BIOL 208 Unit 2 - Natural History: Climate and Soils

Albedo

The fraction of solar energy reflected by an object.

Eutrophication ________ albedo.

Decreases

The sun’s position during the equinoxes is:

Over the equator

The sun’s position during the June solstic is:

Over the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° North)

The sun’s position during the December solstic is:

Over the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° South)

Saturation Point

The maximum amount of water vapour that a mass of air can hold at a particular temperature.

Adiabatic Cooling and Heating

As air rises, it expands and cools. As air sinks, it compresses and warms due to molecule collision.

Intertropical Convergence Zone

The area of Earth over the equator where the Hadley Cells converge and cause large amounts of precipitation.

Hadley Cells

The two air circulation cells between the equator and 30° North and 30° South.

Rain shadows occur on the _____ side of mountains.

leeward

Leeward

Situated on or toward the side sheltered from the wind; downwind.

Windward

Facing the wind or situated on the side facing the wind.

Soil

The layer of chemically and biologically altered material that overlies bedrock or other unaltered material on Earth’s surface.

Soil Horizon

A distinct layer of soil.

Soil Profile

A distinct cross-section of soil

Parent Material

The layer of bedrock that underlies soil and determines the composition of the soil above.

Leaching

The process in which groundwater dissolves soil substances and moves them to lower soil layers.

Alluviation

The process of depositing sediments by means of moving water.

Weathering

The physiscal, chemical, and biological processes that break down rocks and minerals.

Permafrost

A phenomenon in cold climates where water stored in soil is frozen year-round.

O Horizon

The topmost soil layer constising of dead organic litter.

A Horizon

The soil layer containing humus, partially decomposed organics and mineral sediment.

E Horizon

The soil layer that has been leeched of its minerals.

B Horizon

The soil layer that has a similar compostion to the parent material with leeched minerals from the soil layer above.

C Horizon

The soil layer containing large rocks and broken down parent material.

R Horizon

The soil layer comprised of the parent material, which is usually bedrock.