Hydrosphere
Geosphere
Atmosphere
Space
Sustainability
100
Contrast the pH of neutral water and acid rain.
pH of NEUTRAL water is 7
pH of acid rain is 4-5
(pH of normal rainwater is ~6)
100
State TWO geologic processes responsible for the cycling of matter that resulted in the formation of mid-ocean ridges and/or volcanic island arcs.
— rising magma by thermal convection
— magma rises at volcanic island arcs due to density differences
— magma rises at mid-ocean ridges as tectonic plates diverge
— tectonic plates converge, causing subduction of oceanic plate creating less-dense magma that rises back to surface
— magma forms under subduction boundary and rises to surface
100
Identify a 2-letter code for an air mass that could be found in front of a cold front, and describe the air characteristics.
MT - warm, humid
or
CT - warm, dry
100
What is the formula for nuclear fusion?
hydrogen + hydrogen --> helium + energy
100
Identify 4 renewable resources.
fresh water, trees, solar energy, geothermal energy, hydroelectric power, nuclear power
200
Where did most of early Earth's water come from?
Outgassing of water from Earth’s interior via volcanic eruptions
200
Describe and explain the differences in porosity and permeability of sand and gravel.
Porosity: SAME (gravel has BIGGER pores but LESS of them, and sand has SMALLER pores but MORE of them)
Highest Permeability: gravel (water moves faster through the larger spaces)
200
Describe the weather and wind circulation patterns in a low pressure system.
stormy weather, with winds moving counter-clockwise and into the low pressure center
200
Identify how long ago the Big Bang occurred, and state 2 pieces of evidence for it.
13.7 billion years ago
Cosmic background radiation is microwave and fills all of space.
As galaxies move away, the light they emit is stretched into longer, redder wavelengths - red-shifted.
200
State one reason biodiversity is crucial for sustaining human populations.
a variety of natural resources for developing:
new medicines, new technologies
300
Identify and describe 2 properties of water that allow weathering of rock in NY state.
Water expands when it freezes, causing frost action
Water is a universal solvent, causing chemical weathering
300
Describe the difference between Regional Metamorphism and Contact Metamorphism, and give an example of each.
Regional Metamorphism: The rock is heated in a large region. Examples - Slate, Phyllite, Schist, Gneiss, Anthracite. Contact Metamorphism: The rock is superheated when it comes in contact with magma. Examples - Hornfels.
300
As wind blows over the ocean and up a coastal mountain, the weather varies on each side of the mountain. Draw or describe what the weather is like on the ocean side, and the far side of the mountain. Bonus: What is this called?
Windward side facing the ocean is cooler and wetter. Leeward side opposite the ocean is warmer and drier.
Bonus: This is called a rain shadow.
300
Identify and describe the Earth motions that cause daily and seasonal variations.
Earth's rotation every 24 hours causes daily cycles.
Earth's revolution every 365.24 days causes yearly cycles.
300
What is per-capita consumption? (Or give an example of it)
the average amount of a resource or product consumed by the average person in a specific population in a certain amount of time
e.g., the amount of coal used by the average American in 2021
400
Describe the relationship between the velocity of water and erosion in a meandering river.
As velocity increases, erosion increases typically on the outside of the meander.
As velocity decreases, erosion decreases typically on the inside of the meander.
400
Identify the relative and absolute age of a Eurypterus, and explain why it is evidence that NYS was once a shallow, warm marine sea.
Relative Age: Silurian
Absolute Age: 444-419 MY
Eurypterus was an aquatic sea scorpion whose anatomy requires water to survive. Finding it in NYS rocks means our state was very likely underwater during the Silurian period.
400
Describe the motion of air at 30 N and 30 S latitude in terms of vertical motion and horizontal motion.
Vertical: air is sinking/ moving downward
Horizontal: air is diverging/ moving N and S away from 30 N and 30 S
400
Explain how Kepler's ____ law is evidence that ____
1st - Planets move in orbits that are shaped like ellipses, not perfect circles.
2nd - When a planet is closer to the Sun, it speeds up (moving fastest at perihelion); when it is farther away, it slows down (moving slowest at aphelion).
3rd - The farther a planet is from the Sun, the longer it takes to complete a full orbit, and it does so in a highly predictable, mathematical ratio.
400
Describe "cost-benefit analysis" and give an example of how is it used in Earth & Space Sciences.
It is the comparison of the costs of an action or investment and the benefits it produces - used to assess the overall value of a project/decision.
For example, evaluating whether a coastal city should invest in a $250 million Seawall and Wetland Restoration Project to protect against rising sea levels and storm surges.
500
Claim: The Mohawk River is a subbasin of the Hudson River Watershed.
Use evidence from the maps on ESSRTs p.8 or 9 to support or refute the claim.
Support.
Evidence: The Mohawk River flows into the Hudson River north of Albany, so the watershed of the Mohawk drains into the Hudson River, making it a part of the Hudson River Watershed.
500
Which NY state town is located just north of the Tug Hill Plateau. Bonus: What is it's latitude and longitude?
Watertown - located at 44 W, 76 N
500
Describe the relationship between air pressure and sustained wind speeds in a hurricane.
As air pressure decreases, sustained wind speeds increase.
500
Explain and provide evidence for how we know that our Sun and solar system is not one of the first ones formed in the universe.
Radioactive dating of oldest rocks on Earth, moon, meteorites ~ 4.6 BYO.
Heavier elements than hydrogen and helium exist in our solar system - these only form from the remnants of stars that have died.
500
Describe how a prolonged period of drought would affect the depth of the water table in O'ahu Hawaii.
Also, describe how this change would affect residents at the locations differently.
The depth of the water table would increase./ The water table would be deeper.
Deeper wells may run dry, while the Artesian wells near the coasts may fill with brackish water instead of fresh water.