stud
bud
Sign up
Log in
Home
Library
Explore
SAT
More
APES - Earth Systems Comprehensive Flashcards | StudBud
Explore
/
APES - Earth Systems Comprehensive
APES - Earth Systems Comprehensive
78 terms
·
StudBud Administration
·
4,388 plays
AP Environmental Science review covering Earth Systems.
Flashcards
78 cards
F
Practice quiz
P
Host live
L
Questions
78
Answers
1
Which soil horizon(s) contain(s) most of a soil's inorganic matter? (Choose all that may apply)
B Horizon
A Horizon
R Horizon
C Horizon
2
What is the Tectonic Cycle?
Sum of processes that build up & break down the lithosphere
Theory that lithosphere made up of plates that always move.
Sum of methods that build up & break down the asthenosphere
Climate change, geographic barriers, extinction, & volcanoes
3
What is the focus of an earthquake?
Located above the surface.
Place where an earthquake begins, below surface.
Located where an earthquake ends.
Located directly above epicenter
4
Which of the following describe the Ring of Fire?
All of preceding options are correct.
String of volcanoes and seismic activity sites
It is where about 90% of all earthquakes occur.
Located at edges of Pacific Ocean, at plate boundaries.
5
Which of the following regarding tectonic plates is true?
Much geologic activity at the surface occurs at boundaries
Tectonic plates' boundaries are not active at the surface.
They do not cause/form mountains, volcanoes, or earthquakes.
Continental plates usually ride below oceanic plates.
6
All of the following describe internal geologic processes except:
Processes driven directly or indirectly by solar energy.
Processes that may form mountains and volcanoes.
Processes generated by heat from the earth's interior
Processes that build up the earth's surface
7
What are inland wetlands?
Lands located away from coastal areas covered in freshwater.
Lands near coastal areas covered in salty water.
Lands away from the coast covered in water for a short time
They are always seasonal wetlands.
8
Where do active volcanoes occur?
Where lava reaches the earth's surface through a vent/crack.
Never along plate boundaries.
Only in hotspots, such as Hawaii.
Where magma reaches the earth's surface through a vent/crack
9
What is natural recharge?
Natural process of restoring nitrates into soil.
Natural restoration of valuable resources such as trees.
Natural replenishment of an aquifer by precipitation.
Natural replenishment of a watershed in a sensitive area.
10
Which of the following is NOT a correct statement regarding water on the earth?
Interconnected oceans cover 90% of earth's ocean hemisphere
Freshwater systems cover over 2.2% of the earth's surface.
Salty oceans contain 97% of the earth's water.
Salty oceans cover 71% of the earth's surface.
11
What are Hadley cells? (Choose all that apply).
Where air rises at equator and sinks at medium latitudes.
They involve the prevailing westerlies.
Convection currents that cycle N & S of the poles.
Large scale atmospheric convection cells
12
What is foliation?
The ratio of mass of substance to mass of volume of water
The texture of metamorphic rocks due to alignment & pressure
Ability of a mineral to break, when struck, along directions
Scratchability, or hardness, of
13
Please list the different concentric zones of the earth, starting from the inner-most layer.
Asthenosphere, crust, mantle, core
Core, asthenosphere, mantle, crust
Core, mantle, asthenosphere, crust
Crust, asthenosphere, mantle, core
14
All of the following can cause tsunamis except:
When the ocean floor suddenly rises or drops
A landslide caused by an earthquake
All of these can cause tsunamis.
When certain types of faults in ocean floor move up or down
15
What is salinity?
The measure of dissolved salt in water in general.
The measure of salinity and its impact on turbidity.
The measure of dissolved salt in oceanic water.
The measure of turbidity and salt averaged together.
16
What is the Coriolis effect? (Choose all that may apply).
Occurs due to the rotation of the Earth on its axis.
It is the weakest at the poles, strongest at equator.
The effect is strongest at the poles, nonexistent at equator
The apparent curvature of global winds and ocean currents.
17
Which of the following describe an El Niño effect (see image below)?
I, II, III only.
I and II only.
I, II, IV only
I, II, III, and IV.
18
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of floods?
Recharge groundwater & help refill wetlands.
Create and deposit nutrient-rich silt in floodplains.
Kill thousands of people and cause much property damage.
Support biodiversity & aquatic ecological services.
