Astronomy
What is the process by which the solar system formed from a cloud of gas and dust?
Nebular hypothesis
What type of rock forms from cooling magma or lava?
Igneous
What process causes warm ocean water to rise and drive global circulation?
Convection
What is biodiversity, and why is it important for ecosystem health?
Biodiversity is the variety of life in an ecosystem; it ensures stability and resilience.
What is the primary cause of urban heat islands in cities?
Impervious surfaces
How does Earth’s tilt influence the changing seasons?
Earth’s axial tilt changes the angle and intensity of sunlight received, causing seasonal variations.
Explain how weathering and erosion shape Earth’s surface over time.
Weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces, while erosion moves these particles, reshaping landscapes.
Explain the role of the Coriolis effect in shaping ocean currents.
The Coriolis effect deflects moving water, creating circular current patterns based on Earth's rotation.
Explain the relationship between food chains and energy transfer in ecosystems.
Energy flows from producers to consumers and decomposers, with energy loss at each trophic level.
Explain how deforestation contributes to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
Deforestation reduces carbon absorption by trees and releases CO₂ from decomposed vegetation.
Compare the terrestrial and Jovian planets in terms of composition and location within the solar system.
Terrestrial planets are rocky, dense, and closer to the Sun, while Jovian planets are gaseous and farther away.
Analyze how plate tectonics contribute to the formation of mountain ranges like the Himalayas.
Convergent plate boundaries cause the collision and uplift of crustal material, forming mountains.
Analyze how El Niño affects global weather patterns, such as rainfall and droughts.
El Niño warms ocean temperatures, weakening trade winds and disrupting normal precipitation patterns globally.
Analyze how habitat destruction impacts species diversity and ecosystem stability.
Destroying habitats reduces available resources, causing species decline and ecosystem imbalance.
Analyze how agricultural practices like over-farming impact soil quality and water systems.
Over-farming depletes nutrients, increases erosion, and pollutes water through runoff.
If Earth’s rotation slowed down significantly, how might it affect day and night cycles and weather patterns?
Days and nights would become longer, causing extreme temperature changes and impacting weather systems.
How might human activities, such as mining or deforestation, accelerate geological processes like erosion?
Removing vegetation and disturbing soil exposes land to wind and water erosion, increasing sediment loss.
How would the melting of polar ice caps influence thermohaline circulation and climate?
Freshwater from melting ice could disrupt salinity, slowing circulation and causing climate changes.
How could reforestation efforts mitigate the effects of deforestation on biodiversity?
Reforestation restores habitats, increases species diversity, and improves ecosystem services like carbon storage.
How could renewable energy sources address the environmental issues caused by fossil fuel use?
Renewable energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, improving air and water quality.
Evaluate the potential consequences of a breakdown in the Earth-Sun barycenter for Earth’s orbit and life.
It could destabilize Earth’s orbit, potentially altering climate patterns and making the planet uninhabitable.
Evaluate the long-term impact of a supervolcano eruption on Earth’s climate and ecosystems.
It could cause global cooling from ash blocking sunlight, disrupting ecosystems and agriculture.
Evaluate the effectiveness of global policies in addressing ocean pollution and its impact on marine life.
Policies vary in success; some reduce pollution through regulations, but enforcement and global cooperation remain challenges.
Explain how biodiversity contributes to the stability and resilience of ecosystems after a disturbance, such as a wildfire or flood. Provide an example of how a diverse ecosystem might recover compared to one with low biodiversity.
Biodiversity increases stability by ensuring that different species perform essential roles (e.g., producers, decomposers). After a disturbance, a diverse ecosystem is more likely to recover because multiple species can adapt and continue ecosystem functions. For example, after a wildfire, a biodiverse forest can regrow faster due to a variety of plant species with different growth rates and resource needs.
Evaluate the long-term benefits and challenges of transitioning to a sustainable economy.
Benefits include environmental protection and resource conservation; challenges include costs and societal adaptation.