APES unit 4 key terms

Angle of incidence

The angle at which incoming light or radiation strikes a surface.

Convection current

A circular movement of fluid caused by the uneven heating of the fluid, leading to the transfer of heat.

Convergent boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates move toward each other, often causing one plate to be forced beneath the other.

Coriolis Effect

The apparent deflection of moving objects (like air and water) due to the rotation of the Earth.

Deposition

The process by which sediments, soil, and rocks are added to a landform or land mass.

Divergent boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates move away from each other, leading to the formation of new crust.

Divide

A geographical boundary that separates one watershed from another.

Earthquake

A sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves.

El Nino

A climate pattern characterized by the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, affecting global weather.

Equinoxes & solstices

Equinoxes occur around March 21 and September 23, when day and night are of equal length; solstices occur around June 21 and December 21, marking the longest and shortest days of the year, respectively.

Erosion

The process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural forces such as wind or water.

Exosphere

The outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere, characterized by extremely low density and high temperatures.

Hadley Cells

Large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns that create trade winds and influence tropical weather.

Hot spot

A location on the Earth's surface that has experienced active volcanism for a long period, often not associated with tectonic plate boundaries.

Humus

A dark, organic material in soil formed from the decomposition of plant and animal matter.

Insolation

The amount of solar radiation received by a given area over a specific time period.

La Nina

A climate pattern characterized by cooler ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, often influencing global weather patterns.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Mesosphere

The layer of the Earth's atmosphere above the stratosphere, characterized by decreasing temperatures with altitude.

Parent material

The underlying geological material from which soil develops.

Permeability (of soil)

The ability of soil to transmit water and air through its pores.

Porosity (of soil)

The measure of the void spaces in soil, indicating how much water and air it can hold.

Rain Shadow Effect

A phenomenon where one side of a mountain range receives more precipitation than the other, leading to dry conditions on the leeward side.

Soil chemistry tests

Analyses conducted to determine the nutrient content and pH level of soil.

Soil components - sand vs silt vs clay

Different types of soil particles, with sand being coarse, silt being medium, and clay being fine, each affecting soil properties.

Soil horizons

Distinct layers of soil that differ in composition, texture, and color, typically including topsoil, subsoil, and parent material.

Stratosphere

The layer of the Earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, characterized by a temperature increase with altitude and the presence of the ozone layer.

Thermosphere

The layer of the Earth's atmosphere above the mesosphere, characterized by very high temperatures and low density.

Transform boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally.

Tributary

A smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river or lake.

Watershed

An area of land that drains all the streams and rainfall to a common outlet, such as a river or lake.

Weathering

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