19
What is a tributary?
A smaller stream flowing into a
A smaller river/stream flowing into a larger river or lake.
A smaller river flowing into a smaller one.
Areas nearest the river's course that are often flooded.
20
The roots of most plants and the majority of a soil's organic matter are concentrated in:
The A horizon and E horizon
The A horizon and B horizon
The O horizon only.
The O horizon and A horizon
21
What are tectonic plates?
A zone of hot, melted rock that flows like plastic.
Areas of the lithosphere that move slowly around the mantle.
The outermost and thinnest zone of the earth.
The flows of energy and heated material in convection cells.
22
All of the following are characteristic of floodplain zones except:
Streams join into wider, deeper rivers
Water has higher temperatures and less dissolved oxygen
Fairly large populations are usually supported.
Water is never muddy, and contains low amounts of silt.
23
What is sedimentary rock?
Forms below or on earth's surface when lava cools.
Made of dead plant and animal remains and weathered rocks.
Examples include sandstone, shale, slate, and marble.
Forms when rock undergoes high temperatures or pressures.
24
What is high-grade ore?
Identified resources from which we can extract minerals
It contains a large concentration of the desired mineral.
It is not as profitable as low-grade ore.
It contains a small concentration of the desired mineral.
25
What are trade winds? (Choose all that apply).
Surface winds that blow East to West
In N. Hemisphere: N to E; in S. Hemisphere: S. to E
They form the Ferrel cells
Pattern of easterly surface winds in the tropics
26
Characterize the following by plate boundary: Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Himalayas, San Andreas fault
Transform; convergent; divergent
Divergent; transform; convergent
Convergent; divergent; transform
Divergent; convergent; transform
27
Which of the following are characteristics of the rock cycle?
It is the slowest of the earth's cyclic processes.
It involves, in order: erosion, weathering, transportation.
It plays a major role in forming concentrated deposits
Rocks are broken down, melted, fused together and heated.
28
Two examples of igneous rock include:
Limestone and lignite
Marble and slate
Sandstone and shale
Lava rock and granite
29
About 75-80% of the earth's air mass is found in the
Stratosphere
Troposphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere
30
Briefly describe the process of subduction.
When oceanic and continental plates collide and rise up.
Continental crust rides over and pushes down oceanic plate.
When oceanic plates move apart, creating ocean ridges.
Oceanic plate rides over and pushes continental into mantle.
31
All of the following are characteristics of the formation of oceanic gyres except:
They move cold water from the poles to the equator.
They form when water moves direction of prevailing winds
They bring cool air to coastline, warm air to continents
They move clockwise in the N. Hemisphere
32
Which of the following describe volcanic hotspots? (Click all that apply).
They are places within the mantle where magma is generated.
They are located along the Pacific Plate boundaries
An example is the Hawaiian volcanoes within the Pac. Plate
They are created by anomalous volcanism
33
A soil with 30% clay, 50% sand, and 20% silt is called:
Sandy Loam
Sandy Clay Loam
Loamy Sand
Sandy Clay
34
Volcanoes spew ash into the air, causing a volcanic winter. This is an example of what?
Positive feedback (more ash, greater heating of surface).
A positive feedback loop (more ash, weaker albedo effect)
Negative feedback (more ash, greater albedo effect)
Negative feedback (more ash, less cold penetrating surface)
35
Which of the following does NOT describe the process of upwelling?
Usually takes place along certain steep coastal areas.
Movement of nutrient-rich bottom water to ocean's surface.
During El Nino, it is reduced along the Peruvian coast.
Occurs when cold water is pushed away & warm water rises.
36
What is the major benefit of having a healthy ozone layer?
It prevents UV-C from reaching earth's surface.
It prevents most UV-B from reaching earth's surface.
It prevents both UV-B and UV-C from reaching earth.
It blocks all harmful waves of radiation.
37
Which of the following is NOT a true statement regarding earth's water composition?
Ground ice & permafrost hold only 30% of surface freshwater
Groundwater makes up 30.1% of earth's freshwater.
Glaciers and ice caps make up 68.7% of the freshwater.
The atmosphere contains 3% of the surface freshwater.
38
All of the following are characteristics of the stratosphere except:
It contains less matter than the troposphere
Extends about 17 to 48 km above earth's surface.
It volume of water vapor is 1/1000 that of the troposphere.
