Earth Science
How much water would be conserved in a year if each of the 300 million people in the U.S. used just one gallon less per day?
109,500,000,000 gallons
In the Northern Hemisphere these winds generally shift toward the north in the summer and toward the south in the winter as they "follow the sun."
Jet Stream
What is the name of the high altitude winds that move storms along?
Jet stream
When scientists say that land temperatures are more extreme than ocean temperatures, what do they mean?
Land tends to heat up quickly and cool down quickly, resulting in higher and lower temperatures. Oceans do not heat up or cool down as quickly.
Which activity produces the greatest oil spill in the world?
Leaks from cars trucks and other vehicles
Scientists claim that the ocean floor has magnetic patterns. Why does this support the theory of plate tectonics?
Magnetic patterns are symmetrical on each side of the mid-ocean ridge, which would indicate that the seafloor is spreading apart like the tectonic plate theory claims.
Look at this data for Southern Texas. During which months was water withdrawn from groundwater storage? Select all that apply.
May June July August December
Volcanoes and the motion of the plates are related. Which is a true statement regarding the connection between plate motion and volcanoes of the earth?
Most volcanoes are found along plate boundaries
Why are mountain ranges created where two continental plates converge?
Neither plate is subducted; instead, both are lifted up forming a mountain range.
Utah is the second-driest state in the nation. Which is the driest?
Nevada
A student has diagramed the "phytoplankton → zooplankton → shrimp" food pyramid as shown. Is he correct? If not, which selection best explains his error(s)?
No, he has mislabeled the first and second consumer levels. They should be reversed. Then, everything would be correct.
A traffic and railroad tunnel has been completed connecting England to France. Would it be wise to build a similar tunnel between the islands of Japan?
No. Japan is too close to a convergent boundary. There is no plate boundary between England and France.
What role did algae and ocean plants play in the formation of the ozone layer?
Ocean algae and plants produced oxygen, which escaped into the air and was converted into ozone.
Scientists expected ocean floors to have a thick layer of sediment; however, when they checked, they discovered that ocean floors have very thin layers of sediment. What did this tell them about ocean floors?
Ocean floors are not as old as they thought they were.
What type of boundary is found at points A and B in the diagram below?
Ocean-Continent
By far largest reservoir (recall that a reservoir is part of the earth where water is held in storage) of the hydrosphere is...
Oceans
Which statement is false as it relates to the influence of the oceans on earth climate?
Oceans help to make the climate of earth more extreme than would be expected for a planet located as far from the sun as earth is.
Which term in NOT correctly matched with its definition?
Osmosis: The process of dissolving minerals and substances as water passes through the ground.
The Aleutian Trench, the Mariana Trench, the Japanese Trench, and the Tongan Trench were all formed by the subduction of the ...
Pacific Plate
What did Alfred Wegener call the original large landmass that was part of his continental drift theory?
Pangaea
plantesimals
Planetesimals are small objects that formed in the solar nebula.
Plants affect the atmosphere. Which statement is false?
Plants release ozone destroying substances which block UV rays from Earth.
What roles do plants play in the water cycle?
Plants use water from the ground and give it off into the air, a process called transpiration.
Plate motion can affect other earth systems. Which of the following statements would be false concerning the connection between earth systems and plate motion?
Plate motion inevitably causes an increase in the variety of climates found on any given continent.
What would happen to plate motion if the earth's interior suddenly cooled?
Plate motion would eventually stop as the earth cooled.
The islands of Hawaii are located in the middle of the Pacific Plate. How do you explain their formation?
The Hawaiian Islands are the tops of volcanic mountains formed by hot spots under the Pacific Plate—as the plate moves, the hot spots create new islands
How would you explain the formation of the Hawaiian Islands in the middle of the Pacific Plate?
The Hawaiian Islands are the tops of volcanic mountains formed by hot spots under the Pacific plate; as the plate moves, the hot spots create new islands.
In what ways does the Jet stream affect the Northern hemisphere? Four students wrote the following answers to this question. Which is incorrect?
The Jet Stream causes ocean gyres to form into the Gulf Stream current.
The earth has had a stable temperature for a very long time. Why is this?
The amount of energy the earth receives from the sun is equal to the amount of energy that escapes back into space.
asthenosphere
The asthenosphere is a plastic-like layer that the rigid crust floats upon. The temperatures within the asthenosphere are not uniform. Hot regions cause the density of the rock material to decrease. This low-density hot material can rise up through the layers. Similarly, cooler regions cause the density of the rock to increase, and this relatively dense rock can sink within the asthenosphere. Circulating currents are thus created. It is believed that such currents cause the lithosphere to crack and move about, providing a mechanism for continental drift and plate tectonics.
