Plate Tectonics
The plate boundary where two plates side past each other
Transform fault
What are the three soil particle types, list them from largest to smallest.
Bonus 100: What is a soil called that contains all three
Sand, Silt, Clay
Loam
All the land in an area that drains into a particular stream, river, lake, or wetland
Watershed
What are the major gases that make up the atmosphere?
Nitrogen (~78%) and Oxygen (~21%)
How is the weather impacted in Canada and northern US states during an El Nino event?
Warmer than normal temperatures
Which tectonic plate movement is most likely to form mountain ranges. Be specific
Convergent plates (Continental & Continental)
What proccesses break rocks down?
Weathering and Erosion
How do humans effect watersheds?
They alter the water flow and input excess nutrients and soil. Examples: Dams, Agriculture, Cities, Deforestation
What are the layers of that atmosphere from closest to the Earth to farthest?
Troposhpere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere
What is an Upwelling?
The upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents. Causes an increase in nutrients.
What are the 3 types of plate boundaries?
Divergent, Convergent, and Transform
What are the top two layers of soil and what is the bottom most layer.
Top Layers: Organic matter (O) and Surface Horizon/Top Soil (A)
Bottom: Bedrock/Parent Material
What are the characteristics that affect a watershed?
(at least two)
Slope, soil type, size and vegetation type
Why does air rise?
Solar radiation from the sun, warms the air up causing it to rise bc it is less dense.
Define Rain Shadow
A region with dry condition found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds fron the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side
What is a fracture in rock caused by a movement of Earth's crust called?
A Fault
What causes soil erosion? (4 of them)
Water, wind, Gravity and human activities
What is the main source of energy on Earth?
Incoming solar radiation
Why does temperature increase as you ascend in the stratosphere?
Ozone layer is absorbing UV radiation from the sun.
Where do El Nino and La Nina take place?
In the South Pacific, between South America and Australia
What are some consequences of plate boundaries? (At least 4)
Earthquakes, volcanos, island arcs, hotspots, faults, tsunamis, valleys, rifts, and mountain ranges
What is the permeability of soil?
The ability of water to move through the soil
Why does Earth have seasons?
Because the Earth's axis of rotation is tilted 23.5 degrees
What is the Coriolis Effect?
The deflection of an object's (air/wind) path due to the rotation of the Earth
List 2 effects El Nino would have and 2 effects La Nina would have.
El Nino: Winds flip, go west to east (A to SA). Ocean currents flip. No upwelling along coast of SA. Dryer in Australia, Rainy in South America.
La Nina: Normal conditions enhanced. Increase upwelling along coast of SA. Rainier in A. Dryer in SA.