created by this boundary is mountain ranges.

Hot spots

places where molten material from the mantle reaches the lithosphere

Faults

Breaks in Earth's crust where rocks have slipped past each other.

Asthenosphere

The soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move

Lithosphere

A rigid layer made up of the uppermost part of the mantle and the crust.

Crust

The thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle

Convection currents

a current in a fluid that results from convection.

Mantle

The layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core.

Soil

The loose, weathered material on Earth's surface in which plants can grow.

Erosion

Processes by which rock, sand, and soil are broken down and carried away (i.e. weathering, glaciation)

Cover crops

Plants, such as rye, alfalfa, or clover, that can be planted immediately after harvest to hold and protect the soil.

Vegetated buffers

areas of natural or established vegetation maintained to protect the water quality of neighboring areas

Parent material

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

Soil horizons

distinct layers of soil

Weathering

The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.

Organic material

Materials that were once part of living things

Soil Fertility

Soil's ability to hold nutrients and to supply nutrients to a plant

physical properties of soil

texture and porosity

biological properties of soil

Many organisms are found in the soil including fungi, bacteria, protozoans, rodents and earthworms.

Fertilizer

a chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to increase its fertility

Clay

the finest soil, made up of particles that are less than 0.002 mm in diameter.

Sand

the coarsest soil, with particles 0.05,2.0 mm in diameter.

Silt

fine particles of fertile soil

Water holding capacity

how well soil can retain water (sand is low, clay is high)

Loam

Rich, fertile soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt.

Atmosphere

A mixture of gases that surrounds a planet or moon.

Leaching

removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards

divergent continental-continental

two continental plates move apart, forms rift valley