NAME: ______

EARTH ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY GUIDE

SPRING 2014

Intro Unit

  1. The branch of earth science that deals with the Earth’s history and structure is called?
  1. Can a metric ruler be used to find the volume of a regular solid? If so, HOW?
  1. Can meters be used to measure the volume of a liquid? If so, HOW?
  1. A unit for density is g/L. Give an example of how this information can be used.
  1. If we were to measure the distance from Charlotte to Mobile, AL, what metric unit of measurement should we use?
  1. Oil floats on top of water. What does this mean with regards to its DENSITY?
  1. Can meters be used to measure the volume of a liquid? If so, HOW?
  1. Identify and describe the steps of the Scientific Method?
  1. What would a scientist do to test a hypothesis?
  1. Recorded observations or measurements are called data and can be displayed…HOW?
  1. At the end of an experiment, a scientist forms a(n)
  2. A visual display of data or information is called a
  3. For statements A-B, determine which step in the scientific method is being described.

______A. Spencer said, “If I fertilize my ferns, they will grow faster”

______B. Bobby grew bacteria from his mouth on special plates in the lab.

He placed different mouthwashes on the plates.

Astronomy (EEn 1.1)

  1. What is the shape of a planet’s orbit?
  1. What theory states that the universe began in a violent explosion? What evidence(s) do we have to support this theory?
  1. Identify 1-3 on the diagram of Earth’s motions to the right

1. ______2. ______3. ______

  1. How are the following terms related to one another: galaxy, universe, star, and planet?
  1. As a planet moves closer to the sun in its orbit, how is its motion affected?
  1. Define the following terms:

Rotation
Revolution
Precession
Nutation
Barycenter
  1. Even though it appears that planets orbit the center of the sun, explain what is really happening (consider barycenter).
  1. How can astronomers determine if a star is moving toward or away from Earth? Explain thoroughly.
  1. Why are the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere?
  1. Why does the Earth experience seasons?

SPRING / NEAP
  1. At what point is the tidal range at its greatest?

Draw a picture to show the positions of the

earth, sun, and moon.

  1. What is a tidal bulge and how is it formed?
  1. What chemical reaction produces the sun’s energy?
  1. Energy is transferred from the Sun to Earth mainly by
  1. At the higher latitudes, there is a lower concentration of solar energy than at the equator. What does this mean?
  1. Label the types of radiation (A-G) on the

electromagnetic spectrum to the right.

  1. How does Earth’s atmosphere filter some of the

electromagnetic radiation?

  1. How is solar energy essential to plants?
  1. How does the sun’s energy affect food webs on Earth?
  1. What is the difference in the heating of land and the heating of water?
  1. How does the earth’s magnetic field interact with space? How does it protect us from radiation?

Geology (EEn 2.1)

  1. Diagram a simple continental and a simple oceanic subduction zone explaining the relation between earthquakes, the Benioff zone, and the formation of mountains by eruption of magmas formed from melting of ocean floor sediment.
  1. Explain the process of sea floor spreading.
  1. Diagram an oceanic rift zone demonstrating the evidence for upwelling of mantle rocks by means of absolute dating and paleomagnetic evidence.
  1. List and describe the various types of plate boundaries.

Diagram / What processes (land formations) are created
Divergent
Boundary
Transform
Boundary
Convergent
Boundary / Ocean-Ocean
Ocean-Continent
Continent-Continent
  1. What is the difference between a focus and an epicenter? label the diagram.
  1. How can triangulation be used to find the focus of an earthquake?

(Include the relationship between the speed of the p and s waves in your explanation.)

  1. In the diagram (to the right) of the faults, label the type of

fault with the following terms: strike-slip, reverse, and normal.

  1. Why are seismic waves of an earthquake more strongly felt at the epicenter of an earthquake?
  1. Annotate a world map showing plate boundaries by type and hotspots.

