Chapter 6: Earth Systems and Resources

strategically remove the land in strips

if land curves, remvoe in uneven layers

the most dangerous, literally blowing the top off of a mountain

leads to respiratory illnesses, black lung, smelting to extract metals

Earth's innermost zone; inner is mostly solid nickel and iron due to high pressure; outer is semi-solid iron and sulfur

surrounds the core, mostly solid rock

area on the mantle of slowing flowing rock

thin, rigid, outermost layer of Earth

solid surface of Earth

12 in total, located in the lithosphere, can break into large pieces because of being on top of the aesthenosphere

two plates are pushed towards each other, one is pushed into the mantle

two plates are moving away from each other, causes a gap that can be filled with magma, new crust is formed

two plates slide past each other, causes earthquakes

plates move away from each other, new ocean floor is created, magma is basaltic

plates collide and the denser plate (oceanic) goes under the less dense plate (continental)

magma rises to the surface through tectonic plates, usually basaltic but can be rhyolitic

location where an earthquake begins below the surface

initial surface location of an earthquake

measures the size/magnitude of an earthquake, invented by Charles Richter

igneous: magma is cooled to solid rock

large waves caused by earthquakes

nonliving/living components

smallest to largest:

soil pH affects nutrient absorption

O organic material, humus

organic material and rocks travel down the soil layers

movement of dissolved material for higher soil layers to lower due to the movement of water (gravity)

soil suitable for plant growth

phosphorous

aggregates

soil with the same amount of clay, silt, and sand, considered the best for plant growth

one crop planting: more prone to pests, diseases, leaches the soil of nutrients

different crops are planted in an area in each growing season, increases sustainability and biodiversity

increase in agricultural productivity due to machinery from the industrial revolution

soil becomes water logged and a thin layer of salt forms on the surface

results from salinization, prevented by drip irrigation

only as much water as necessary is allowed to be given to plants to prevent over-watering

caused by water and wind, topsoil can contaminate water and be problematic for farmers

closest to the earth, surface to 10-20 km above, temperature decreases with altitude

occurs in the troposphere, absorb solar radiation

buffer between troposphere and stratosphere, temperature increases with altitude

20-50 km above Earth, thin band of ozone, protects Earth from solar radiation

exists in the stratosphere

80 km above Earth, where meteors burn up

thinnest atmosphere layer, 110 km above Earth, where the auroras take place, where space shuttles orbit

belts of air that distribute heat and moisture unevenly, caused by the Earth moving faster at the equator than the poles

-winds moving north from the equator are deflected right

vertical currents that warm the Earth's surface

causes surface winds, warm air rises, cool air sinks

the temperature where water vapor condenses into liquid water

movement of water through the air

starts over the equator, warm air rises and evaporates, cool air falls 30 degrees north and south of the equator

winds that blow east from 30 degrees north and south of the equator

dry air and high pressure results in very weak winds

still air at the equator

high speed currents of wind that occur in the upper troposphere, have a large influence on local weather patterns

windward: lots of rain and cool air

very dry area with little rain

Nino: trade winds are weakened, Southern Oscillation, no upwelling

allows upwelling, trade winds are strengthened

soil and water conservation programs to aid landowners and users; also sets up conditions to continue evaluating the condition of US soil, water, and related sources

the Swampbuster, discouraged the conversion of wetlands to non wetlands; 1990 federal legislation denied federal farm supplements to those who converted wetlands to agriculture, provided a restoration of benefits to those who converted land to wetlands

-use of animal waste, compost to increase organic materials

littoral: shallow water, lots of sunlight

coastal: between the shore and continental shelf