APES Quiz 1 Review (4.1-4.3)

Core

Dense mass of nickel, iron, and radioactive elements that release massive amounts of heat

Mantle

Bulk of Earth’s interior; three layers. Magma (molten rock) layer slowly circulates due to heat from core

Asthenosphere

Semi-molten, flexible outer layer of mantle, beneath the lithosphere

Lithosphere

Thin, brittle layer of rock floating on top of mantle (broken up into tectonic plates)

Crust

Very outer layer of lithosphere, Earth’s surface

Divergent

Plates move away from each other

Divergent Forms

Mid-oceanic ridges, volcanoes, seafloor spreading, and rift valleys (on land)

Convergent

Plates move towards each other

Convergent Forms

Mountains, island arcs, and volcanoes

Transform

Plates slide sideways past each other

Transform Forms

Faults (fractures in rock), earthquakes

Ring of Fire

Pattern of volcanoes & earthquake zones all around pacific plate

Transform Faults

Likely location of earthquakes

Hotspots

Areas of especially hot magma rising up to lithosphere

Convergent Boundaries : Oceanic-Oceanic

One plate subducts underneath other

Convergent Boundaries : Oceanic-Continental

Dense oceanic plate subducts beneath continental plate & melts back into magma

Convergent Boundaries : Continental-Continental

Surface crust from both plates “buckles” upward; forms mountains

Magma heated by earth’s core rises towards the _______.

Lithosphere

Rising magma forces oceanic plates _____

Apart.

What does C in CLORPT stand for?

Climate

What does O in CLORPT stand for?

Living Organisms

What does R in CLORPT stand for?

Relief

What does P in CLORPT stand for?

Parent materials

What does T in CLORPT stand for?

Time

Soil

Mix of geologic (rock) and organic (living) components

What are the 3 minerals soil is made of?

Sand, silt, clay

Humus

Main organic part of soil (broken down biomass like leaves, dead animals, waste, etc)

Role of soil in plants

Soil anchors roots of plants & provides water, shelter, and nutrients (N, P, K, Mg) for growth

Role of soil in water

Filters rain water + runoff by trapping pollutants in pore spaces + plant roots. Clean water enters groundwater + aquifers

Role of soil in nutrient recycling

Home to decomposers that break down dead organic matter + return nutrients to soil

Role of soil in habitat

Provides habitat for organisms like earthworms, fungi, bacteria, moles, slugs

Weathering

Break-down

Erosion

Movement

Soil Formation from below

Weathering of parent material produces small and smaller fragments that make up geological/inorganic part of soil

Soil Formation from above

Breakdown of organic matter adds humus to soil; Erosion deposits soil particles from other areas, adding to soil

O-Horizon

Organic; layer of organic matter (plants, roots, dead leaves, animal waste, etc.) on top of soil. Provides nutrients & limits H2O loss to evaporation

A-Horizon

Topsoil; layer of humus (decomposed organic matter) & minerals. Has most biological activity (earthworms, soil microbes) breaking down organic matter to release nutrients

B-Horizon

Subsoil; lighter layer below topsoil, mostly made of minerals with little to no organic matter. Contains some nutrients

E-Horizon

Occurs beneath either the O or the A Horizon

C-Horizon

Weathered rock; least weathered soil that is closest to the parent material; sometimes called bedrock

Soil Degradation

The loss of the ability of soil to support plant growth

Loss of Topsoil

Tilling (turning soil for agriculture) + loss of vegetation disturb soil and make it more easily eroded by wind & rain. Loss of topsoil dries out soil, removes nutrients + organisms that recycle nutrients

Compaction

Compression of soil by machines (tractors, bulldozers), grazing livestock, & humans reduces the ability to hold moisture. Dry soil erodes more easily. Dry soil supports less plant growth, root structure, leading to more erosion

Nutrient Depletion

Repeatedly growing crops on the same soil removes key nutrients (N, P, K, Na, Mg) over time. Reduces ability to grow future crops

Weathering

Breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces

Erosion

Transport of weathered rock fragments by wind & rain. Carried to new location and deposited

Parent Soil

Soil pH, nutrient content

Topography

Steep slope = too much erosion; more ground level = deposition

Climate

Warmer = faster breakdown of organic matter; more rain = more weathering, erosion, and deposition

Organisms

Bacteria, fungi, worms, breakdown organic matter

Leaching

A process in which dissolved molecules are transported through soil via groundwater or nutrients

Turbidity

How much sediment is in the water

Permeability

How easily water drains through a soil

Pore space

Larger, connected pore spaces = greater permeability

H2O Holding Capacity

How well water is retained or held by soil. More permeable = lower H2O holding capacity. Inverse relationship between permeability & H2O holding capacity.

Soil Particles

Almost all soils are mixtures of varying amounts of three soil particles: Sand, silt, clay

Biggest Soil Particle

Sand

Medium Soil Particle

Silt

Smallest Soil Particle

Clay

Soil Texture

The percentage of sand, silt, and clay in a soil. Always adds up to 100%

Soil Pores

Empty spaces between particles. Because sand is bigger, it has bigger pores that are connected to each other

Porosity

How much (volume of) water that a soil sample can hold

Permeability

Is the opposite of porosity. It is how easily water drains through the soil

Soil Fertility & Plant Growth: Too sandy

Too permeable, drains water too quickly for roots + dries out

Soil Fertility & Plant Growth: Too much clay

Doesn’t let H2O reach roots, or waterlogs (suffocating them)

Soil Fertility

The ability of soil to support plant growth

Factors that increase soil nutrients

• Organic matter (releases nutrients)

• Bases (calcium carbonate)

• Humus (holds + releases nutrients)

• Decomposer activity (Recycles nutrients)

• Clay (negative charge binds positive nutrients)

Factors that decrease soil nutrients

• Acids leach positively charged nutrients

• Excessive irrigation leaches nutrients

• Excessive farming depletes nutrients

• Topsoil erosion

Soil Fertility: Water

Needs to hold water, but not too much

Factors that increase water holding capacity

• Aerated soil (biological activity)

• Compost/humus/organic matter

• Clay content

• Root structure, especially natives

Factors that decrease water holding capacity

• Compacted soil (machines, cows)

• Topsoil erosion

• Sand

• Root loss

Water Holding Capacity

The total amount of water soil can hold- varies with different soil types

Water Retention

Contributes to the productivity and fertility of soils

Particle size and Composition of Soil

Can affect the porosity, permeability, and fertility of the soil

Soil Texture Triangle

A diagram that allows for the identification and comparison of soil types based on their percentage of clay, silt, and sand

Loam Soils

Support a wide variety of crops due to balance between water holding, drainage, aeration, and nutrient holding capacity (resulting from balanced blend of sand, silt and clay)