Earth’s Structure and Processes
What is the name for the rigid mechanical or functional layer of the Earth that includes the crust and upper mantle.
Lithosphere
What is the name of the process when water vapor turns into liquid water in the atmosphere?
Condensation
How can urban development affect natural habitats?
It can destroy or fragment habitats, making it hard for plants and animals to survive
What does it mean to conserve natural resources?
Bonus: What is a sustainable rate of harvesting a renewable resource?
To use them carefully so they don’t run out
Bonus: We can harvest one unit of a resource for every one unit that is created.
Describe the connection between the water cycle and climate change.
Warming increases evaporation and changes precipitation patterns, leading to more extreme weather events
What causes earthquakes?
The sudden release of stored energy along fault lines, built up from the movement of tectonic plates.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is long-term patterns
Describe one environmental problem caused by improper land use, such as poor farming practices or deforestation.
Soil erosion, which removes fertile topsoil and can lead to less productive land and pollution of nearby water bodies
Why is recycling important?
It reduces waste and saves natural resources
Describe how volcanic eruptions affect the atmosphere.
They release gases and ash that can cool the Earth temporarily
Which mathematical model best describes Earth’s orbit around the Sun?
An elliptical path
What causes tides on Earth?
The gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun
Which sustainable agriculture practice helps restore soil nutrients after planting the same crop repeatedly?
Crop rotation
Explain the impact of mining on the environment.
It can cause habitat destruction and pollution
How does nitrogen get into the soil?
Through nitrogen fixation by bacteria
Explain why the Earth’s mantle is important in plate movement.
The mantle’s convection currents move tectonic plates
How do ocean currents affect climate?
Oceans redistribute heat, moving warm water towards the poles, and bringing colder water towards the equator. This allows some areas to experience warmer or cooler climates than they normally would at their latitudes.
What protections does the Clean Air Act provide?
It regulates pollutants that pose risks to human health and the environment
Why is there no single best renewable energy source for all places?
Different energy sources work better in different climates and locations
What is an example of a secondary pollutant?
Pollutants formed by chemical reactions of primary pollutants in the atmosphere
Describe how volcanoes form at convergent plate boundaries.
One plate subducts under another, melting rock creates magma that rises to form volcanoes
How does an increase in greenhouse gases lead to changes in global weather patterns? Explain one possible effect on storms or precipitation.
More trapped heat increases storms’ strength and frequency or alters rainfall, causing droughts or floods
How can pollution in rivers and lakes affect humans and wildlife?
It can make water unsafe to drink and harm fish and other aquatic animals
According to water footprint studies, what dietary change most helps reduce water use?
Replacing beef with plant-based proteins like beans and lentils
Why are PFAS called “forever chemicals”?
They persist in the environment and do not break down easily