Geology
What is the asthenosphere? Explain its location relative to the lithosphere
Hot, partly melted rock that flows and can be deformed located below the lithosphere.
Define mineral.
Element or inorganic compound occurring naturally as a crystalline solid in the crust.
What form of mining is used to extract coal from hills and mountain sides?
Contour strip mining
Lack of iodine in diet contributes to which condition?
Thyroid gland malfunction
Define waterlogging.
When farmers try to leach salts deeper into soil. (Excess water deprives plants of oxygen)
Explain trenching (Oceanic trench).
Oceanic plates colliding with continental plate to form mountain ranges.
Rocks made of dead animal/plant remains and tiny particles of weathered/eroded rocks.
Define tailings.
Particles of toxic metals from mining
People in less-developed countries facing chronic malnutrition are forced a high-carb diet. Name at least two foods that contribute to this diet.
Wheat, rice, corn
What is one way to cut down on meat production?
- Shift from beef/pork/carnivorous fish to poultry and plant-eating fish
- Have livestock feed in pastures rather than feedlots (Grain)
Name and explain the two parts of an earthquake.
Epicenter (Directly above focus), focus (Where earthquake begins)
Rocks like slate and marbles are what kind of rocks?
Metamorphic Rocks
Time it takes to use up 80% of a mineral reserve at a given rate.
Recycle, reuse, reduce consumption; increase reserves by improved mining tech., setting higher prices, new discoveries
It takes about _____ unit(s) of nonrenewable fossil fuel energy to put _____ unit(s) of food energy on the table.
10, 1
What are three ways to restore soil fertility?
Animal manure, green manure (fresh vegetation plowed into soil), compost (microorganism in topsoil break down organic matter)
Name and explain at least three external geological processes that affect the Earth's surface.
Direct/Indirect influence from Sun, gravity, weathering, erosion, melting and moving of glaciers
Define igneous rock and name an example.
Forms below or on Earth's surface when magma wells up then cools and hardens. Granite or lava rock.
Name at least two metals that the U.S. imports heavily and explain why these metals are so important to the U.S.
Manganese, cobalt, chromium, platinum. (For military)
Putting food on the table equals using ___% of fossil fuels in the U.S. yearly.
1/3 goes to _____
1/3 goes to _____
1/3 goes to _____
19
produce crops
process, cook, can, preserve
transport
Name at least three alternatives to conventional pesticides.
- Rotate types of crops yearly
- Provide homes for pest enemies
- Utilize genetic engineering to develop resistant crops
- Bring in natural enemies
- Insect perfumes to lure pests into traps (Pheromones)
What is the Richter Scale range for a "major" earthquake?
7.0-7.9
Explain the rock cycle. (Must include all three types of rocks)
Either sedimentary rocks and igneous rocks can go through heat/pressure to become metamorphic rocks. Metamorphic rocks then go through melting and cooling to become igneous rocks. Igneous rocks go through weathering/erosion/transportation/deposition to become sedimentary rocks.
Name three reasons why mining from oceans is difficult.
- Harvesting from volcanic vents is expensive
- Extracting dissolved minerals in water is expensive
- Who owns ocean floors is a large issue
Describe the first (1950s-1960s) and second (Since 1967) green revolutions.
First
- Plant monoculture of genetically engineered plants + large input of water, fertilizer, pesticides
Second
- Growth of dwarf varieties of rice/wheat + bred for tropical climate/more food on less land
Name and describe three different ways of sustainable farming for soil conservation.
Terracing
Contour planting
Strip cropping
Alley cropping
Windbreaks
Conservation tillage farming