(5) AP Environmental Science Unit 4 Review (Everything You Need to Know!)

Plate Tectonics

The theory explaining the structure of the Earth's lithosphere and its movement, which shapes landforms.

Divergent Boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where plates move away from each other, commonly associated with seafloor spreading.

Convergent Boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates collide, resulting in one plate being subducted beneath the other.

Transform Plate Boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past one another, often causing earthquakes.

Subduction

The process where an oceanic plate is forced beneath a continental plate.

Soil

A complex mixture of weathered rock particles, organic material, and microorganisms, vital for plant growth.

Pore Space

The empty spaces in soil that hold air and water, crucial for supporting plant roots.

Weathering

The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without movement.

Erosion

The movement of weathered rock pieces by wind or water.

O Horizon

The top layer of soil rich in organic material such as decomposed matter and living organisms.

A Horizon

Also known as topsoil, it contains organic matter and is crucial for nutrient availability.

B Horizon

The subsoil layer with fewer organic materials but retains important nutrients for plant growth.

C Horizon

The layer of soil that contains parent material with minimal weathering.

Permeability

The ability of soil to transmit water through its pore spaces.

Water Holding Capacity

The ability of soil to retain water for plant use.

Soil Texture

The relative percentage of sand, silt, and clay that determines soil characteristics.

Soil pH

A measure of the acidity or basicity of soil, influencing nutrient availability.

Insolation

The amount of solar radiation received by a specific area on Earth's surface.

Hadley Cell

A large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern that causes heated air to rise at the equator and sink at 30° latitudes.

Watershed

An area of land that drains into a single body of water.

Rain Shadow Effect

A phenomenon where mountains block moist air, causing wet conditions on one side and dry conditions on the other.

El Niño

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

La Niña

A climate pattern characterized by cooler than average ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Thermocline

The layer in a body of water where temperature changes rapidly with depth.