Earth Science ALL

What are the layers of the Earth's interior?

The layers of the Earth's interior include the Core, Mantle, and Crust.

What is the Mantle?

The Mantle is the layer below the Crust that contains both solid and liquid matter, with hot matter having a higher density than cold matter.

Which layer of Earth is liquid?

The Core is the layer of Earth that is liquid.

Which layer generates convection currents?

The Mantle generates convection currents.

What is a Divergent plate boundary?

A Divergent plate boundary is where two tectonic plates move apart.

What is a Convergent plate boundary?

A Convergent plate boundary is where two tectonic plates collide.

Where are most active volcanoes located?

Most active volcanoes are located near plate boundaries.

What landform results from a collision at convergent plate boundaries?

Mountain ranges result from a collision at convergent plate boundaries.

What landform is associated with divergent plate boundaries?

Ocean ridges are associated with divergent plate boundaries.

What is the impact of volcanic eruptions on the carbon cycle?

Volcanic eruptions increase the carbon in the atmosphere.

Which gas released during volcanic eruptions is associated with acid rain?

Sulfur dioxide is the main gas released during volcanic eruptions that is associated with acid rain.

What landform is created at a hot spot?

A volcanic island is created at a hot spot.

How can convection currents be modeled?

Convection currents can be modeled by a boiling pot of water with rising and sinking currents.

What happens at a divergent plate boundary?

At a divergent plate boundary, volcanic activity and underwater ridges occur, along with weak earthquakes.

What factor is least likely to influence the rate of soil formation?

Rock cycle processes are least likely to influence the rate of soil formation.

How does ice contribute to mechanical weathering?

Ice contributes to mechanical weathering by expanding within the cracks of rocks and causing them to break apart.

What is the effect of hydrothermal vents on biodiversity?

Near hydrothermal vents, the diversity of life increases due to the abundance of nutrients added from volcanic activity.

Where do mountain ranges form?

Mountain ranges can form at convergent plate boundaries.

Where do earthquakes and volcanic eruptions mostly occur?

Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions mostly occur at subduction zones.

Where do mid-ocean ridges and trenches form?

Mid-ocean ridges form at divergent plate boundaries, and trenches form at subduction zones.

What is the Urban Heat Island effect?

The phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than rural areas due to human-made materials that absorb and retain heat.

Which type of land use impacts water quality the most?

Industrial land use impacts water quality the most.

What is a nonrenewable energy resource?

A finite resource that is consumed much faster than it is replenished; examples include coal, oil, and natural gas.

What are the major drawbacks of burning fossil fuels?

Burning fossil fuels leads to reduced air quality, increased atmospheric temperatures, and reduced water quality.

What is a renewable energy source?

A source of energy that comes from natural processes that replenish faster than they are used; examples include wind, solar, and hydropower.

What is sustainable consumption?

Using goods and services that meet basic needs and improve quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials.

What is bycatching?

The phenomenon of catching unwanted fish and other marine creatures during commercial fishing for a different species.

What is bioaccumulation?

The gradual buildup of a chemical or toxin in an organism's body over time, occurring when the rate of intake exceeds the rate of elimination.

What is the major impact of bioaccumulation in ecosystems?

Biomagnification, which causes top predators and humans the most harm.

What is the major environmental impact of open-pit mining?

Loss of forests and habitats.

What is carbon sequestration?

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to reduce climate change.

Which organization monitors the environmental impact of oil drilling in the Chukchi Sea?

The Department of the Interior (DOI).

Which pollutant can cause respiratory illness in humans?

Both nitrous oxide and particulates can cause respiratory illness.

What is associated with an increase in wildfires?

Rising atmospheric temperatures.

What is hydraulic fracking?

A process used to extract oil and natural gas from deep rock formations by pumping a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure into the rock.

What is the role of the ozone layer in the atmosphere?

It absorbs UV radiation and prevents it from reaching Earth.

What could be a potential impact of introducing a nonnative species to an ecosystem?

It can take over the habitats of native species.

Why are inner planets different from outer planets?

Due to their distance from the sun during their formation.

How do water and land absorb and retain heat differently?

Water has a high specific heat while land has a low specific heat, impacting global temperature changes.

Why are hurricanes formed over oceans?

Hot air and the energy of evaporating water provide energy for the hurricanes.

What is the Urban Heat Island effect?

The phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than rural areas due to human-made materials that absorb and retain heat.

Which type of land use impacts water quality the most?

Industrial land use impacts water quality the most.

What is a nonrenewable energy resource?

A finite resource that is consumed much faster than it is replenished; examples include coal, oil, and natural gas.

What are the major drawbacks of burning fossil fuels?

The major drawbacks include reduced air quality, reduced water quality, and increased atmospheric temperatures.

What is a renewable energy source?