During periods of glaciation (ice ages), which of the following was true of the amount of water in the ocean reservoir?
There was less water in the ocean reservoir then than there is today.
Why do scientists believe that heating from radioactive decay was greater in the early earth than it is today?
There were more radioactive elements, so as a result, there was greater decay and heating.
When plate motion pushes up a mountain range, which of the following statements would be false?
There would be a decrease in the types of habitats found on the continent.
Suppose that a flat, desert continent like Australia is moved by plate tectonics so that in ten million years, it is located at the equator. In the process, the continent, which now has only one mountain range, becomes covered by two additional new mountain ranges that are nearly as high as the Himalayas. Which of the following would be probable changes to its biology and climate? Select all that apply.
There would be an increase in the types of habitats found on the continent. The diversity and variety of both plants and animals would increase. The rain shadow side of the ranges would be dryer than the other side of the ranges. There would be an increase in the variety of climates found on the continent.
How do earthquake and volcano patterns support the idea of plate tectonics?
They are typically located on plate boundaries, and result from plates interacting with each other.
How do volcano and earthquake patterns support the idea of plate tectonic theory?
They are usually found near the borders of plates, which is where plates slide against each other and create stress in the crust.
Why did scientists expect the ocean floor to have a thick layer of sediment?
They believed that dirt washing from land into the ocean for billions of years would create a thick layer of sediment.
Which statement is false as it relates to the adaptations animals have which allows them to survive in the deep ocean?
They can only take the high pressure for a short time. This is why they come to the surface each night.
How do animals and decomposers (like mushrooms, mold and mildew) obtain the carbon they need?
They consume plants or other animals.
Why are fossil fuels considered to be nonrenewable?
They take millions of years to form and cannot be quickly replenished.
basalt
This dark silicate rock contains calcium plagioclase and an abundance of ferro-magnesium minerals. These minerals cause basalt to have a greater density than granitic rock. This rock is the foundation rock of the oceanic crust.
Plate motion creates stress which often produces earthquakes. Which of the following statements is false?
Transform fault boundaries generally have less earthquake activity than hot spot boundaries.
Volcanoes affect the atmosphere in profound ways. Which statement is false?
Volcanoes release oxygen into the atmosphere.
Which directions do warm surface currents generally flow? Cold surface currents?
Warm currents flow away from the equator; cold flow toward the equator.
England and most of northern Europe has a much warmer climate than Maine and the Eastern coasts of Canada Why?
Warm currents from the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift keep Northern Europe warm while cold currents flow past the Eastern coast of Canada keeping it colder.
Refer to the map below. Even though it has a more northerly latitude, England has a much warmer climate than Nova Scotia, Canada. Why?
Warm currents from the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift keep England warm, while cold currents surround Nova Scotia, keeping it cold.
Which of the following statements best describes why water pollutes easily?
Water can dissolve most substances because it is a polar molecule.
Why did potato chunks A, B, and C gain mass here?
Water entered the potato cells and increased their mass.
Which statement below is not a way in which water affects the earth and the living things upon it?
Water is the power source that keeps the water cycle moving through all parts of the planet.
What most likely happened to cause the change in mass and volume?
Water moved into the cells placed in the fresh water and out of the potato cells placed in salt water.
Why was the sea level lower during the last ice age?
Water was locked up as ice on the land so the sea level was reduced.
Which statement below is false as it applies to wave characteristics, properties and behavior?
Waves are the result of the spin of the earth
Four students wrote descriptions for the terms weather and climate. Which is not correct?
Weather is the conditions in the atmosphere over hundreds and thousand of years and climate refers to daily changes in the atmosphere.
Four students wrote definitions for the terms weather and climate. Which is the best response?
Weather is the current conditions in the atmosphere, and climate refers to the long term conditions on Earth.
In addition to conservation efforts, what additional sources of water will help meet increased water needs for Utah?
all of the above (Central Utah Project, the Bear River Project, Lake Powell Pipeline)
What effects did the glaciers of the last ice age have on North America?
all of the above (Much of the rich soil of the Midwest was formed, The Great Lakes were formed, Rainfall increased in the areas surrounding the ice.)
