apes unit 4

What is the purpose of the soil layer made of decomposing leaves/plant material?

Nutrient cycling, soil structure improvement, and providing habitat for wildlife.

What causes the seasons on Earth?

The Earth's axial tilt causes different parts to receive direct sunlight at different times, leading to seasons.

What usually happens to upwelling and ocean productivity during La Niña?

Stronger-than-normal trade winds intensify upwelling in the eastern Pacific, bringing cold, nutrient-rich deep water to the surface.

What does permeability mean in soil?

It refers to how easily water can flow through the soil.

Which layer of the atmosphere produces the most weather?

The troposphere.

How can a cold ocean current make a coastal climate drier?

It cools the air above it.

What happens at a transform plate boundary?

Tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other, causing stress that is released as earthquakes.

What usually happens to upwelling in the eastern tropical Pacific during El Niño?

It weakens or stops.

What does it suggest about soil's permeability if nearly all the water drains out?

It suggests high permeability.

Why do the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere have opposite seasons?

Because of Earth's axial tilt (23.5 degrees), not its distance from the Sun.

Where is volcanic activity most likely to occur?

At tectonic plate boundaries, especially along the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Which layer in a soil profile usually has the most organic material?

The O Horizon (Organic layer), primarily composed of decomposing leaves/litter.

What causes large-scale winds to curve as they move across Earth?

The Coriolis effect.

Why are many deserts located near 30° north and 30° south latitude?

Due to Hadley cell circulation, where warm, moist air rises at the equator, drops rain, then moves poleward and descends as dry air around 30° latitude.

What happens on a summer solstice in one hemisphere?

The hemisphere experiences its maximum tilt toward the Sun, leading to the longest daylight hours.

What human activity can increase water pollution in a watershed?

Agricultural runoff.

What is upwelling and why is it important for ocean ecosystems?

It is when deep, cold, nutrient-rich ocean water rises to the surface, vital for marine life as it fertilizes the surface.

Which time of year gives the longest daylight in the Northern Hemisphere?

Summer Solstice.

How can a rain shadow create dry conditions?

Moist air is forced up a mountain, cools, condenses, and drops rain on the windward side.

What is the main job of the ozone layer?

To act as Earth's sunscreen, absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and it is located in the stratosphere.

If moist winds blow from the ocean toward a mountain range, which side is more likely to have more rivers?

The windward side.

How does climate shape the type and characteristics of soil in an area?

It controls weathering rates, nutrient cycling, and organic matter accumulation, influencing soil depth, fertility, and color.

How can human land use affect water quality underground?

Overuse of fertilizers and pesticides can contaminate groundwater.

How do prevailing surface winds change from mid-winter to mid-summer in a tropical region?

They shift seasonally due to the sun's apparent movement, affecting the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

What climate feature is likely in a town on the inland side of a mountain range?

A rain shadow effect, resulting in an arid or semi-arid climate.

What happens to a weather balloon released south of the equator as it travels north?

Its path bends towards the east due to the Coriolis effect.