Its concentration of ozone is extremely low.
39
Which of the following correctly lists, by (%), the present-day composition of the atmosphere?
Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, CO2, Water vapor, trace gases
Nitrogen, oxygen, CO2, argon, water vapor, trace gases
CO2, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, water vapor, trace gases.
Oxygen, nitrogen, argon, CO2, water vapor, trace gases
40
What is a watershed?
Upper surface of the zone of saturation.
Land area that delivers water & sediment to a major stream.
Rough measure of volume of water we use to support ourselves
The saturation of soil with water, flooding the water table.
41
How is the thermohaline conveyor belt driven by changes in both temperature and salinity?
It is driven by changes in air pressure.
It is driven by temperature only.
It is driven by the resulting changes in density of water
It is driven by the amount of species capable surviving.
42
What is climate? (Click all that apply).
An area's general pattern of atmospheric conditions
Short-term atmospheric conditions that change often
General patterns that occur over at least 3 decades
Weather patterns of the last week averaged together.
43
What is the atmosphere?
A blanket of gases with a homogeneous density of molecules.
A thick blanket of gases consisting of spherical layers.
Blanket of gases that increases in pressure with altitude.
A thin blanket of gases surround earth, divided into layers.
44
What are the most widely used nonmetallic minerals?
Sand and limestone.
Sand and gravel.
Sand and phosphate salts.
Phosphate salts and gravel.
45
What is an earthquake?
Shaking caused by fracturing of divergent plate boundary
Shaking of ground caused by fracturing/displacement of rock
When energy suddenly forms and causes underground vibrations
Shaking caused by formation of convergent plates
46
What is a rock?
It is made only of sediments.
A concentration of naturally occurring material from crust.
Contains large enough concentrations of a profitable mineral
A solid combination of one or more minerals found in crust.
47
What is weathering?
When acid deposition quickly breaks down monuments.
Internal processes that build up the earth's surface.
The different processes that break down rocks into soil.
The climactic changes in weather.
48
All of the following are characteristics of a mineral except:
It is an element or inorganic ompound
Contains large enough concentration of particular mineral
Occurs naturally in the earth's crust as crystalline solid
May have a regularly repeating internal atomic arrangement
49
Which one of the following does NOT describe characteristics of the earth's core?
It is surrounded by a liquid core of molten/semisolid matter
It is the earth's innermost zone.
It is the zone of hot, partly-melted rock that flows.
It is extremely hot and has a solid inner part.
50
Which indirect effect directly impacts seasons?
The angle of the moon.
The earth's rotation and its tilt of 23.5 degrees.
Differences in solar intensity and day length.
The rotation of the earth around the sun.
51
A crown fire recently broke out in Fremont, destroying many trees. What is a valid projection?
Another fire will break out soon.
It will start raining more in the area for compensation
Soil erosion will increase b/c of the lack of trees.
Soil erosion will decrease due to new plants after the fire.
52
All of the following describe air circulation cells except:
They are also known as ENSO.
Global air circulation patterns caused by uneven heating.
They are caused by the Coriolis effect.
They include, from equator to poles: Hadley, Ferrel, Polar.
53
Which of the following statements regarding freshwater is NOT true?
1/6 people do not have sufficient access to clean water
It is one of the most important forms of natural capital.
Water is a well-managed & appreciated resource.
Only about 0.024% of all water is readily available to us.
54
Why does climate vary in different parts of the earth?
Uneven heating of the earth's surface by the sun.
Ocean currents distribute heat and precipitation unevenly.
Global air circulation patterns distribution
All of the options are correct reasons.
55
Which of the following describe the characteristics of a shield volcano?
Steep conical hill with straight sides; explosive
Very small; less than 300m high
Gentle lower slopes, but steep upper slopes; explosive
Very gentle slopes; convex upward; quiet; fluid lava flows
56
What are estuaries?
When rivers meet the sea, mixing water as well as nutrients
Harsh coastal ecosystems with only occasional water changes
Unproductive ecosystems with low nutrient levels.
Coastal land areas covered with water all/part of the year.
57
What type of irrigation is b/w 90-95% efficient and delivers water to individual plant roots?
LEPA Center pivot
Drip Irrigation
Rotary systems
Gravity Flow
58
The largest circulation of water on earth is a direct result of changes in:
Temperature and salinity.