  1. In Figure 3-1, label the process or processes would be occurring in the blank parts of the rock cycle.
  1. If granite undergoes high temperatures and high pressures at depth within Earth, what type of rock will be formed? Assume that the granite does not melt.
  2. The three groups of rocks are classified by...
  3. What is the difference between magma and lava?
  1. Where would the energy source be found which drives the processes that form igneous and metamorphic rocks?
  1. The process that occurs when physical forces break rock into smaller pieces without changing the rock’s chemical composition is called
  1. Which weathering process involves the constant freezing and thawing of water?
  1. DESCRIBE several types of chemical weathering.
  1. DESCRIBE several types of mechanical weathering.
  1. How would acid rain cause the inscription on a marble gravestone to become harder and harder to read over time?
  1. Chemical weathering would happen faster in what conditions?
  1. Why are wind, water, and gravity major agents of erosion rather than weathering?
  1. What is the force behind mass movements?
  1. What factor commonly triggers mass movements?
  1. How does terracing relate to mass movements?
  1. In figure to the right, what is found in the layer labeled R?
  1. In the figure to the right, what is the layer labeled O composed of?
  1. In the figure to the right, the B horizon is also called the ____.
  1. What are the major components of soil?
  1. The factor that has the greatest effect on soil formation is

Human Impact (EEn 2.2)

  1. What are some consequences of land use such as urbanization, deforestation & agriculture?
  1. Explain effects of human activity on shorelines. Describe how development and artificial stabilization efforts impact shores.
  1. Describe the effects of human activity on mountainsides. Explain 2 different methods used to stabilize these slopes.

Using the maps above, answer the following questions:

  1. Give the approximate coordinates for location B (N.Canada).
  1. Which letter is closest to the coordinates (30N, 120W)?
  1. Are the coordinates (25S, 80E) describing an area of land or water?
  1. On the topographical map, in what direction is the Ert River flowing?
  1. How does the replacement of large land areas with concrete and asphalt affect the land?
  1. Compare the methods of obtaining energy resources: harvesting, mining, drilling and the effects of these activities on the environment.
  1. Why does mining of coal and other natural resources often result in environment pollution?

WATER (EEN 2.3)

  1. Sketch the water cycle
  1. How can polluting one step in the water

cycle have a cascading effect on the

populations that rely on water as a resource?

  1. How does groundwater and surface water interact?
  1. Explain how water is an energy agent (currents and heat transfer).
  1. How can rising groundwater levels result in a flooding event?
  1. By what process does groundwater enter an aquifer? By what process does it leave the aquifer?
  1. Describe what a rock layer with higher porosity might look like. Describe what a rock layer with low permeability might look like.
  1. Be able to describe a river system (as a family): How groundwater, rivers, Basins, aquifers and watersheds unite to form a system. What is the cascading effect if one of these are being polluted?
  1. Where does the energy that drives the ocean’s circulation ultimately come from?
  2. Is hot water more or less dense than cold water? Why?
  3. Describe this rising and sinking process in the ocean.
  4. What is this giant current called?
  1. What happens to warm water as it moves away from the Equator towards the poles?
  1. What is salinity, how is it measured and how does this create convection currents in the ocean?
  1. List some processes that increase the salinity of seawater?
  1. List some processes that decrease salinity… Are heat and salinity related?
  1. Describe the Coriolis Effect.
  1. What is the difference between surface currents, upwelling and wave action?
  1. Why is La Nina/El Nino a great example of how the oceans and atmosphere interact to influence global climate conditions? How is it proof that these systems (ocean/air) are working together as a team to effect the climate?

  1. Describe how the balance of energy is maintained by

ocean water? Use this map to explain how the

earth’s climate is regulated by the movement

of ocean water.

Water Quality (EEn 2.4)

  1. Define potable? Why is our water Potable? Can you describe the cleaning process that makes it potable?
  1. Are fertilizers bad for river systems? Why?
  1. What causes and algal bloom? Why does this result in fish kills?
  1. As the population continues to increase, what would you say will happen to our supply of potable water resources here in Charlotte?
  2. At the beach?
  3. In the mountains?
  1. Define non-point and point source pollution. List some possible sources of nonpoint source pollution and some possible sources of point source pollution.
  1. How does urbanization and population impact the river basin ecosystem?
  1. Explain consequences of aquifer depletion including defining and explaining subsidence.
  1. Describe salt-water intrusion on the coast, what is the consequence of salt water intrusion? How does it happen?
  1. What are wetlands and why are they important? How are we polluting them? What would happen if we lost all out wetlands?

Meteorology (EEn 2.5)

  1. What does this station model tell us?
  1. What are the major gases in the atmosphere

from most abundant to least abundant?

