Earth Systems and Resources
Grace Taylor
9 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers Earth's systems and resources, focusing on tectonic plates, soil formation and erosion, the atmosphere's layers and human impacts, solar radiation and seasons, Earth's geography and climate (including rain shadows), and El Niño and La Niña weather patterns. Key terms include convergent, divergent, and transform faults, soil horizons, ozone layer, greenhouse gases, and the difference between climate and weather.
#AP Environmental Science: Earth Systems & Resources - The Night Before 🚀
Hey there, future environmental champion! Feeling the pre-exam jitters? Don't sweat it! This guide is designed to be your ultimate last-minute resource, packed with everything you need to ace the Earth Systems and Resources section of the AP Environmental Science exam. Let's get started!
#🌍 Big Ideas: Earth's Systems and Resources
This unit is all about understanding how Earth's systems work together and how we interact with them. Think of it like a giant, interconnected puzzle 🧩. We'll be diving into:
- Tectonic Plates: How the Earth's crust moves and shapes our world.
- Soil: The foundation of terrestrial life.
- Atmosphere: The layers of gases that protect and sustain us.
- Climate & Geography: How solar radiation and landforms influence weather and climate.
- El Niño & La Niña: The Pacific Ocean's impact on global weather patterns.
Let's break it down, shall we?
#🌋 Plate Tectonics
- The Earth's crust is divided into plates that move due to the molten core.
- Where plates meet are called faults.
Image: Tectonic plates of the world
#Types of Faults:
- Convergent Faults: Plates collide 💥. Think mountains, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
- Divergent Faults: Plates move apart ↔️. Think seafloor spreading, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
- Transform Faults: Plates slide past each other ➡️⬅️. Think earthquakes.
Convergent = Coming together Divergent = Drifting apart Transform = Translating (sliding)
Understanding these faults helps us predict where earthquakes and volcanoes are likely to occur.
Practice Question
Which type of plate boundary is most likely to form a mountain range?
A) Transform B) Divergent C) Convergent D) All of the above
Answer: C
Seafloor spreading is a characteristic of which type of plate boundary?
A) Transform B) Divergent C) Convergent D) Both A and C
Answer: B
Describe the three main types of plate boundaries. For each type, explain the geological features that are commonly associated with it and provide an example of a real-world location where that type of boundary can be found.
Scoring Breakdown: 1 point for correctly identifying and describing convergent boundaries (e.g., plates colliding, mountain formation, volcanoes). 1 point for providing a real-world example of a convergent boundary (e.g., the Himalayas). 1 point for correctly identifying and describing divergent boundaries (e.g., plates moving apart, seafloor spreading, rift valleys). 1 point for providing a real-world example of a divergent boundary (e.g., the Mid-Atlantic Ridge). 1 point for correctly identifying and describing transform bou...
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