ASU Bio 130 Test 1
Make sure you can describe agricultural strategies for reducing water consumption.
90% of water consumption. Water Rights out West, "Old School" Irrigation Techniques, Center Pivot Overhead Irrigation, Drip Irrigation.
Which part of the U.S. has the most earthquakes? Which state is the most earthquake prone?
Alaska is the most earthquake prone
How is global climate change impacting the water cycle (generally speaking, in one sentence or less)?
As global temperatures increase, so does the rate of water transfer in the water cycle. More droughts in subtropics. More floods (and hurricanes) also. Melting of ice caps and glaciers. More water cycling at a faster rate. Sea levels will rise!
What are the benefits and unintended consequences of dams?
Benefits:Flood control, Generation of electricity, More predictable supply of water. Unintended consequences: Ecological impacts can be severe. Fish migration, Wetlands downstream no longer resupplied with overflow water and sediments (Birds and fish die off), Less water and sediment reach the ocean and delta regions (Caused big problems for Colorado River delta region in Mexico).
Make sure you can list the 5 soil formation factors.
Parent material, climate (temp and precipitation), topography (slope and amount of sun exposure), biological (microbes, plants, animals, roots and growing season, burrowing critters, time
How are soils formed? What processes go into soil formation, and what components are critical for soil formation? How long does it take soil to form, on average?
Soil is a naturally occurring surface layer formed by complex biogeochemical and physical weathering processes that contains living matter and is capable of supporting plant life. Chemical, biological, and physical processes all work together to form soil. oSoils form over hundreds-thousands of years from parent material and organic matter. (Parentmaterial: sediments from rocks/minerals that have been weathered. Weathering: the gradual physical, chemical and biochemical breakdown of parent material. Decaying organic matter forms humus, dark part of soil that is partially undecayed.)
What are the three main ingredients for a thunderstorm?
Source of moisture InstabilityWarm, moist air near the ground and cool dry air aboveCreates cumulonimbus clouds (tall, fluffy, thick clouds) Sources of LiftExamples: forest fires, slope of terrain, fronts
What are some issues with groundwater pumping? (examples: land subsidence, saltwater intrusion, drains surface water systems above an aquifer - ecological impacts). How can these harm the environment ABOVE ground?
Surface waters are connected to groundwater table, and can cause drainage of wetlands. Land subsidence:Land sinks when porous materials in aquifer are drained of water that supports land above. Houses sink, foundations crack, sewer pipes fracture. Sinkholes can develop and "swallow" houses. Saltwater intrusion: Coastal regions, as water table drops, sea water will infiltrate soils and aquifers, making them too salty for use.
When is groundwater pumping and use considered to be "renewable?" In particular, is the Ogallala Aquifer "renewable" at our current rate of pumping? What is happening to the water table in this area?
No Most groundwater in the U.S. is pumped out of the ground at a pumping well. When water is pumped from the aquifer, it reduces the level of the water table, which is called "drawdown." Renewable resourceif you pump groundwater ONLY at rate that it can be replenished via recharge of aquifer. Water table has dropped more than 300 feet in some places.
Be able to describe the primary issues associated with "overuse" of surface water resources. How many wetlands have been "lost" in the U.S. and worldwide?
These are "lost" when they are filled in, dredged, channeled, paved over...Globally: ½ lost. Germany & France: 80% lost. U.S. Overall: 50% lost. California, U.S.: 90%lost
How do global convection currents and the rain shadow effect impact the climate of Arizona? About how much of the rain in Arizona (and the desert southwestern U.S. in general) falls during monsoon season?
o 10 in per year o warm moist air flows down casing deserts
How many major soil orders are there? What is the most common soil order in the desert Southwestern U.S.? Which common soil order is particularly suited for agriculture?
o 12 major soil orders o Aridisols- most common in desert o Mollisols best agricultural soil
How are the properties of pH, aeration and salt content important for plant growth?
o Aeration- sols that remain saturated with water may not have adequate oxygen for plant roots o pH- influences which plants can grow there, affects solubility of minerals o salt content- when water evaporates, it leaves salty residue that can harm plant roots
When volcanoes erupt, what is the hazard to airplanes?
o Ash can clog engines and cause engine failure
How is weather different from climate? What is the time range needed to determine the climate of a region? What factors are used to describe the climate of a region?
