Earth and Environmental Science Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts from Earth and Environmental Science lectures.

List the order from largest to smallest astronomical structures

Universe > Galaxy > Star > Planet > Moon

What shape are planetary orbits?

Elliptical (oval-shaped)

How does a planet's speed change in relation to its distance from the Sun?

A planet moves faster when it is closest to the Sun.

What is rotation?

Spinning on axis (1 day)

What is revolution?

Orbit around the Sun (1 year)

What is a Barycenter?

Center of mass between two objects.

What is Nutation?

A small wobble in Earth's axis

What is Precession?

Slow change in Earth's tilt direction

What causes the seasons?

Varying sun angles

What is nuclear fusion?

Nuclei join (happens in the Sun)

What is nuclear fission?

Nuclei split (used in nuclear power plants)

What is the Albedo Effect?

Reflectivity of a surface.

What are sunspots?

Cooler, dark spots on the Sun.

What causes Tides?

Moon’s gravity pulling on Earth’s water.

What is Weathering?

Breaking rocks

What is Erosion?

Moving broken particles

What forms Metamorphic rocks?

Heat & pressure (e.g. marble)

What forms Sedimentary rocks?

Compacted sediments (e.g. sandstone)

What forms Igneous rocks?

Cooled magma/lava (e.g. basalt)

Where does the Rock Cycle energy come from?

Comes from inside Earth and the Sun

What causes Plate Movement?

Convection currents in the mantle.

What landform results from a Convergent Continent-Continent Plate Boundary?

Continent–Continent → Mountains

What landform results from a Convergent Continent-Ocean Plate Boundary?

Continent–Ocean → Volcanoes, trenches

What landform results from a Convergent Ocean-Ocean Plate Boundary?

Ocean–Ocean → Island arcs

What happens at a Divergent Plate Boundary?

Plates pull apart → Mid-ocean ridges

What happens at a Transform Plate Boundary?

Plates slide → Earthquakes (e.g. San Andreas)

Where is Magma found?

Inside Earth

Where is Lava found?

On Earth’s surface

How is the Epicenter of an earthquake found?

Found using seismic waves from 3 stations (triangulation)

What type of landform are the Appalachians?

Folded mountains

What type of landform is the Fall Zone?

Drop in elevation → waterfalls/rapids

How are Barrier Islands formed?

Formed by wave and wind deposition

What is Chemical Weathering?

Changes rock’s composition (e.g. rusting)

What is Mechanical Weathering?

Breaks rock physically (e.g. freeze-thaw)

What is Solar Energy?

Sunlight

What is Wind energy?

Moving air

What are Biofuels?

From plants

What is nuclear fusion?

Joining atoms (not yet in use)

What powers Fuel cells?

Hydrogen-powered

How is Hydroelectric energy generated?

Moving water

What is Geothermal energy?

Earth’s heat

On what does the performance of alternative energies depend?

Depends on climate, resources, and location

What is No-till farming?

Leaves soil undisturbed

What is aquaculture?

Farming fish instead of wild catch

Are Primary seismic waves faster or slower?

Faster

Are Secondary seismic waves faster or slower?

Slower

How are Surface ocean currents driven?

Wind-driven

How are Deep ocean currents driven?

Driven by temperature and salinity

Where do Warm Currents travel?

Travel north, bringing warmer weather

What percentage of the Earth's water is fresh?

Only 3% of Earth’s water is fresh

What is most of the water in the USA used for?

Mostly for agriculture

What is Adhesion?

Sticks to other surfaces

What is Cohesion?

Sticks to itself

What happens in the Troposphere?

Weather

What is in the Stratosphere?

Ozone layer

What happens in the Mesosphere?

Burns meteors

What happens in the Thermosphere?

Auroras, satellites

What happens during Air Mass Collisions?

Create fronts → weather changes

What are Fronts?

Boundaries between warm & cold air

What does the Coriolis Effect cause?

Causes wind/ocean currents to curve

Where does the Weather Layer happen?

Happens in the Troposphere

What happens with more Greenhouse Gases?

More gases → hotter Earth

What is Weather?

Short-term

What is Climate?

Long-term

What do Greenhouse Gases do?

Trap heat (CO₂, CH₄)

What do Deforestation & Fossil Fuels do?

Add CO₂ → increase global warming

What happens as a result of Ocean Acidification?

Ocean Acidification: kills marine life

What happens as a result of Extreme Weather?

More storms

What happens as a result of Sea Level Rise?

Floods

What happens as a result of Loss of Biodiversity?

Species extinction

What are Abiotic factors?

Non-living (sunlight)

What are Biotic factors?

Living (plants)

What are Biomes?

Large ecosystems

What are Biomes based on?

Based on climate (temp & rain)

What is a Grassland?

Few trees, lots of grass

What is a Deciduous Forest?

4 seasons, trees lose leaves

What is a Chaparral?

Dry, shrubs

What is a Tundra?

Cold, permafrost

What is a Taiga?

Cold forest

What is Biodiversity?

Variety of life

What does the H in HIPPO stand for?

Habitat loss

What does the I in HIPPO stand for?

Invasive species

What does the first P in HIPPO stand for?

Pollution

What does the second P in HIPPO stand for?

Population growth

What does the O in HIPPO stand for?

Overharvesting

What are Invasive Species?

Non-native, harm environment

What does Kudzu do?

Takes over native plants

What is Carrying Capacity?

Max population an area can support

What causes Human Population Growth?

Caused by medicine, food, technology

What is the Ecosystem Impact?

More people = more pollution, land use, resource loss