Plate Tectonics, Soil Formation, Atmosphere, and Environmental Concepts

These flashcards cover essential concepts related to plate tectonics, soil formation, atmospheric properties, and the impact of human activity on the environment, which are critical for understanding geological and environmental science.

What are the geological changes that occur at convergent boundaries?

Creation of mountains, island arcs, earthquakes, and volcanoes.

What do divergent boundaries produce?

Seafloor spreading, rift valleys, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

What characterizes transform boundaries?

Plates slide past each other, leading to earthquakes.

What is the primary component of the Earth's core?

Solid nickel, iron, and radioactive elements.

What geological features form as a result of magma rising at divergent boundaries?

Mid-oceanic ridges, volcanoes, and rift valleys.

What happens in a subduction zone?

One tectonic plate is forced beneath another, leading to volcanic activity.

What is an earthquake and how does it occur?

An earthquake occurs when stress on a locked fault overcomes the friction, releasing stored energy.

What is the function of the O-Horizon in soil?

It is the layer of organic matter that provides nutrients and limits water loss.

What is weathering in terms of soil formation?

The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces, leading to soil formation.

What effect does climate have on soil formation?

Climate impacts the rate of weathering, erosion, and nutrient cycling in soils.

What factors contribute to soil degradation?

Loss of topsoil, compaction, and nutrient depletion.

How does the Coriolis effect influence wind patterns?

It causes wind to curve due to the Earth's rotation, affecting global wind patterns.

What are the main gases of the Earth's atmosphere?

Nitrogen (~78%), Oxygen (~21%), Argon (~0.93%), and Carbon Dioxide (~0.04%).

How do the layers of the atmosphere vary with altitude?

Temperature changes create different layers: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.

What is El Niño and how does it affect global weather patterns?

A phenomenon characterized by the warming of ocean waters in the Pacific that alters weather patterns, causing increased rainfall and flooding in some regions and droughts in others.

What are the effects of La Niña?

Typically leads to cooler and drier conditions in affected regions, improving fishing conditions along the Pacific coast of the Americas.

What is the significance of the Ring of Fire?

It is an area in the Pacific Ocean known for its high volcanic activity and earthquakes.

What is a watershed?

An area of land that drains into a specific body of water, influenced by factors like slope and vegetation.

How does the tilt of the Earth's axis affect the seasons?

It causes variations in the angle of sunlight, leading to changes in temperature and daylight hours throughout the year.

What is the role of albedo in climate?

Albedo affects surface temperature by determining how much sunlight is absorbed or reflected by a surface.

What process leads to nutrient pollution in watersheds?

Discharge from sewage treatment plants, agricultural runoff, and animal waste contribute to nutrient pollution leading to issues like eutrophication.

What are some solutions to reduce watershed pollutants?

Implementing riparian buffers, using cover crops, upgrading septic systems, and managing animal waste.