Unit 4 + Random
El Niño and La Niña are natural phenomena associated with changing water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. The occurrence of these events can result in changes in global weather and ocean circulation patterns. Which of the following is a positive effect likely to result from an El Niño event?
Fewer hurricanes forming in the Central Atlantic basin
The diagram below represents how solar radiation strikes the surface of Earth differently, depending on location, during the June solstice. Which of the following combinations correctly identifies and explains the effects of the differences in the distribution of solar radiation on Earth as seen in the diagram above?
Global wind patterns are created because uneven solar radiation results in warm air at low latitudes and cool air at high latitudes, resulting in density differences between the air masses.
El Niño and La Niña are natural phenomena associated with changing water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. The occurrence of these events can result in changes in global weather and ocean circulation patterns. Which of the following changes in eastern Pacific Ocean food webs is typically associated with La Niña events?
Increased phytoplankton concentrations
The vast majority of ozone (O3)(O3) is found in a thin layer due to a lack of circulation in which of the following atmospheric layers?
Stratosphere
Which of the following best describes why understanding a watershed and its boundaries is important in designing housing developments along a river?
Surface water and stormwater runoff will drain downstream within the watershed boundaries, so it is important to understand the flow of water through the watershed.
Which of the following abiotic factors, when graphed on the x-axis, leads to the curved line in the graph due to variation in the different layers of the atmosphere?
Temperature gradients
Hoover Dam is the largest dam in the United States, built on the Colorado River to supply hydroelectric power and flood control. Which of the following best describes a downstream environmental effect of Hoover Dam on the Colorado River watershed?
The damming of the Colorado River led to a change in stream flow, preventing river water and sediments from reaching the delta area.
Students want to determine the impact of soil erosion from the development of new housing. They plan to measure the density of a species of algae growing along the bottom of a river that flows through their town. The town is built in a heavily forested area, but a large area of trees along the river was recently clear-cut to allow for the construction of a new housing development, which has caused exposed soil to wash into the river. The river flows north to south through the town and is still forested both up- and downstream of the town. Which of the following is the dependent variable in the study?
The density of a species of algae growing along the bottom of the river
Based on the diagram, which of the following identifies a characteristic of the atmosphere between the stratopause and the tropopause?
The ozone layer is in the stratosphere.
Which of the following best explains why City B regularly receives less precipitation than City A?
The rain shadow effect causes City B to be drier because the mountain blocks precipitation from reaching the city.
Which of the following best describes the independent variable in this research design?
The sample of material chosen as the potential container material is the variable being tested, so it is the independent variable.
Which statement is best illustrated in the diagram above regarding how the Sun's energy affects the Earth's surface from June through September in the Northern Hemisphere?
The season changes from summer to autumn, daylight hours decrease, and infrared radiation is the strongest during the June solstice.
What is subduction?
the process by which the ocean floor sinks beneath the less dense crust
Rate of Growth Formula
(B+I) - (D+E)
El Nino
-A warm ocean current flows along the coast of Peru every seven to fourteen years. -Increased rainfall in southern tier of US and in Peru, causing flooding; could cause droughts on eastern coast of Asia and in Australia (fires); marine life is reduced -Nutrient rich waters on the coasts are depleted by warmer waters because thermocline is deeper
replacement fertility
2.1 children per woman
Doubling time
70/growth rate
At which of the following sites does seafloor spreading result in rifts and possible volcanoes?
A
La Nina
A climate event in the eastern Pacific Ocean in which surface waters are colder than normal. Increased upwelling. Low-pressure zones contribute to increased rainfall
Which of the following would be most helpful to determine the soil texture of a sample?
A density gradient tube and a soil triangle
The Atlantic Ocean is expanding as a result of plate tectonics. Which of the following explanations best identifies the type of plate boundary and processes occurring at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, as shown in the diagram below?
A divergent plate boundary exists at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where plates move away from one another, leading to seafloor spreading.
Students want to determine the impact of soil erosion from the development of new housing. They plan to measure the density of a species of algae growing along the bottom of a river that flows through their town. The town is built in a heavily forested area, but a large area of trees along the river was recently clear-cut to allow for the construction of a new housing development, which has caused exposed soil to wash into the river. The river flows north to south through the town and is still forested both up- and downstream of the town. Which of the following would be the best control sample for the study?
A sample of water collected just downstream of the northern forest
Permeability
Ability of rock or soil to allow water to flow through it
The Chesapeake Bay is a watershed that is located in six states and the District of Columbia. Which of the following can cause an increase in water pollution in the watershed?
An increase in stormwater runoff in urban areas
Soil Horizon
Ants Eat Bread Crumbs Regularly (A, E, B, C, Rock)
Based on the diagram, which of the following describes why the summer solstice in Australia occurs in December and not in June?
At this time of year, the tilt of Earth causes Australia to receive highly concentrated solar radiation.
At which of the following sites would activity result in volcanoes, island arcs, and mountains?
B
foundation species
Cause physical changes in environment that affect community structure.
Death rate falls b4 death rate
Death rate falls b4 death rate
Which of the following is a biome found at 30°30° NN and 30°30° SS as seen in the diagram?
Deserts
During a La Niña event, what environmental changes would the tropical Pacific Ocean and its surrounding landmasses most likely experience?
Increased upwelling off the coast of South America resulting in increased productivity of fisheries
Based on the map above, which of the following best explains why the Atacama Desert has a consistently arid climate?
It is in the rain shadow of the Andes Mountains.
Based on the diagram, which of the following days in Earth's yearly orbit would have the longest period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere?
June solstice
Peru's commercial anchovy industry would most likely be harmed during an El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for the decline in anchovy during an El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event?
Less nutrient-rich water reaches surface waters, disrupting the food web.
