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Test II
Chapters 8-14
102
Geography
Undergraduate 1
11/07/2009

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Term
Ocean Crust
Definition
made of basaltic rocks, thinner than continental crust, is constantly being created
Term
Continental Crust
Definition
forms major landmasses, granitic composition
Term
Lithosphere
Definition
Consists of crust and upper part of mantle above the asthenosphere
Term
Mohorivicic Discontinuity
Definition
boundary between crust and mantle
Term
Rigid Zone
Definition
upper part of mantle, may have some crust material
Term
Asthenosphere
Definition
Soft space in upper mantle below the lithosphere
Term
How to ID Minerals (6)
Definition
particular color, luster, hardness, tendancy to fracture, specific gravity, taste
Term
Outcrop
Definition
mass of exposed bedrock
Term
Bedrock
Definition
rock that is covered by loose surface material (R Horizon)
Term
Igneous Rock
Definition
formed from cooling and recrystallization of magma
Term
Sedimentary Rock
Definition
formed from accumilation, compaction, or chemical precipitates
Term
Metamorphic Rock
Definition
Formed from heat and pressure
Term
Extrusive Rock
Definition
type of igneous rock, formed from solidified lava on earth's surface
Term
Intrusive Rock
Definition
type of igneous rock, formed from solidified magma within earth's surface
Term
Plutonic Rock
Definition
type of intrusive igneous rock, solidified deep within earth's surface
Term
Organic Rock
Definition
type of sedimentary rock formed from the remains of organisms
Term
Chemical Rock
Definition
type of sedimentary rock formed by minerals that become saturated and precipitate out
Term
Stratification
Definition
distinct layers of sediment, each strata represent a record of the past
Term
bedding planes
Definition
boundaries in the sediment layers
Term
uncomformity
Definition
different types of sediment, erosion moves older sediments
Term
Cross-Bedding
Definition
layers accumulate at an angle to the main strata
Term
Foliation
Definition
fuses rock to a point of deformation
Term
Fine Metamorphic Rock
Definition
slate dark in color, will break into thin flat layers
Term
Medium Metmorphic Rock
Definition
Schist, drawn out into scales by heat and pressure, will break into flakes and scales
Term
Coarse Metamorphic Rock
Definition
Gneiss, formed in ancient seabeds, hard to break
Term
Laurasia
Definition
upper part of the supercontinent Pangea
Term
Gundwana
Definition
Lower part of supercontinent Pangea
Term
Alfred Webener
Definition
Proposed the idea of Continental Drift and Pangea
Term
Seafloor Spreading
Definition
creation of new ocean crust by destruction of old ocean crust
Term
Ocean Ridge
Definition
where new crust comes from, many different locations
Term
Divergent Plate
Definition
linear feature that exists between two tectonic plates that are running away from each other, form rift valleys and mid-oceanic ridges
Term
Hot Spot
Definition
a location on the Earth's surface that has experienced active volcanism for a long period of time, example is Hawaiian islands
Term
Autotroph
Definition
organism that can produce its own food using energy from photosynthesis or inorganic chemical reactions
Term
Heterotroph
Definition
organism that cannot produce its own energy and must feed on other organisms
Term
Primary Succession
Definition
type of succession that occurs on land that was previously barren, for example from lava flow or a retreated glacier
Term
Secondary Sucession
Definition
a type of succession that occurs on land that was previously habitated by life, for example an abandoned field or land after a forest fire or flood
Term
Ecological Optimum
Definition
density of population which can be supported by the natural resources, when an organism flourishes
Term
Ecotone
Definition
transition area between two adjacent but different plant communities
Term
Tolerance
Definition
what an organism needs to survive
Term
Forest Biome
Definition
areas with trees, makes up 1/3 of Earth's landmass
Term
Grassland Biome
Definition
initial form in plant succession, vegetation dominated by grass
Term
Desert Biome
Definition
areas that are too severe form plants that need a lot of water, organisms must store water, 1/5 of earth's landmass, very little rainfall
Term
Tundra Biome
Definition
frozen priaries, coldest plains of far north, tundra = treeless land
Term
Plankton
Definition
microscopic plants/animals, phyto = plant, zoo = animal
Term
Nekton
Definition
animals that swim in water
Term
Benthos
Definition
animals that live on the ocean floor
Term
Krill
Definition
shrimp-like power food of the antarctic
Term
Humus
Definition
degraded organic material in soil, which causes some soil layers to be dark brown or black, less organic matter causes lighter soil colors
Term
Clay
Definition
less than 0.002 mm
Term
Silt
Definition
0.002 mm - 0.05 mm
Term
Sand
Definition
0.05 mm - 2.0 mm
Term
Porosity
Definition
a measure of the void spaces in a material, amount of space for water storage in soil
Term
Permeability
Definition
ease that water will move through soil
Term
O Horizon
Definition
organic top layer of soil that contains decomposing organisms
Term
A Horizon
Definition
topsoil layer below O Horizon, contains some decomposing matter and much biological activity
Term
E Horizon
Definition
"eluviated" layer below A Horizon, has been significantly leached of its mineral and/or organic content, leaving a pale layer largely composed of silicates
Term
