APES Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources

Key terms to know for AP Environmental Science Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources.

core

dense mass of solid nickel, iron, and radioactive elements that release massive amounts of heat

mantle

liquid layer of magma surrounding core, kept liquified from core’s intense heat

asthenosphere

solid, flexible outer layer of mantle

lithosphere

thin, brittle layer of rock floating on top of mantle

crust

earth’s surface, very outer layer of lithosphere

divergent plate boundary

plates move away from each other bc of magma rising

• forms mid-oceanic ridges, volcanoes, seafloor spreading, rift valleys

convergent plate boundary

plates move toward each other, leads to subduction

• forms mountains, island arcs, earthquakes, volcanoes

transform fault boundary

plates slide past each other in opposite directions

• forms earthquakes

oceanic-oceanic subduction zone

one oceanic plate subducts under another

• forms mid-ocean volcanoes, island arcs, off-shore trenches

oceanic-continental subduction zone

oceanic plate subducts under continental plate, melts back into magma

• forms coastal mountains, volcanoes on land, trenches, tsunamis

continental-continental subduction zone

one continental plate subducts under another, forces surface crust up

• forms mountains

Ring of Fire

pattern of volcanoes all around Pacific plate

hotspots

areas of hot magma constantly rising up to lithosphere 

soil

mix of geological and organic components

humus

main organic part of soil, broken down organic matter

weathering

breakdown of rocks in 3 ways (physical, biological, chemical), forms soil

erosion

transport of weathered rock carried by wind and rain

parent material

sometimes called bedrock, rock that underlies soil

O-horizon

layer of organic matter on top of soil

• provides nutrients and limits H2O loss to evaporation

A-horizon

topsoil, layer of humus from parent material

• has most biological activity, breaking down organic matter

B-horizon

subsoil, lighter layer below topsoil

• contains some nutrients, little to no organic matter

C-horizon

least weathered soil closest to parent material

• most intact rock

soil degradation

loss of ability of soil to support plant growth

compaction

compression of soil by machines, grazing livestock, and humans

nutrient depletion

repeatedly growing crops on same soil, removing key nutrients over time

soil texture

% of sand, silt, and clay in soil, always adds up to 100%

porosity

amount of pore space a soil has

permeability

water’s ability to drain through soil 

H2O holding capacity

how well water is retained/held by soil

troposphere

0-16 km, change in weather occurs here, most dense, temp decreases 

stratosphere

16-60 km, thickest layer of O3 here, absorbs UV rays, temp increases

mesosphere

60-80 km, even less dense, coldest place on Earth, temp decreases

thermosphere

80-800 km, hottest place on Earth, absorbs x-rays, temp increases

Coriolis effect

makes objects traveling long distances around Earth appear to move at a curve rather than straight line due Earth’s spin

watershed

body of land that drains into a body of water

Chesapeake Bay Watershed

6 state region that drains into a series of streams/rivers and eventually into Chesapeake Bay

cover crops

a buffer plant to hold soil in place, prevents runoff

topographic map

2D representation of 3D space, each line represents elevation

elevation

distance above sea level

relief

distance between point A and point B

insolation

amount of solar radiation reaching an area, measured in Watts/m²

latitude

distance from equator

solstice

North or South hemispheres maximally tilted toward sun (Summer/Winter)

equinox

North and South hemispheres equally face sun

albedo

proportion of light that’s reflected by surface

urban heat island

urban areas are hotter than surrounding rural area

rain shadow effect

warm, moist air from ocean hits windward side of mountain, dry air descends down leeward side of mountain

gyres

large ocean circulation patterns due to global wind (clockwise North, counter South)

upwelling zones

areas of ocean where winds blow warm surface water away from land, drawing up colder, deeper water to replace

thermohaline circulation

connects all world’s oceans, mixing salt, nutrients, and temp

El Nino Southern Oscillation

pattern of shifting atmospheric pressure and oceancurrents in Pacific between South Amer and Australia/Southeast Asia

normal year

trade winds blow hot equator water W ← E, productive fisheries

El Niño year

trade winds weaken and reverse W → E, suppressed upwelling off South Amer coast, damaged fisheries

La Niña year

stronger than normal trade winds W ← E, increased upwelling off South Amer coast, productive fisheries