o Climate is avg weather conditions over 30-yr period o Factors: precipitation, air temp, humidity, air pressure, soil/plant moisture levels, ocean temp (both)
What are the 2 main reasons that air pressure declines as altitude increases (in the troposphere)?
o Density of gas molecules decreases o temperature decreases
Why are so many desert regions on Earth located at around the 30 degree latitude (north and south) range and the 60 degree latitude range?
o Dry warm air sinks down that causes deserts
What are the 3 big factors that cause global convection currents to be so complex on Earth?
o Earth is rotating o Earth doesn't have even distribution of land over northern and southern hemisphere. More land in north. Land heats more fast Earth has seasons because earth is tilted
What can trigger a tsunami? If you were in the open ocean, would you see a big tsunami wave pass you on its way to shore? Do tsunami waves travel fast, or slow?
o Earthquake on ocean floor, volcanic eruption, landslide o No wave is small in open ocean o Travel fast
What is a "fault," in geologic terms? What are the force(s) that cause earthquakes?
o Fault is where two techtonic plates move past each other, theres friction and pressure builds up to over come friction and then movement occurs Volcanic eruption can cause earthquakes
In which states do landslides occur? What are common triggers for landslides?
o Gravity, erosion, saturation from rainfall, earthquakes, excess weight
Which part of the U.S. has the most volcanoes? What are the main hazards associated with volcanoes?
o Hawaii and Alaska o Immediate vicinity § Lava flows § Avalanche from debris § Explosive blasts/ flying rocks o Widespread issues § Noxious gas emissions § Airborne ash clouds
How does a soil's texture & % organic matter influence it's a) soil-water properties b) CEC?
o Larger particles have larger spaces between them = better drainage. Smaller spaces allow for more capillary action (like you see in a straw), so they hold on to water better. o A high cation exchange capacity reduces leaching, or washing of nutrients out of soil column. Leaching can lead to water contamination.
Where is the world's largest volcano?
o Mauna Loa in Hawaii
What % of flood related deaths are auto related? How does this happen?
o More than 50% o Drivers don't realize how deep the water is in a roadway and their ca can be sweapt away. Cars float in just a few inches of water
What are the 4 main component gases in the atmosphere (and their approximate %, excluding water vapor)?
o Nitrogen- 78.084% o Oxygen- 20.947% o Argon- 0.934% o Carbon Dioxide- 0.033%
During which months does the northern hemisphere experience longer days? Shorter days? When are the lengths of day and night equal?
o North has more daylight in the summer o March and september equal amount sunlight
Where do you expect to see the tropical rain belt in March, July, September, and November (i.e., approximate latitude - at Equator, north of Equator or south of Equator)?
o North summer up o South summer down o March -equator o June/ July it migrates north- india, southern parts of America o November- south
Be able to define and describe the 5 different soil horizons, and where they are located in the horizon (O, A,E, B, C). Which horizon is most important for plant growth and why?
o O: organic layer, with lots of undecayed organic materials, not usable by plants in soil o A: topsoil- most important layer for plants because it has decomposed organic material o E: eluviated (leached) layer- not present in some soils and not pictured here o B: subsoil, rich in minerals o C: deposited sediments from which soil formed, parent material o R: bedrock level, not soil and not pictured here
What are advantages and disadvantages of organic vs. inorganic fertilizers?
o Organic: has nutrients bound to carbon structure, slowly released over time as organic wastes break down, increases CEC of soil Inorganic- released more quickly and often leaching occurs
How do winds and water erode soil? Are there strategies to reduce water and soil erosion in common farming practices? What are these strategies?
o Particles picked up and carried away by water/ wind; topsoil often removed
Be able to list and describe the 3 ways that heat is transferred in the atmosphere.
o Radiation: via electromagnetic radiation; ex: sun, heat from fire, heat lamp o Conduction- transferred thru substance by molecules/ atoms; ex: metal spoon that gets hot after sitting in hot water o Convection- heat transferred thru movement of a fluid (air, water, melted rock); ex: in convection oven, fan blows hot air over food
What is radon, where does it originate, and what illness does it cause?
o Radioactive, colorless, odorless gas from rocks/ soils with natural uranium o Causes lung cancer
Be able to list the three sediment sizes that are measured in order to classify a soil's texture. What are some soil texture classifications (i.e., the names of different textures)?