Wind patterns and salinity.
Temperature and wind patterns.
Temperature and precipitation
59
Which of the following would conserve soil?
High-yield polyculture
Soil salinization
Aquifer depletion
Monocultures
60
What type of boundary forms when oceanic plates slide & grind past one another along fractures?
A transform fault
A subduction zone
A trench boundary
Oceanic ridges
61
All of the following are characteristics of a stratovolcano except:
Gentle lower slopes, but steep upper slopes; concave upward
Very quiet; volcanic materials consist of cinders.
Explosive; numerous layers of lava
large, approx. 1-10 km in diameter
62
List examples of the following, in order: sedimentary rock, metamorphic rock, igneous rock.
Dolomite; granite; marble
Granite; slate; dolomite
Lava rock; marble; lignite
Bituminous coal; marble; granite
63
What is seafloor spreading?
Spreading of ocean crust solely due to earthquakes.
Movement & spreading of ocean crust above continental crust.
Formation of new ocean crust as result of magma pushing up.
When lava pushes & spreads seafloor u from subsurface.
64
Describe the process that forms oceanic ridges.
When oceanic plates move apart, magma flows through cracks.
When plates slide and grind past one another.
When continental plates move apart, causing magma to rise.
When two oceanic plates collide.
65
What is weather? (Click all that may apply).
A set of physical conditions of the lower atmosphere
The averaged conditions of a given area over much time.
The general pattern of atmospheric conditions over time.
Includes several factors in a given area over a short period
66
Which of the following describe La Niña?
Occurs along the tropical west coast of South America.
Usually causes with warm ocean temperatures in Pacific Ocean
Usually causes cooler than normal temperatures.
Climate pattern that describes cooling of surface waters
67
What is the lithosphere?
It includes only the continental and oceanic crusts.
It is the outermost and thinnest zone of the earth.
The combination of both the crust and the outer mantle.
It consists only of the layer above the asthenosphere.
68
When does desertification occur? (Choose all that apply).
When overgrazing and deforestation reduce/degrade topsoil.
When deforestation allows for more annual plants to grow.
When productive potential of topsoil falls by >10%
When forest fires prevent erosion from occurring.
69
All of the following are characteristics of an S wave except:
They are a slower type of secondary wave
it shears rock sideways at right angles
Not very damaging to structures.
It cannot propagate in the liquid parts of the earth
70
All of the following are ways in which metamorphic rock forms except:
When chemically active fluids reform preexisting rocks.
When rock is subjected to high temperatures
When animal and plant remains are deposited in layers.
When preexisting rock is subjected to high pressures
71
What type of irrigation usually comes from an aqueduct system or a nearby river? (<80% effic.)
Center Pivot
Drip Irrigation
Gravity Flow
Rotary System
72
Which of the following are characteristics of atmospheric pressure? (Check all that apply)
Would be weakest at sea level.
It is the force, or mass, per unit area of a column of air.
It is the force caused by the bombardment of molecules
Decreases with altitude.
73
Which of the following events are capable of causing mudslides? (Choose all that apply).
Droughts
Earthquakes
Volcanic eruptions
Heavy rains
74
Which of the following is not an effect of El Nino?
Hurricanes in Hawaii, Brazil, and Ecuador.
Droughts in southern Africa, India, Sri Lanka, and Australia
Flooding in Bolivia, Ecuador, Northern Peru, and Cuba.
Hurricanes in Tahiti and Hawaii.
75
All of the following are characteristics of P waves except:
It moves like sound waves (spreads out, compresses, dilutes)
They are fastest type of wave
They can travel through both solid rock and liquid material.
It shears rock sideways at right angles
76
Which of the following describe the characteristics of a cinder cone volcano?
Very large, approx. 1-10km in diameter.
Gentle lower slopes, but steep upper slopes; concave upward
Steep conical hill with straight sides.
Very gentle slopes; convex upward.
77
All of the following are benefits of volcanic eruptions except:
The weathering of lava contributes to fertile soil.
They form lakes (e.g. Crater Lake)
They reduce the loss of human life.
They form majestic mountains
78
Please list the layers of the atmosphere in order (starting from layer nearest to surface).
Thermosphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Troposphere
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere
Troposp., Stratosp., Mesosphere, Thermosp., Exosphere
Stratosphere, Troposphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere
