Unit 0 Notes

Atmosphere (layer names only)

Atmosphere (layer names only)

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Exosphere

4 main spherical systems

Atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (water), geosphere (rock/soil), and biosphere (living things)

three factors sustain earth’s life

1. One-way flow of high-quality energy from the sun

2. Cycling of nutrients (atoms, ions, & molecules) through the biosphere

3. Gravity allows movement/cycling of chemicals, water, soil, and organisms through the atmosphere.

High Quality Energy

• Upholds principle of solar energy (sustainability)

• High-quality energy can’t be replaced

• Greenhouse effect

Greenhouse effect

Solar energy interacts with carbon dioxide (and other gasses) in the troposphere to warm the earth. (Necessary or Earth too cold)

Soil

Complex mixture of eroded rock, nutrients, decaying organic matter, water, air, and living organisms (mostly decomposers)

Weathering

Soil is formed by _________ when bedrock is broken down

Why is soil important?

Provides nutrients for plant growth & purifies/stores water

Horizons

Horizontal layers in soil (that have developed over a long time)

Mature soils

contain ¾ possible horizens

4 Horizons (top to bottom order)

O - leaf filter, A - topsoil, B - subsoil, and C - parent material

O and A Horizons

Contain bacteria, fungi, earthworks, and small insects

Humus

Organic matter formed by decomposition of plant and animal matter

Soil Moisture

carries nutrients up roots and into plants (chemical cycling principle of sustaibabilty)

B and C Horizons

Contains most of the inorganic mater like sand, silt, clay, and gravel

Topsoil

is renewed very slowly and can be easily depleted

Geology

science to study earth’s processes (surface and interior)

Earth’s Interior (Just the names of the 3 zones)

Core, Mangle, & Crust

Core

Innermost zone, hot sold inner, liquid outer

Mantle

Surrounds core, soft near core, outermost is solid rock

Crust

Outermost and thinnest zone, solid rock

Asthenosphere

• Zone above mantle

• Important as tectonic plates slide on this

Convection cells/currents

Heat from core/mantle move large volumes of rock in a loop

Lithosphere

• Above asthenosphere

• Mostly made of crust and some mantle

• Minerals are found here

Mineral

naturally occurring chemical / inorganic compound

Mineral Resource

One of more minerals that can be extracted & used as raw materials

Rock

solid combination of minerals

3 Rock Types (Just names, no definitions)

Sedimentary, Igneous, and Metamorphic

Sedimentary rock

made of layers of dead plants/animals and weathered rock formed over extreme pressure (think sandstone)

Igneous rock

formed below earth’s surface under heat / pressure. (think granite)

Metamorphic rock

forms when existing rock has high temperature, pressure, and/or chemicals (think slate/marble)

Rock cycle

Physical and chemical process that changes type of a rock (millions of years)

Ore

Rock containing large concentrations of a mineral (to be profitable in mining)

High-grade ore

large concentration of desired material

Low-grade ore

Low concentration of a desired material

Techtronic plates

Huge rigid planes that make up the lithosphere and move slowly on the asthenosphere.

Geological activity

usually takes place at bounties between tectonic plates

Volcanos

occur where magma rises through the lithosphere
convergent boundaries, subduction zones, divergent boundaries, and hotspots

Faults

formed when rock is placed under pressure by tectonic movement, causing breaks.

Earthquake

movement of a fault from energy accumulated over time
convergent boundaries, subduction zones, divergent boundaries, and transform boundaries

Tsunami

large waves generated by rising/dropping of the ocean floor

Troposphere

inner layer of atmosphere which contains air we breathe (7-17km, 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, water vapor/carbon dioxide/methane 1%)

Stratosphere

Surrounds troposphere and constrains ozone gas (17-50km, on zone blocks 95% of sun’s UV radiation)

Hydrosphere

Contains all water on earth 71% of earth (like water vapor, ice, and oceans)

Geosphere (Layer Names)

Hot core, thick mantle, and thin outer crust
Upper portion contains resources (nutrients, ores, chemicals etc.)