Renewable energy comes from natural sources that replenish faster than they are used; examples include wind, solar, and hydropower.

What is sustainable consumption?

Using goods and services that meet basic needs and improve quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials.

What is bycatching?

The phenomenon of catching unwanted fish and other marine creatures during commercial fishing for a different species.

What is bioaccumulation?

The gradual buildup of a chemical or toxin in an organism's body over time, occurring when the rate of intake exceeds the rate of elimination.

What is the major impact of bioaccumulation in ecosystems?

Biomagnification, which causes top predators and humans the most harm.

What is the major environmental impact of open-pit mining?

Loss of forests and habitats.

What is carbon sequestration?

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to reduce climate change.

Which organization monitors the environmental impact of oil drilling in the Chukchi Sea?

The Department of the Interior (DOI).

Which pollutant can cause respiratory illness in humans?

Both nitrous oxide and particulates can cause respiratory illness.

What is the association between wildfires and climate?

Increased wildfires are associated with rising atmospheric temperatures.

What is hydraulic fracking?

A process used to extract oil and natural gas from deep rock formations by creating cracks in the rock using high-pressure mixtures of water, sand, and chemicals.

What is the role of the ozone layer in the atmosphere?

It absorbs UV radiation and prevents it from reaching Earth.

What could be a potential impact of introducing a nonnative species to an ecosystem?

It can take over the habitats of native species.

Why are inner planets different from outer planets?

Inner planets are different due to their distance from the sun during their formation.

How do water and land absorb and retain heat differently?

Water has a high specific heat while land has a low specific heat, impacting global temperature changes.

Why are hurricanes formed over oceans?

Hot air and the energy of evaporating water provide energy for the hurricanes.

What is the movement of water from oceans to the atmosphere and back called?

Water cycle

What is the amount of salt in water called?

Salinity

What types of ocean currents exist?

Deep and surface

What causes deep ocean currents?

Differences in water's density

What is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere?

Nitrogen

What is the change of water from gas to liquid called?

Condensation

What is the change of water from liquid to gas called?

Evaporation

Which layer of the atmosphere do we live in?

Troposphere

Which of the following is a greenhouse gas?

Carbon dioxide, Methane, Water vapor

What is the process called when solid ice converts directly into gas?

Sublimation

What is the process by which water vapor escapes through the leaves called?

Transpiration

What is the underground porous rock layer that stores groundwater called?

Aquifer

What percentage of Earth's water is ocean water?

97 percent

What percentage of Earth's water is fresh water?

3 percent

What is the ability of the atmosphere to hold water vapor called?

Humidity

What is an example of point source pollution?

Discharge from a factory

What could be the main reason for rising global sea levels?

Polar ice caps melting

In which layer of the atmosphere do most weather phenomena occur?

Troposphere

What is the largest source of accessible fresh water?

Ground water

What happens to air pressure as we go higher in the atmosphere?

It decreases

How did the solar system form according to the Nebular theory?

From a nebula, a giant cloud of gas and dust

What is the age of our solar system?

4.6 billion years

According to Kepler's first law, how do planets revolve around the sun?

In an elliptical path

What does Kepler's third law describe?

The relationship between a planet's orbital period and its distance from the Sun

What percentage of the Sun's mass is Hydrogen?

75 percent

In what form does the Sun release its energy?

Electromagnetic radiation

What elements react in the Sun to cause nuclear fusion?

Hydrogen and Helium

Which layer of the atmosphere blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun?

Ozone layer in the Stratosphere

What blocks harmful Gamma radiation from sunlight before reaching the Earth?

Earth's Magnetic field

What ingredients are needed for photosynthesis?

Carbon dioxide and water

What is the Urban Heat Island effect?

The phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than rural areas due to human-made materials that absorb and retain heat.

Which type of land use impacts water quality the most?

Industrial land use impacts water quality the most.

What is a nonrenewable energy resource?

A finite resource that is consumed much faster than it is replenished; examples include coal, oil, and natural gas.

What are the major drawbacks of burning fossil fuels?

Burning fossil fuels leads to reduced air quality, increased atmospheric temperatures, and reduced water quality.

What is a renewable energy source?

Renewable energy comes from natural sources that replenish faster than they are used; examples include wind, solar, and hydropower.

What is sustainable consumption?

Using goods and services that meet basic needs and improve quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials.

What is bycatching?

The phenomenon of catching unwanted fish and other marine creatures during commercial fishing for a different species.

What is bioaccumulation?

The gradual buildup of a chemical or toxin in an organism's body over time, occurring when the rate of intake exceeds the rate of elimination.

What is the major impact of bioaccumulation in ecosystems?

It leads to biomagnification, causing the highest concentrations of toxins to be found in top predators and humans.

What is the major environmental impact of open-pit mining?

It results in the loss of forests and habitats.