o Sand: 2-.063 mm o Silt: .063-.004 mm o Clay: anything finer than .004 mm
What is a monsoon? When do monsoons occur in India and North America? When do they occur in Australia? Where do the strongest monsoons in the world occur?
o Season, describe a change in tardewinds over asia during summer o Australia- summer o North America- juna, july, auguast o India is most dramtic monsoon
How do soils benefit human health? What % of medicines have their origin in the soil? Be able to name the type of medicines we discussed in lecture.
o Supply 97% of calories people consume o CA, Fe, Mg, Zn, Cu... o 40% medicine originates from soil: recent cancer drugs, antidiarrheal meds, diaper creams, antibiotics
What is the "ring of fire?"
o Surrounds the pacific plates
What are the 2 most important factors that influence soil properties?
o The amount of organic matter and the amount of clay sediments
Be able to name/identify the 6 major Koppen climate zones and match them with descriptions. At what latitudes can "Highland" climates be found?
o Tropical- extend north/ south of equator 15 to 25 degrees latitude, temp greater than 64, annual precipitation greater than 59 in o Dry- 20-35n/s of equator, often surrounded by mountains o Moist Subtropics Mid-latitudes- warm humid summers,mild winters, 30 to 50 latitude on eastern/ western borders fo most continents, cyclone winter, thunderstorms summer o Moist Continental Mid-latitudes- warm to cool summers, cold winters, 50 degrees, -22 degrees, winters are severe o Polar- 50 degrees is warmest, northern America, Europe, asiagreenland, antartica Highlands- mountain terrain with rapid elevation change
How does the presence of plants impact the rate of erosion?
o Vegetative cover is best protection against erosion Plants shelter soil from impact of raindrops Plant roots hold soil in place Slow winds over soils to reduce erosion
Be able to classify the following as a geologic or weather hazard: o Volcano o Hurricane o Earthquake o Tornado o Heat o Tsunami
o Volcano o Hurricane o Earthquake o Tornado o Heat o Tsunami
What are the three major rock types, from which all soil sediment is derived?
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What is the general range of water vapor in the atmosphere?
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Be able to describe the common soil properties discussed in lecture (and your book), including: o physical properties of texture, bulk density, water holding capacity, water infiltration rate, porosity and aeration o chemical properties of pH, nutrient-holding capacity/Cation exchange capacity (CEC) o biological properties of respiration rate and mass of microbes
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Be able to list the 4 layers of the atmosphere, and a primary function of each layer. In other words, which layer holds the gases that sustain life? Which layer protects us from meteors? Which layer is responsible for the Northern Lights? Which layer contains ozone that protects life from UV radiation?
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How are thunderstorms related to tornadoes?
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How does the thickness of Earth's atmosphere compare to Earth's diameter?
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Make sure you can fill in the blanks: As altitude (distance from Earth's surface) increases, air pressure ______. As altitude in the troposphere increases, temperature _______.
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Yellowstone is a ____ volcano. Is it due to erupt again in the near future (in geologic terms)? What is some evidence that is used to determine this?
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Does all of the incoming solar radiation to Earth reach Earth's surface? Why or why not?
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Has the Earth always had the same atmosphere, over geologic time? Which types of organisms first began to release oxygen into the atmosphere in significant levels?
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In which part of the U.S. are wildfires the most prevalent? Why/how does the suppression of natural wildfires increase the risk for wildfires later on?
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Make sure you can describe the rain shadow effect, and what it causes.
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What part(s) of the U.S. are the most likely to be impacted by a hurricane? What IS a hurricane? What is the difference between a hurricane, a typhoon, and a cyclone?
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Which part of the country experiences the most tornadoes? Which state experiences the least? Which country has the most tornadoes?
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Which weather-related natural hazards cause the most death (which 2) in the U.S.? Do either of these hazards affect us in Arizona?
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Why are the tropics the warmest regions on Earth, and why do they receive more rainfall than other regions?
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What are some residential strategies for reducing water consumption?
Low-flow Water Fixtures (Low-Flow Toilets 1.6 gal 40%, Showerhead 2.5 gal/min 20%), Fauset aerators 2 gal/min, only run dishwasher full, use correct water setting on clothes washer, do not leave water running while brushing teeth.