Biosphere

Parts of atmosphere, hydrosphere, & geosphere where life is found

Weather

physical conditions in the lower atmosphere (like temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, and cloud cover)

Climate

sum of weather conditions in an area (last 3 decades to thousands of years)

Ocean Currents

mass movements of surface water by wind blowing over the ocean (connected to climate)

Three major factors affect circulation of air

1. Uneven hearing of the earth’s surface by sun

2. Rotation of earth on it’s axis

3. Properties of air, water, and land

Northeast/Southeast trade winds

Moves from 30* to Equator

Westerlies winds

Moves from 30* to 60*

Polar Easterlies Winds

Moves from 60* to 90*

Rain shadow effect

Moist air hits a mountain range, the “shadow” of the mountain receives none of that moisture.

Atmospheric Convection Currents/Cells

Warm air near equator rises, cools in upper atmosphere moving towards poles

Cool air sinks, moves to fill hot air and picks up heat and rises

Hadley Cells

Equator to 30*

Ferrel Cells

30* to 60*

Polar Cells

60* to 90*

Coriolis Effect + Convection Cells = ?

= Trade Winds

Jet Streams

Strong winds in upper atmosphere

El Nino (ENSO)

Trade winds are less windy (Warmer South America Ocean Temps + Rainstorms in North/South America)

La Nina

Trade winds are stronger (Warmer water near Asia + Rainstorms in western pacific + droughts in Americas)

How do ocean currents affect climate?

Distributes heat from place to place and distributes nutrients

How does global air circulation affect climate? (4 steps)

1. Unequal heating causes temperature differences between the equator and poles

2. That unequal heating causes air convection currents

3. Earth’s spin (Coriolis effect) + convection cells creates wind patterns

4. These factors create various weather patterns

What are some greenhouse gasses?

Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor

How does the greenhouse effect impact the climate?

1. More greenhouse gasses = more heat

2. More heat = changes in air circulation patterns (convection cells)

3. Changes in air circulation = more severe weather events

How do geographical features of an area affect climate?

• Rain shadow effect (blocks moisture by mountains)

• Large bodies of water creates rain & milder climates

• Cities can heat up microclimates (concrete absorbs heat)

Surface Water

Water that does not seep into the ground (like a stream, river, lake, sea, or ocean)

Runoff

Surface water that flows into freshwater life zones (like lakes, ponds, & wetlands)

Water shed / drainage basin

Area where water & sediment drains (super rich in nutrients)

Lake

Large natural body of standing water

Source Zone

upstream part of a river (shallow, cold, clear water from mountains/ice)

Transition Zone

Between source and flood zones (river is wider, warmer, and slower)

Floodplain Zone

Last part of a river (wide & slow + delta)

Delta

Area where river spreads out (floodplane zone) reaching a lake or sea depositing silt

Salt Marsh

• Marshy area near a coast that’s flooded and drained with sea water

• Hosts an ecosystem adapted to salty conditions

Tributary

A river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake.

Inland Wetlands

Land areas covered with water providing rich biodiversity (like swamps excluding lakes)

Tectonic plates

Large pieces of the lithosphere that cover the planet (causes earthquakes, volcanic activity, & mountain ranges)

Reserves

Resources that can be extracted to be used for profit.

Atmospheric pressure

• The force per unit of area of a column of air

• Decreases with altitude

Ozone

Oxygen + UV Light = Ozone (O₃) (Blocks 95% of sun’s UV radiation)

What if soil is too sandy?

Water passes through + nutrient loss

What if soil has too much clay?

Water can’t pass through + too hard

What if soil is too silty?

Compact’s too easily + crumbly surface

What’s the best soil texture?

Loam (40% sand, 40% silt, 20% clay)

Porosity

Measure of the “breathing room” in soil (how much space between soil particles)

Permeability

Measure of how fast water flows through soil

pH

Measurement of soil’s acidity (6 - 7.5 is best)