APES Unit 4

1. What can the color of soil tell you about the soil?

 The color of soil reveals its organic matter, mineral content, and drainage conditions.

2. Name and describe the soil horizons.

Soil horizons are O (organic matter), A (topsoil), E (leached layer), B (subsoil), C (weathered parent material), and R (unweathered rock).

3. Explain how soil formation occurs, specifically discussing weathering and erosion.

   Soil forms through weathering (breakdown of rocks) and erosion (movement of particles by wind, water, or ice).

4. Differentiate between the asthenosphere and the lithosphere.

   The asthenosphere is a semi-fluid layer enabling plate movement, while the lithosphere is the rigid outer shell.

5. What geologic processes occur within the Earth’s interior that cause the tectonic plates to move?

   Mantle convection, slab pull, and ridge push drive tectonic plate movement.

6. What is plate tectonics? 

   Plate tectonics describes the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates due to mantle dynamics.

7. Explain what is occurring at each type of plate boundary:

   1. Divergent Plates move apart, forming new crust.  

   2. Convergent Plates collide, causing subduction or mountain building.  

   3. Transform/Transverse Plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes.

8. How do wind and precipitation impact the surface of the Earth?

   They erode, shape landforms, and influence ecosystems.

9. Explain how ocean currents impact the climate of land areas.

   Ocean currents redistribute heat, moderating coastal climates.

10. Explain important characteristics of the following atmospheric layers:

    1. Troposphere: Weather occurs; temperature decreases with altitude.  

    2.    Stratosphere: Contains ozone layer; absorbs UV radiation.  

    3.    Mesosphere: Coldest layer; meteors burn up here.  

    4.    Thermosphere:  High temperatures; auroras occur.  

    5. Exosphere: Outermost layer; merges with space.

11. What makes the stratosphere so important to life on Earth?

  The ozone layer in the stratosphere blocks harmful UV radiation.

12. What does the magnetosphere protect us from?

    The magnetosphere shields Earth from solar winds and cosmic radiation.

13. What happens to temperature as you go higher up in the atmosphere?

    Temperature decreases, except in the stratosphere and thermosphere.

14. What happens to pressure as you go higher up in the atmosphere?

Pressure decreases as altitude increases.

15. Explain why our atmosphere enables life to exist on our planet.

   It provides oxygen, regulates temperature, and blocks harmful radiation.

16. What is a watershed, and why is understanding watershed boundaries important?

A watershed collects drainage into a common area, crucial for water resource management.

17. What is the largest watershed in the United States?  In the world?

   The Mississippi River Basin (U.S.) and the Amazon River Basin (world).

18. Explain how the seasons occur on Earth.

    Seasons result from Earth's axial tilt, affecting sunlight angles throughout the year.

19. Explain how a rain shadow can lead to the formation of deserts.  Include the terms leeward and windward in your response.

   Moist air rises on the windward side, leaving the leeward side dry as descending air loses moisture.

20. Name the 3 belts of prevailing winds.  Be sure to include the direction that they originate and the direction they are traveling.

Trade Winds (east to west), Westerlies (west to east), and Polar Easterlies (east to west).

21. Which phase of the ENSO cycle is the warm phase?  The cold phase?

 El Niño is the warm phase, and La Niña is the cold phase.

22. Why is the spread of disease an issue during an El Niño in South America?  In Indonesia/Southeast Asia?

    Flooding in South America and drought in Southeast Asia create favorable conditions for disease.

23. Discuss how aquatic ecosystems are affected off the coast of equatorial South America during an El Niño.

    El Niño reduces upwelling, leading to fewer nutrients and declining fish populations.

24. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND HOW AN EL NIÑO AND A LA NIÑA IMPACT SOUTH AMERICA, SOUTHEAST ASIA/INDONESIA, AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD!

    La Niña causes dry conditions in South America, heavy rains in Southeast Asia, and intensified Atlantic hurricanes.