Unit 4: Earth Systems

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering essential concepts from Unit 4 on Earth Systems, including plate tectonics, soil formation, and the atmosphere.

Plate Tectonics

The theory explaining the movement of the Earth's plates and how it leads to geological changes and events.

Convergent Boundaries

Plate boundaries where plates move toward each other, resulting in features like mountains, island arcs, earthquakes, and volcanoes.

Divergent Boundaries

Plate boundaries where plates move apart, causing seafloor spreading, rift valleys, and volcanoes.

Transform Boundaries

Plate boundaries where plates slide past each other, primarily resulting in earthquakes.

Asthenosphere

The solid, flexible outer layer of the mantle, beneath the lithosphere.

Lithosphere

The thin, brittle layer of rock that forms the Earth's surface, which is broken up into tectonic plates.

Weathering

The process of breaking down rocks into smaller pieces through physical, chemical, or biological means.

Erosion

The transport of weathered rock fragments by wind, water, or ice.

Soil Horizon

Layers of soil that are categorized based on composition and organic material.

Albedo

The proportion of light that is reflected by a surface; higher albedo means more reflection and less heat absorption.

Hydrosphere

All of the water on Earth, encompassing oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater.

Climate

The long-term average of weather patterns in a particular area.

El Niño

A climatic phenomenon characterized by warmer ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, leading to global weather changes.

La Niña

A climatic phenomenon characterized by cooler ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, which can also cause significant weather changes.

Watershed

An area of land that drains into a specific body of water, such as a river or lake.

Riparian Zone

The interface between land and a river or stream, important for ecology, water quality, and flood management.

Soil Fertility

The ability of soil to provide essential nutrients to support plant growth.

Nutrient Pollution

The introduction of excessive nutrients, notably nitrogen and phosphorus, into waterways, leading to problems such as eutrophication.