What contributed to the original heat?
all of the above (bombardment by planetismals, frictional drag during differentiation, radioactive decay of elements within the earth)
What were some of the environmental effects of El Niño of 1983?
all of the above (drought, flooding, the death of coral reefs, dust storms)
In addition to ensuring that enough water is available, what other considerations does the plan consider important?
all of the above (educating the public, protecting the environment, providing recreation)
Which factor affects the paths of surface currents in the earth's oceans?
all of the above (wind, continental coastlines, the rotation of the earth)
food web
all of the food chains in an ecosystem
In what ways do plants affect the atmosphere?
all of these (Plants release water into the atmosphere by the process of transpiration, Plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, Plants release oxygen into the atmosphere during photosynthesis.)
When an ocean and a continent plate converge, why does the ocean plate always subduct?
because seafloor crust is heavier and denser than continental crust
Why does the ocean plate always subduct when it converges with a continent plate?
because the ocean crust is heavier than continent crust
Why does the crust in the ocean have magnetic patterns?
because the ocean floor started as lava, which was able to take on magnetic patterns
The concentration of toxic chemicals can be increased by food chains through what process?
bio-magnification
Which property of water is created by the fact that opposite sides of the water molecule have opposite electric charges?
bipolar
What does the earth's interior heat originate from?
both a and b (the decay of radioactive materials, the residual heat from the formation of the earth)
What substances are the exact causes of the ozone destruction? Mark all that apply.
bromine chlorine
How are most ocean surface waves formed?
by the wind
Which property helps water to move up plant conductive tissue like xylem and phloem?
capillary attraction
Carbon in our atmosphere exists in the form of what?
carbon dioxide
Carbon in our atmosphere exists mainly as what molecule?
carbon dioxide
What is the most common greenhouse gas produced by human activities?
carbon dioxide
What are the three volcanic gases most harmful to life?
carbon dioxide sulfur dioxide hydrogen fluoride
What are the three most abundant volcanic gases?
carbon dioxide sulfur dioxide water vapor
Volcanoes release more than 130 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. This fact means that volcanoes are a what?
carbon source
Identify the health effects of bad ozone on humans. Mark all that apply
chest pain worsened bronchitis throat irritation coughing educed lung function
What substance released from CFC used in air conditioners is one of the exact substances that destroys ozone in the stratosphere?
chlorine
Gyres
circular current patterns that circumscribe an entire ocean basin
Infrared waves can easily escape from Earth's surface into outer space if the atmosphere is which of the following?
clear
Florida is a tropical wonderland of swamps and alligators.
climate
The ice has covered Greenland since long before the last ice age began.
climate
Circulation of the gyres in the Northern Hemisphere is clockwise or counterclockwise?
clockwise
What direction do gyres in the Northern Hemisphere circulate?
clockwise
Which way do the gyres of the Northern Hemisphere spiral?
clockwise
Which of the following is best at reflecting sunlight back into space?
clouds
Which fossil fuel is most abundant in the United States?
coal
Animals like a zooplankton and small fish can occupy which trophic level?
consumer
In which of the following types of plate boundaries are continental mountain ranges created?
continent-continent convergent boundary
The rising of hot material and sinking of cool material within the earth is called a what?
convection current
The motion of the earth's plates creates all of the following except for which?
convection currents in the outer core
Which boundary is associated with the Ring of Fire?
convergent
Which boundary produces the most violent eruptions?
convergent
At which type of boundary is volcanic activity more violent than at other boundaries?
convergent boundaries
Circulation of the gyres in the Southern Hemisphere is clockwise or counterclockwise?
counterclockwise
What direction do gyres in the Southern Hemisphere circulate?
counterclockwise
Nitrogen bearing substances in dead organic matter and manure are converted into ammonia and nitrates as a result of what?
decomposition
Which is not a way that volcanoes affect the atmosphere of the earth?
decreasing the levels of bad ozone in the troposphere.
Which group of organisms is responsible for the breaking apart of nitrates and ammonia molecules creating N2 gas that returns to the air?
denitrifying bacteria
What are all processes used to produce freshwater from seawater collectively called?
desalination
The process whereby dense material sinks and low-density material rises to form a layered planet is called what?
differentiation
Ocean crust is destroyed at trenches as subduction occurs. New sea floor is formed at mid-ocean ridges. Mid-ocean ridges are found at ___________ boundaries.
divergent
Ocean ridges are formed at what kind of boundary?
divergent
Which boundary or type of volcano produces very fluid lava?
divergent boundaries and hot spot volcanoes
In which of the following types of plate boundaries is new crust formed?
divergent boundary
Waves do not move water across the sea, but they do move which of the following?
energy
What process removes water from oceans, lakes, and rivers and pumps it into the atmosphere?
evaporation
What is the cause of the dead zones?
excess fertilizer in the ocean
Already the levels of CFC in the stratosphere are being reduced because of the Montreal Protocol.