B Horizon
Definition
collection of materials removed from A and E Horizons by leaching
Term
BC Horizon
Definition
transition zone from B Horizon to C Horizon
Term
C Horizon
Definition
area of soil development below B Horizon
Term
R Horizon
Definition
lowermost soil horizon, made of bedrock or parent material
Term
Entisols
Definition
young soils, lack horizons
Term
Inceptisols
Definition
young soil, although older than entisols, has some development of A and B Horizons
Term
Histosols
Definition
very poorly drained soils due to high organic content
Term
Andisols
Definition
develop on volcanic parent material
Term
Gelizol
Definition
exhibit frequent freezing and thawing above permifrost
Term
Aridisols
Definition
soils present in desert regions
Term
Vertisols
Definition
occur where there is a strong seasonality of precipitation, have a high content of expansive clay
Term
Mollisols
Definition
soils present in grasslands, are good for agriculture
Term
Alfisols
Definition
have a clay surface
Term
Spodosols
Definition
whitish or gray soil covered with thick black horizon, poor for agriculture
Term
Ultisols
Definition
soils found in moist or wet regions
Term
Oxisols
Definition
soils found in areas of high temperatures and heavy rainfall
Term
Laterization
Definition
soil forming process that occurs in humid tropical and subtropical climates as a result of high temperatures and abundant precipitation
Term
Podzolization
Definition
soil forming process that occurs in high middle latitudes that have a moist climate, short cool summers and long sever winters
Term
Calcification
Definition
soil forming process that occurs in warm, semi-arid environments, usually under grassland vegetation
Term
Salinization
Definition
soil-forming process that occurs in poor drainage areas like streams, valleys, and low-lying areas
Term
Gleization
Definition
soil-forming proccess that occurs in poorly drained areas under cold and wet environments
Term
Empiracal Classification
Definition
Based on the physical characteristics such as observed features like temperature and precipitation
Term
Genetic Classification
Definition
Based on causes of climate such as air mass, pressure systems
Term
The Greek philosopher who classified climates into three zones
Definition
Aristotle
Term
Torrid Zone
Definition
The hot uninhabitable area is from the Tropic of Cancer to Tropic of Capricorn
Term
Temperate Zone
Definition
The Habitable area from the Tropic of Cancer to the Artic Circle and from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Antarctic Circle
Term
Frigid Zone
Definition
The Cold Uninhabitable area is from the Artic Circle to the North Pole and from the Artic Circle to the South Pole
Term
How many different zones does the Simplified Koppen System break the Earth into?
Definition
Six (6)
Term
According to the simplified Koppen System, areas near the Equator where the noon sun is never far from 90 Degrees are called what?
Definition
Humid Tropical Climate
Term
According to the simplified Koppen System, areas exhibiting year round moisture deficiency and will have seasonality of precipitation are what type of climate?
Definition
Arid Climate
Term
According to the Simplified Koppen System, areas where most trees keep their leaves all year round because there is always water available in a liquid are what type of climate?
Definition
Humid Mesothermal
Term
According to the Simplified Koppen System, areas where trees defoliate because the ground gets too cold or frozen is what type of climate?
Definition
Humid Microthermal
Term
According to the Simplified Koppen System, areas where trees cannot survive, the land is an ice sheet, and there is no month average temperature over zero degrees Celcius are known as what type of climate?
Definition
Polar Area
Term
According to the Simplified Koppen System, areas around mountains are known as what?
Definition
Highland Areas
Term
When the Earth changes its orbit every 100,000 years from and ellipse to a circular orbit
Definition
Eccentricity Cycle
Term
This happens every 21000 years changing the max and minimum distance from the sun
Definition
Precession Cycle
Term
When the Earth changes it’s tilt from 24 ½ degrees to a minimum of 22 degrees then back to 23 ½ degrees, this happens every 41000 years
Definition
Obliquity cycle
Term
There is more ________ during interglacial periods less in major glacial advances (ice ages).
Definition
Carbon Dioxide in glaciers
Term
One ton of this will do 25x the impact of carbon dioxide
Definition
Methane
Term
Formation of lands, Sea water lowering to create more land, removal of land to make water ways will do what?
Definition
Affect Climate Change
Term
This area is between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn?
Definition
Humid Tropical Climate
Term
This is the Earth’s most complex biome in terms of both structure and species.
Definition
Tropical Rainforest
Term
A sudden heavy down poor of rain is a..
Definition
Cloudburst
Term
This land mass has dry summers, mild moist winter with a seasonality of precipitation and abundant sunshine?
Definition
Meditteranean Climate
Term
This land mass has Mild winter, hot summer but there is no dry season. However there are monsoon and hurricanes increase summer precipitation?
Definition
Humid Subtropical CLimate
Term
This land mass has Mild cool summers and is one of the foggiest, cloudiest, rainiest and stormiest climates
Definition
Marine West Coast Climate
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