Unit 4

4.1 - Plate Tectonics

• younger in the ocean bc the oceanic crust recycles there

CONVERGENT

• plates move toward each other causing one to subduct

  • causes earthquakes and volcanoes

  • ex: Himalayas

DIVERGENT

• plates move apart

  • creates new crust

  • forms mid-oceanic ridges

  • ex: red sea

TRANSFORM

• plates slide past each other

  • can cause slight earthquakes

  • ex: San Andreas Fault(Cali)

Hot Spot - localized area where the mantle is very hot and the heat rises

• ex: Hawaiian islands

4.2 - Soil Formation & Erosion

physical weathering -

chemical weathering -

soil horizons

4.3 - Soil Composition & Properties

loam

4.4 - Atmosphere

1. Troposphere

   • has 80% of air bc air pressure is greatest

   • all weather occurs here

   • temps decrease

2. Stratosphere

   • Ozone layer here

   • temps increase w altitude

3. Mesosphere

   • temps decrease w altitude

4. Thermosphere

   • hottest layer

   • air is thin asf

   • literal space

   • temps increase

4.5 - Global Wind Patterns

hadley cell - large-scale atmospheric circulation systems that move air around earth

eastern trade winds - east → west *equatorial region*

westerlies - west → east *30-60 latitude*

4.6 - Watersheds

watershed -

4.7 - Solar Radiation & Seasons

albedo effect - ability of a surface to reflect sunlight

4.8 - Geography and Climate

rain shadow effect - when a mountain range blocks precipitation from leeward side -

• leeward - dry asf bc it has the rain “shadow”

• windward - wetter bc wind+rain face it

4.9 - El Niño & El Niña

*caused by pacific ocean near equator

El Niño

• water is warmer than usual

• wetter and stormier in West

• warmer and drier in East

La Niña

• water is cooler than usual

• wetter and stormier in East

• warmer and drier in West