false
Destroying the good ozone layer is causing the global warming and climate change concerns.
false
Earthquake data is not useful for mapping divergent plate boundaries.
false
If the ice caps of Earth were to completely melt, the rise in sea level is estimated to be about five meters.
false
Major earthquake activity is restricted to convergent boundaries.
false
Ozone destroying substances are only produced by human activities.
false
The Montreal Protocol has had no effect on the levels of CFCs in the atmosphere.
false
The greenhouse effect is always bad for humans and the environment of Earth.
false
The rise and fall of the tides do not impact human activities.
false
The rise and fall of the tides do not impact organisms that are not permanent residents of the intertidal zone.
false
The sea level today is as high has it has ever been on Earth.
false
Gulf Stream
flows past Florida and across the Atlantic
Kuroshio current
flows past Japan and across the Pacific
surface tension
force between surface molecules
How many times more energy does a kilogram of water absorb than a kilogram of soil?
four
If ocean and land receive equal amounts of heat from the sun, the temperatures of the land will be ________________________.
four times higher than the ocean
The energy storage molecule generated by plants and we depend on for survival is: _______
glucose.
Ozone blocks UV rays.
good
Which process causes ocean tides?
gravitational pull of the moon and the sun.
Which of the following has the greatest influence on the tides?
gravity of the moon
Besides surface water, what reservoir is currently a significant source of water for human use?
ground water
What two fresh water reservoirs are significant sources of water for human use?
ground water surface water
What are the three reservoirs of fresh water on land? Select all that apply.
groundwater surface water ice caps
What is the power source that drives the water cycle?
heating from the sunlight
Winds blow from ...
high pressure to low pressure regions
Winds blow in which direction?
high pressure to low pressure regions
At site E the levels of mercury are very high. (Levels above .005 are considered toxic.) Suppose the plant has been dumping mercury in the water for many years. The process of bio-magnification will have made the level of mercury in the vegetation and the animals living along the river banks ....
higher than the level in the water
Which uses more water, homes or factories?
homes
Which term below means "all the water surrounding the earth"?
hydrosphere
What is the largest reservoir of fresh water?
ice caps
Which type of data contains actual air samples for scientists to study?
ice core
If too much carbon dioxide builds up in our atmosphere, what could we expect the temperature of the earth to do?
increase
What human actions can reduce the levels of bad ozone in our air? Mark all that apply.
increase car pooling and public transit reduce factory pollution reformulate substance like paint fuels and solvents
In the last fifty years the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has...
increased
The levels of carbon dioxide have been _______________ since measuring began back in 1958.
increasing
In what form does energy escape from the earth's surface back into space?
infared waves
The energy the earth's surface radiates back into space (which is how the earth cools down) is in what form?
infrared waves
Did water move into or out of the piece in freshwater?
into
The state of balance between the thickness of the crust and the depth at which it floats on the asthenosphere is called
isostasy
How will Utah's population change in the next few decades?
it will increase
What is the name of the high-altitude winds that move storms along?
jet stream
Which part of the earth experiences the most extreme (widest range in) temperature changes?
land-deserts
Besides water, what does the water cycle transfer around the earth?
latent heat energy
What is the source of the greatest oil spill in the world?
leaks from old cars
What is the salinity of freshwater?
less than 1000 ppm
What are photophores ?
light-producing organs used for attracting prey, finding mates, and confusing predators.
What are some natural sources of nitrate and ammonia fertilizer? Select all that apply.
lightning dung dead organic matter nitrogen-fixing bacteria
A student wrote the following answer to this question: Question: Greenland is covered in ice. Nearby Iceland is not. What roles do the currents around these two islands play in explaining this? Answer: Greenland is surrounded by cold currents. Thus, the climate is colder than normal and the ice cap is a result of the colder climate. But Iceland is surrounded by warm currents, so it is not ice-covered. Is she right?
yes
Volcanic gases and dust can do what? Select all that apply.
poison livestock create substances that affect the ozone layer form volcanic smog
Which property causes water to dissolve most substances?
polarity
Which term in NOT correctly matched with its definition?
polarity--The magnetic property water molecules have to attract iron minerals in soil and sand
All forms of rain, snow, or hail that fall to the earth from the atmosphere would collectively be called
precipitation
What is the main factor that affects wind circulation?
pressure gradient force
Green plants in the sea occupy which trophic level?
producer
Nitrogen is used to produce DNA and which other molecule needed for life?
protein
What two principal sources cause the earth's internal heat?
radioactive decay and residual heat
To reverse the development of dead zones what must humans do?
