AP Environmental Science Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does abiotic refer to?

Pertaining to factors or things that are nonliving.

What is an acid?

Any compound that releases hydrogen ions when dissolved in water.

What is the A horizon in soil?

A soil horizon formed of weathered rock and organic material, often referred to as topsoil.

What does alkaline refer to?

A basic substance that absorbs hydrogen ions or releases hydroxyl ions. Signup and view all the answers

What is an aquifer?

An underground layer of porous rock or sand that allows the movement of water. Signup and view all the answers

What does arable land mean?

Land that is fit to be cultivated. Signup and view all the answers

What is the asthenosphere?

The part of the mantle that lies just below the lithosphere. Signup and view all the answers

What is the atmosphere?

The gaseous mass surrounding a celestial body, especially Earth. Signup and view all the answers

What is a barrier island?

A long, narrow island running parallel to the mainland that protects the coast. Signup and view all the answers

What is biological weathering?

Weathering caused by the activities of living organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What does biotic mean?

Living or derived from living things. Signup and view all the answers

What is the B horizon in soil?

A soil horizon that receives minerals and organic materials leached from the A horizon. Signup and view all the answers

What is chemical weathering?

Weathering resulting from chemical interaction with bedrock. Signup and view all the answers

What is the C horizon in soil?

A soil horizon made up of larger pieces of rock with little weathering. Signup and view all the answers

What is clay?

The finest soil, with particles less than 0.002 mm in diameter. Signup and view all the answers

What is convection?

The vertical movement of a mass of matter due to heating and cooling. Signup and view all the answers

What are convection currents?

Air currents caused by the vertical movement of air due to heating and cooling. Signup and view all the answers

What is a convergent boundary?

A plate boundary where two plates are moving toward each other. Signup and view all the answers

What is a coral reef?

An erosion-resistant marine ridge or mound made of compacted coral and algal material. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Coriolis effect?

The deflection of an object moving above the Earth due to the Coriolis force. Signup and view all the answers

What is crop rotation?

The practice of alternating the crops grown on a piece of land. Signup and view all the answers

What is a delta?

A usually triangular alluvial deposit at the mouth of a river. Signup and view all the answers

What is a divergent boundary?

A plate boundary where plates are moving away from each other. Signup and view all the answers

What are the doldrums?

A region of the ocean near the equator characterized by calms and light winds. Signup and view all the answers

What is drip irrigation?

A method of supplying irrigation water through tubes that drip water onto soil. Signup and view all the answers

What is an earthquake?

The result of vibrations deep in the Earth that release energy typically due to plate movements. Signup and view all the answers

What is El Nino?

A climate variation that occurs in the tropical Pacific every three to seven years. Signup and view all the answers

What is erosion?

The process of soil particles being carried away by wind or water. Signup and view all the answers

What is an estuary?

The area at the wide lower course of a river where it meets the sea. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Vocabulary and Concepts

Abiotic: Refers to nonliving components affecting ecosystems, such as climate, water, and minerals.
Acid: Compounds that release hydrogen ions in water, contributing to increased acidity in solutions.
A Horizon: Known as topsoil, this layer contains a mix of organic matter and minerals and is vital for supporting plant life.
Alkaline: Refers to a basic substance that raises pH levels by absorbing hydrogen ions or releasing hydroxyl ions, important for water quality assessments.
Aquifer: A permeable underground layer of rock or sediment that stores water, essential for groundwater extraction.
Arable: Land suitable for agriculture and crop production, indicating productive farming potential.
Asthenosphere: A semi-fluid layer of the Earth's mantle located beneath the lithosphere, involved in tectonic plate movements.
Atmosphere: The layer of gases surrounding the Earth, retained by gravitational pull, vital for climate and weather.
Barrier Island: Narrow islands parallel to the mainland, formed by wave and current activity, providing coastal protection from erosion.
Biological Weathering: Weathering processes influenced by living organisms, such as roots or microbes, that can alter rock and soil.
Biotic: Refers to all living organisms, emphasizing interactions within ecosystems.
B Horizon: Also called the subsoil, this layer accumulates minerals leached from the A horizon, impacting soil fertility.
Chemical Weathering: Process involving the breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions with air and water, leading to soil formation.
C Horizon: The layer of soil consisting of weathered bedrock and larger rock fragments, providing the foundation for upper horizons.
Clay: The smallest soil particle size, less than 0.002 mm in diameter, with high water retention capabilities.
Convection: The movement of matter caused by differences in temperature, driving circulation in the mantle and atmosphere.
Convection Currents: Air movements resulting from temperature differences, influencing weather patterns and atmospheric conditions.
Convergent Boundary: Geological boundary where tectonic plates move toward each other, often leading to mountain building or subduction.
Coral Reef: Biologically diverse marine structures built from coral polyps, providing habitat and protecting coastlines.
Coriolis Effect: The deflection of moving objects (like air masses) due to Earth's rotation, affecting wind and ocean currents.
Crop Rotation: Agricultural practice of alternating crops in a field seasonally to enhance soil fertility and control pests.
Delta: Triangular landform at the mouth of a river, formed by sediment deposition as river flow slows.
Divergent Boundary: Tectonic plate boundary where plates move apart, facilitating magma upwelling and new crust formation.
Doldrums: A calm oceanic area near the equator, characterized by light winds and often leading to unpredictable weather.
Drip Irrigation: Efficient watering method that delivers water directly to plant roots through a network of tubes, minimizing waste.
Earthquake: Sudden ground vibrations caused by tectonic plate movements, often occurring along transform boundaries.
El Niño: Climate phenomenon occurring every 3 to 7 years, causing significant temperature and weather pattern changes in the Pacific.
Erosion: The process of soil and rock particles being worn away and transported by water, wind, or ice, leading to landscape changes.

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Test your knowledge with these flashcards on key terms in AP Environmental Science. Each card focuses on important concepts like abiotic factors, acids, and soil horizons. Perfect for review before the exam!