Which of the following best explains why the shaded area receives more snowfall than the other parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio?
Moisture picked up from the warmer water in the Great Lakes is deposited as snow downwind.
Based on the map, which of the following best explains the area of the Andes Mountains that would have the greatest number of rivers?
More rivers would be located on the east side of the Andes Mountains because the trade winds are coming from the east.
Net Primary Productivity Formula
NPP=GPP-R
10% rule
Only 10% of the total energy produced at each trophic level is available to the next level. The amount of energy passed up to the levels of the food pyramid reduces as you go up.
A group of students wanted to determine if soil texture can vary by location. Several students brought in a sample of soil from their backyards. Each student added their soil sample of equal mass to a jar with exactly the same amount of water, shook the contents so that all soil particles were suspended in the water, and left the jars covered overnight. The next morning, the soil particles had settled out into layers and students could determine the percentage of each type of particle. The results of their soil test are shown below. Which of the following describes the dependent variable in this investigation?
Percentage of each particle size in each soil sample
The Mississippi watershed is the largest in North America, draining all or part of thirty-two states in the United States and two Canadian provinces. A new apartment complex is being built on a steep slope near the source of the Mississippi River outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Which of the following measures should be taken to best reduce erosion at the construction site to protect the Mississippi watershed?
Plant grass and shrubs on the slope.
A developer wants to develop a large tract of land near a watershed, which will require the removal of several large trees. Which of the following statements best describes the impact that the development would have on the watershed?
Removing large trees would cause an increase in temperature and keep the surrounding water and soil warmer.
A group of students wanted to determine if soil texture can vary by location. Several students brought in a sample of soil from their backyards. Each student added their soil sample of equal mass to a jar with exactly the same amount of water, shook the contents so that all soil particles were suspended in the water, and left the jars covered overnight. The next morning, the soil particles had settled out into layers and students could determine the percentage of each type of particle. The results of their soil test are shown below. Which of the following describes the independent variable in this investigation?
Soil samples taken from different locations
Which of the following best describes why the engineer chose to calculate the permeability of the soil sample in the experimental design in order to evaluate a natural containment system to protect groundwater?
Soils that have low permeability would best help protect groundwater because the soil traps pollutants so that chemical and biological breakdown can occur.
Which of the following is the source of energy driving the circulation pattern labeled C in the diagram?
Solar radiation
Which of the following correctly describes the season and length of day at the Tropic of Cancer at the time of year shown in the diagram?
The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun so it is winter at the Tropic of Cancer and daylight is less than twelve hours per day.
Which of the following is the best explanation for the formation of Hadley cells in the tropics, as seen in the diagram, between 30°N30°N and 30°S30°S latitude?
The Sun warms the moist air at the equator and causes it to rise because of its lower density. As the warm air moves away from the equator, it cools, becomes denser, and then sinks.
If the diagram illustrates Earth's relative position on December 21 of a given year, which of the following statements would be correct?
The Tropic of Cancer has a shorter day and lower solar radiation intensity because there is a direct relationship between day length and radiation intensity.
Which of the following areas receives the most intense solar radiation at the time of year shown in the diagram, and why?
The Tropic of Capricorn, because this latitude is nearly horizontal to incoming solar radiation.
Based on the map above, which of the following best identifies and explains the region of South America that would have a more moderate climate?
The east coast would have a more moderate climate because of the Brazil Current.
The map above shows the locations of known volcanoes and earthquakes. Which of the following explains what is being illustrated in the enclosed area in the northwest portion of the map?
The enclosed area shows a hot spot in the middle of the Pacific Plate in the Hawaiian Islands.
Which of the following should be included in a watershed map to best determine the non-point source of a pollutant, such as fertilizer, found in a river?
The land use upstream of the river and water quality indicators in streams that run downstream into the river
Which of the following statements best describes the boundary between the two tectonic plates seen in the map?
The map illustrates a transform boundary, where tectonic plates slide past each other as the Pacific Plate moves northwest and the North American Plate moves southeast.
Which of the following is the best explanation for the deflection of the trade winds in both hemispheres, as seen in the diagram above?
The wind is deflected west because of Earth's rotation.
In the desert regions of the southwestern United States, daily high and low temperatures will frequently fluctuate by 40°F40°F (33°C)(33°C) or more. Which statement below best explains the large variation in temperature?
There are no bordering oceans or large bodies of water to provide a stabilizing humidity to the air.
Based on the data in the diagrams, in which layer of the atmosphere would short wave radio signals be reflected?
Thermosphere
Which of the following layers of the atmosphere contains charged gas molecules that glow and produce light when hit by solar energy, leading to glowing gases such as the northern lights, found over 90 kilometers above Earth's surface?
Thermosphere
Students want to determine the impact of soil erosion from the development of new housing. They plan to measure the density of a species of algae growing along the bottom of a river that flows through their town. The town is built in a heavily forested area, but a large area of trees along the river was recently clear-cut to allow for the construction of a new housing development, which has caused exposed soil to wash into the river. The river flows north to south through the town and is still forested both up- and downstream of the town. Which of the following explains the variable that would be the best for students to measure to determine the direct impact of soil erosion caused by the construction project on the river?
Turbidity, because a decrease in water clarity would indicate an increase in soil erosion.
Which of the following causes the air to rise high into the atmosphere in the areas labeled A, B, and C on the diagram?
Warm, moist air that is less dense than the surrounding air
During an El Niño event, farmers in the southwestern United Stated often benefit from which of the following climatic changes?
Wetter and warmer weather that increases soil moisture
Which of the following is the most likely effect of a strong El Niño event on the weather patterns in the United States?
Wetter weather and cooler than average temperatures in the southeastern states and warmer temperatures in the Pacific Northwest
mutation
change in a DNA sequence that affects genetic information, can encourage evolution