AP Environmental Science Unit 4

What are the two types of Earth's core?

Inner (solid) and outer (liquid) core.

What drives plate tectonics?

Convection currents in the mantle.

Convergent plate boundaries lead to what geological features?

Mountains, volcanoes, and trenches.

Fill in the blank: Earthquakes and volcanoes primarily occur along __________.

plate boundaries.

The O Horizon in soil represents what?

Organic material (leaf litter, decomposed matter).

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions while climate refers to long-term patterns.

What natural phenomenon causes the deflection of winds due to Earth’s rotation?

Coriolis Effect.

Define watershed.

An area of land where all water drains into a common body like a river, lake, or ocean.

What are the three types of weathering?

Physical, chemical, and biological.

What is El Niño?

A phenomenon where warm water in the Pacific Ocean disrupts global weather patterns.

List one method to prevent soil erosion.

Contour farming.

The Stratosphere contains which important layer?

The ozone layer.

What is soil permeability?

The ability of water to flow through soil.

What is the main consequence of overusing groundwater?

Subsidence and saltwater intrusion.

What are renewable resources?

Resources that can be replenished naturally, such as solar, wind, and hydro energy.

What are the two types of Earth's core?

Inner (solid) and outer (liquid) core.

What drives plate tectonics?

Convection currents in the mantle.

Convergent plate boundaries lead to what geological features?

Mountains, volcanoes, and trenches.

Fill in the blank: Earthquakes and volcanoes primarily occur along __________.

plate boundaries.

The O Horizon in soil represents what?

Organic material (leaf litter, decomposed matter).

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions while climate refers to long-term patterns.

What natural phenomenon causes the deflection of winds due to Earth’s rotation?

Coriolis Effect.

Define watershed.

An area of land where all water drains into a common body like a river, lake, or ocean.

What are the three types of weathering?

Physical, chemical, and biological.

What is El Niño?

A phenomenon where warm water in the Pacific Ocean disrupts global weather patterns.

List one method to prevent soil erosion.

Contour farming.

The Stratosphere contains which important layer?

The ozone layer.

What is soil permeability?

The ability of water to flow through soil.

What is the main consequence of overusing groundwater?

Subsidence and saltwater intrusion.

What are renewable resources?

Resources that can be replenished naturally, such as solar, wind, and hydro energy.

What are plate boundaries?

Lines where two tectonic plates meet, leading to geological activity.

What is the ring of fire?

A horseshoe-shaped zone of high seismic activity around the Pacific Ocean.

How do human activities contribute to soil erosion?

Deforestation, overgrazing, and improper land management practices.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The warming of Earth's surface due to trapped greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

What are the four main components of soil?

Minerals, organic matter, water, and air.

Define aquifer.

A geological formation that can store and transmit water.

What is weathering?

The process of breaking down rocks at Earth's surface into smaller particles.

What is deposition?

The process where sediment is laid down in new locations.

What factors influence temperature and climate in a region?

Latitude, altitude, distance to oceans, and prevailing winds.

What is sustainability in resource use?

Utilizing resources in a way that meets current needs without compromising future availability.

What are the different soil horizons?

Soil horizons include O (organic), A (topsoil), E (eluviation), B (subsoil), and C (parent material).

What does the A horizon represent?

The A horizon, or topsoil, is rich in organic material and is where most plant roots are found.

What is the E horizon?

The E horizon is a layer of leached soil, where minerals and nutrients are washed out.

Describe the B horizon in soil.

The B horizon, or subsoil, accumulates minerals and nutrients leached from the upper layers.

What is the C horizon made of?

The C horizon consists of partially weathered rock and parent material from which the soil develops.

What is the importance of the O horizon?

The O horizon is crucial for nutrient cycling as it contains decomposed organic matter.

How does the soil profile change with depth?

The soil profile shows distinct horizons with varying composition, texture, and biological activity.

What are the main layers of Earth's atmosphere?

Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.

What is the primary gas found in the troposphere?

Nitrogen, which makes up approximately 78% of the atmosphere.

What is the role of the ozone layer?

The ozone layer absorbs and scatters ultraviolet solar radiation.

What causes atmospheric pressure?

Atmospheric pressure is caused by the weight of air molecules above a given point.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is the warming of Earth's surface due to the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases.

What are the major greenhouse gases?

Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and water vapor.

How does deforestation affect the atmosphere?

Deforestation increases CO2 levels and reduces oxygen production, contributing to climate change.

What is acid rain and what causes it?

Acid rain is precipitation that is more acidic than normal due to sulfur and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere.

What is the impact of aerosols in the atmosphere?

Aerosols can both cool the Earth's surface by reflecting sunlight and contribute to cloud formation.

Explain the role of the stratosphere in weather patterns.

The stratosphere is stable and contains the ozone layer, affecting weather patterns by blocking UV radiation.