Soil and Atmospheric Science Quiz

Large, rigid pieces of the Earth's outermost layer (lithosphere) that move and interact on the semi-fluid asthenosphere below. Their movement causes earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain formation.

A type of plate boundary where two tectonic plates move apart. This can create new oceanic crust as magma rises to the surface.

A type of convergent plate boundary where one plate is forced under another into the mantle. This creates deep ocean trenches and volcanic activity.

At divergent plate boundaries, magma from the mantle rises to fill the gap between the moving plates. As the magma cools, it solidifies to form new oceanic crust.

Reduced birth rates are a consequence of increased education, economic development, and access to healthcare and family planning.

Education empowers individuals with knowledge about family planning and contraceptive options, leading to more informed choices.

Economic stability provides more opportunities outside of child-rearing, reducing the perceived need for large families as a source of labor or support.

Access to healthcare and family planning services allows individuals to make informed choices about their reproductive health and family size.

The uppermost layer of soil, rich in organic matter and decomposed material, often dark in color. Contains most plant roots.

Found beneath the topsoil, contains minerals leached from above layers (illuviation). Less organic matter, richer in clay and minerals.

The unweathered layer of rock or sediment from which soil develops, provides the mineral content for soil formation.

A layer present in some soils where minerals have been leached away by water, leaving behind lighter materials.

The layer of solid rock beneath the soil profile, not affected by soil formation processes.

The O and A horizons are the darkest due to their high concentration of organic matter and decomposed material, giving them a darker color.

The A horizon (topsoil) contains the most nutrients because it's rich in organic matter and minerals leached from above layers. Most plant roots are here.

The C horizon (parent material) contains the bulk of the rock or mineral content, as it is the unweathered material from which soil develops.

The ability of a soil to retain water. Sandy soils have low water holding capacity, drying out quickly; clay soils hold more water but can lead to poor root oxygen.

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Most plants thrive in a pH range of 6-7 (neutral).

The ability of a soil to hold onto and exchange positively charged ions (cations) like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are nutrients for plants.

The amount of decayed plant and animal material in soil, which significantly improves soil structure and nutrient availability.

The layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface. The temperature decreases with increasing altitude.

The layer above the troposphere. Temperature increases with altitude due to the absorption of UV radiation by the ozone layer.

The layer above the stratosphere. Temperature decreases with increasing altitude.

The rate at which temperature decreases with increasing altitude in the troposphere. Approximately 6.5°C per kilometer.

The side of a mountain range facing prevailing winds, receiving moist air, leading to cooler and wetter conditions due to orographic lift.

The opposite side of a mountain range, sheltered from prevailing winds, resulting in drier and warmer conditions due to a rain shadow effect.

A dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range caused by the blocking of moist air by the mountains. As moist air rises on the windward side, it releases moisture as rain or snow. By the time it reaches the leeward side, the air is dry.

The Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, located on the leeward side of the Andes Mountains in South America, is an example of the rain shadow effect.

Ocean temperature plays a crucial role in regulating climate by absorbing and releasing heat. Warm oceans near the equator provide more moisture to the atmosphere, leading to warmer and more humid conditions, while cold oceans near the poles cool the air.

Ocean currents transfer heat from the equator towards the poles, influencing regional climates.

Warmer air is capable of holding more water vapor (moisture) compared to cooler air.

Solar radiation is most direct at the equator, causing the water to warm up.

The rate of evaporation increases when air temperature rises. Water molecules gain energy and escape into the atmosphere as water vapor.

Cooler air has a lower capacity to hold moisture, leading to condensation, cloud formation, and precipitation. Think about how dew forms on cold mornings.

The Hadley Cell is a major pattern of atmospheric circulation occurring between the equator and 30° latitude. It is responsible for tropical rainforests and deserts.

Warm, humid air at the equator rises due to intense solar heating.

As warm air rises, it cools and loses moisture, resulting in heavy rainfall near the equator.

The cooled air spreads towards the poles at high altitudes.

The descending air is dry, causing arid conditions in desert regions around 30° North and South latitude.

A climate pattern characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, stronger trade winds, and increased upwelling off the coast of South America.

The process by which cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean rises to the surface, often driven by wind patterns.

During La Niña, the trade winds strengthen, pushing warm water westward across the Pacific, leading to cooler temperatures in the eastern Pacific and increased upwelling.

La Niña typically brings drier conditions to the southern US and wetter conditions to the Pacific Northwest.

La Niña often leads to wetter conditions in Southeast Asia and Australia, especially in northern Australia.