Location / Atmospheric Layer / As you rise, temperature: / As you rise, pressure: / What can be found here?
4 (highest) / warms / Auroras
3 / Mesosphere / drops
2 / drops
1 (lowest) / Troposphere / cools / All Land (including Mt. Everest)
  1. How does altitude affect air pressure? Why?
  1. Does air (on Earth’s surface) generally blow from

High Pressure  Low Pressure or from

Low Pressure  High Pressure?

Draw a diagram to the right 

  1. What does it mean if the relative humidity is 100%?
  1. If the air temperature is very close to the dew point, what is likely to form and why?
  1. What are the forces that influence wind?
  1. On a weather map, what connects points of equal pressure?

What connects points of equal temperature?

  1. What are some characteristics of LOW pressures and of HIGH pressures?
  1. On an August afternoon in North Carolina, the barometric pressure is 29.92 inches and falling. What weather condition is likely to happen?
  2. Annotate this diagram showing Lows, Highs, Rainy weather, Clear weather, Strong wind, Weak wind, and general direction of wind.
  1. Label the fronts listed below with a C=cold W=warm S=stationary O=occluded
  1. How are hurricanes and tornadoes related to air masses?
  1. Which is more damaging… hurricanes or tornadoes? Why?
  1. What can humans do to minimize damage from hurricanes and tornadoes?
  1. What human activity causes acid rain to form? Where would the highest amounts of acid rain most likely be found?
  1. How is the ozone layer destroyed by human activities? What causes this destruction?
  1. List ways to mitigate human impacts on the atmosphere.

Climate Change(EEn 2.6)

  1. Describe the distinguishing features of the 6 major biomes.

BIOME / CLIMATE / FLORA / FAUNA
  1. Compare weather and climate.
  1. Determine the relationship between sea temperature, wind direction and convection along the equatorial Pacific during El Nino and La Nina.
  1. Describe changes in shorelines given selected rises in mean sea level.
  2. Using the NC barrier islands, predict the effect of sea level rise and hurricanes on the islands and their inhabitants.
  1. Explain the concept of the greenhouse effect and why carbon dioxide is most often the focus of public discussion.
  1. Describe how deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels contribute to global climate change.
  1. Explain how large areas of development can contribute to regional climate changes (for example: why is the temperature warmer in a city than in the rural areas surrounding the city?).
  1. Name 3 ways that humans can mitigate climate change locally as well as globally.
  1. How will climate change affect agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystem balance?
  1. Describe ocean acidification and its effect on ocean life. How is this connected to climate change?
  1. Describe how would glaciations and tectonic movements affect sea level. Include any long term & short term changes.

Biosphere (EEn 2.7)

  1. Many of the biomes that exist on Earth can be found in the western parts of North Carolina. What is the primary reason for the existence of such a wide range of biomes in this area?
  1. A biome is identified by its particular set of abiotic factors, like ______and ______…and its biotic factors, like ______and ______.
  1. A biotic or an abiotic resource in the environment that causes population size to decrease is called
  1. How is biodiversity essential to the environment?
  1. Biodiversity loss is caused by what five major factors? Which of those is the most negative influence?

134.Define (and give a few examples of) an Invasive Species.

  1. Which global concern is indirectly responsible for all of the other concerns?

Sustainability (EEn 2.8)

  1. Why should the farming industry adopt sustainable agriculture practices?
  1. Which change would most likely occur as a result of rapid increases in the global population?
  1. Explain carrying capacity and describe what it means to a population.
  1. What are some factors that would cause the human population to reach its carrying capacity?
  2. Deer share the open plains with other grazing animals and predators. What would lead to a decrease in the deer population?
  1. Why would citizens be advised to recycle plastic products? Relate this to personal ecological footprints.

SOLAR / WIND / HYDRO / NUCLEAR / BIOMASS / BIOFUEL / GEO-THERMAL / FOSSIL FUELS
PROS
CONS
ENV. IMPACT
What technology is….
Used in the mountain regions of North Carolina
Used in the Charlotte area
Creates recreational areas but prevents spawning
Using land and sea breezes in coastal North Carolina
Found mainly in western US because it is volcanically active
Releases greenhouse gasses and air particles