Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources

Flashcards covering key concepts from Unit 4 about Earth systems and resources.

Plate Tectonics

The theory explaining the movement of the Earth's plates and the features associated with their interactions.

Types of Plate Boundaries

Divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries where different geological features and events occur.

Soil Formation

The process by which soil is produced through weathering of rocks and the decay of organic matter.

Soil Horizon Identification

The layers of soil that differ in color, texture, and composition, typically named O, A, E, B, and C horizons.

Erosion

The process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes, and its importance in protecting soil.

Soil Texture Triangle

A graphical representation used to classify soil texture based on the proportions of sand, silt, and clay.

Water Holding Capacity

The ability of soil to retain water for use by plants and organisms.

Earth’s Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding the Earth, composed mainly of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%).

Layers of the Atmosphere

Regions of the atmosphere differentiated by temperature gradients, including the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.

Global Wind Patterns

The large-scale movement of air across the Earth's surface, influenced by the planet's rotation and the unequal heating of the atmosphere.

Watersheds

Land areas that drain rainwater and snow into a common outlet, such as rivers or lakes.

Solar Radiation

The sun's energy that reaches the Earth, affecting temperature, weather patterns, and seasons.

Rain Shadow Effect

A dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range caused by the blocking of rain by the mountains.

El Niño

An oceanic and atmospheric phenomenon characterized by the warming of surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, affecting global weather patterns.

La Niña

The counterpart to El Niño, referring to the cooling of surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific, leading to different weather patterns.