Chapter 4-5

Coriolis Effect

Coriolis Effect

The apparent deflection of moving objects caused by the rotation of the Earth. It effects ocean currents, wind patterns, and projectiles

El Nino

Unusually warm weather along the coast of Peru which causes natural upwelling to reduce.

Greenhouse Effect

The process by which certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat from the sun, causing the planet to warm. This leads to climate change and global warming

La Nina

The enhancement of normal weather patterns and periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in central and east-central equatorial Pacific.

Prevailing Winds

Differing directions of air movement, major surface winds that blow almost continually and help to distribute heat + moisture over earth’s surface, drive ocean currents.

Rain Shadow Effect

A reduction of rainfall and loss of moisture from an area of land on the opposite side of a mountain facing away from prevailing surface winds.

Runoff

the movement of freshwater from precipitation and snowmelt to rivers, lakes, wetlands, and ultimately the ocean. It can include chemicals seeping into soil.

Thermocline

Where the water temperature changes rapidly with depth and with moderate levels of dissolved oxygen.

Upwelling

A process in which deep, cold water rises toward the surface. Water that rises to the surface is typically colder and is rich in nutrients. These nutrients "fertilize" surface waters, meaning that these surface waters often have high biological productivity.

Convergent

two plates coming together, frequently create mountain ranges and subduction zones.

Divergent

two plates moving away from each other. For example Central African Valley rift and seafloor spreading in the Atlantic

Transform

Two plates sliding past each other, often creating earthquakes. For example, the San Andreas Fault along California and Mexico

Oceanic Plates

More dense than and will subduct under lighter Continental Plates

Continental Plates

Less dense than Oceanic and are composed of granite.

Parent Material

The underlying geological material in which soil horizons form

Weathering

A positive effect that breaks down rocks to form soil

Erosion

Negative effect of breaking up and wearing away and movement of material by wind, water, and physical means,

O Horizon

Organic layer is composed of leaf litter and decaying plant and animal matter

A Horizon

Also known as the Topsoil, is darker and crumbly with less organic matter. This is the layer you see in a plowed field

B Horizon

Subsoil layer that receives materials washed down from upper layers, dense and low in organic matter.

C Horizon

Sits on top of bedrock. Deepest soil layer that is transition between soil and parent material

Sand

allows more water flow thanks to larger particle size

Clay

high water retention due to small particle size

Slit

in between sand and clay

Loam

Ideal texture for agriculture, perfect balance of water retention and aration

Humus

decomposing organic matter and leaf litter

Shelterbelts

A natural barrier composed of rows of trees and shrubs that are planted to block wind flow and drifting snow, reduce soil erosion, and protect buildings, gardens, orchards, or sensitive crops from high winds

Contour Farming

farming practice of plowing and/or planting across a slope following its elevation contour lines.

Terracing

A soil conservation practice applied to prevent rainfall runoff on sloping land from accumulating and causing serious erosion.

No-Till Farming

agricultural technique for growing crops or pasture without disturbing the soil through tillage.

Cover Crop

planting a fast growing crop that protects the raw soil from erosion.

troposphere mesosphere stratosphere thermosphere exosphere

Correct order of the atmosphere’s layers.

Troposphere

Which layer of the atmosphere contains life?

Stratosphere

Which layer of the atmosphere contains the protective ozone blanket?

Thermosphere

Which layer of the atmosphere contains the Aurora Borealis?

Trade Currents

Run along the equator which contains moist heat caused by direct sunlight, the hot air rises and causes currents which are always blowing.

Westerlies

Blow opposite to trade currents

Easterlies

Wind currents found near the poles, are the least reliable and are unpredictable.

Doldrums

Found in the equator, where wind does not blow for a span of about 10 miles.

Watershed

A drainage basin is an area of land where all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water, such as a lake or ocean.

Hard Water

water with increased presence of minerals (salts).

Soil Salinization

Caused by the presence of hard water that when absorbed leaves behind damaging salts.

Long Line Fishing

leads to overfishing and tragedy of the commons, one group steals all the fish from the people in the area who would have benefited from the fish.

Trawler Fishing

Boat that drags two nets and leads to excessive bycatch

Fish Netting

Large netts are released and found again, leads to excessive bycatch.

Purse Seine

Large net that encapsulates a school of fish in a purse type fashion