reduce the nitrogen fertilizer getting into rivers
What two processes are the major sources of the earth's interior heat, which is the energy source for earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and plate tectonic motion?
residual heat from earth's formation and radioactive decay
Which term below is not correctly matched with its definition?
reverse osmosis: The movement of salt into and out of living cells in the ocean
Currents
rivers of seawater that circulate along the surface of the ocean
Is there more fresh water or salt water on Earth?
salt water
wave cut terraces on San Clemente Island California
sea level erosion when ocean levels were as much as twenty meters higher than today
Besides the discovery of coal in Greenland, what other evidence did Alfred Wegener have to prove his continental drift theory?
similar fossil records on different continents
Carbon removed from the air by forests and other plant life.
sink
Carbon stored in sediments at the bottom of the ocean.
sink
When coal layers and oil reservoirs were formed millions of years ago they were a carbon ___________.
sink
Carbon dioxide released into the air by volcanoes
source
Carbon dioxide returning back into the air decaying plants and animals.
source
Carbon released by burning fuel in factories
source
The text says that, "Once the forest is cleared for crop or grazing land, the soils can become a large source of carbon emissions." Does this mean that the soils are a carbon source or a carbon sink?
source
Which property of water results in the ocean being a vast storehouse of heat energy?
specific heat
Japan, the Aleutian Islands (part of Alaska), and the islands of the South Seas were all formed by which of the following?
subduction of the Pacific Plate at trenches
Define subduction.
subduction: the process of two plates smashing together, resulting in one section being forced down beneath the other.
What is the energy source that powers photosynthesis?
sunlight
What is the energy that powers Earth's surface currents?
sunlight
Why is bad ozone worse in the summer time?
sunlight and heat increase the rate at which pollutants are converted into ozone
What energy source powers the circulation of ocean surface currents and wind patterns?
sunlight energy
Which of the following absorbs the greatest percentage of the sun's energy?
surface (land and oceans)
Which property helps insects to "stand" or "walk" on water?
surface tension
Antarctic circumpolar
surrounding Antarctica
The longer the fetch length, the _________ the wave height will be.
taller
What kind of information can be obtained from ice core air samples? Select all that apply.
temperature precipitation chemistry and gas composition
Deep ocean currents are created by what two things?
temperature and salinity
worldwide shrinkage in mountain glaciers
temperatures warming because of the end of the little ice age and the greenhouse effect
The Himalayan mountain range is being formed by the convergence of which two tectonic plates?
the Eurasian and Indian Plates
The Caribbean plate is merging with which other plate to form the Caribbean Islands?
the North American Plate
specific heat
the ability of a substance to absorb heat energy
capillary action
the ability of water to move into small spaces and pores
Which is precipitation?
the action of water vapor falling from clouds as rain and or snow
Which is the correct definition for the term transpiration?
the action of water vapor passing into the air because of plant growth and activity
dissolving
the breaking apart of a substance atom by atom or molecule by molecule
The carbon atom found in our earth and in the tissues of all living things was first created inside of what?
the cores of small stars
The carbon in our bodies was formed inside what?
the cores of small stars
Coriolis effect
the deflection of currents, winds, and so forth because of the rotation of the earth
Fetch
the distance that the wind has blown over the oceans surface
desalination
the extraction of freshwater from ocean water by removing the dissolved salts from the seawater
In the following food chain, which trophic level would the zooplankton occupy? phytoplankton → zooplankton → shrimp
the first consumer level
Which of the following has the greatest influence on the tides?
the gravitational pull of the moon
When the ice caps covering the continents were melting, what happened to the amount of water in lakes surrounding the ice?
the lakes grew
Which factor below does not affect the creation of ocean currents?
the magnetic polarity of Earth
rise in sea level during the last 100 years
the melting of glaciers and ice caps and the thermal expansion of ocean water
The South American and African plates are diverging, what physical evidence proves this?
the mid Atlantic ridge
The North American and Eurasian plates are diverging. What physical evidence proves this?
the mid-Atlantic ridge
omosis
the movement of water in and out of cells from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration
reverse osmosis
the movement of water through an artificial membrane from low concentration(salty water) to low concentration (freshwater)
When an ocean plate and a continent plate converge, which plate subducts?
the ocean plate
How are plates moving relative to each other at divergent plate boundaries?
the plates separate from each other, creating rift valley and mid ocean ridges
What are the names of the three wind zones?
the polar easterlies the trade winds the westerlies
What is the bottom trophic level of a food pyramid called?
the producer level
Which statement below is false as it applies to the characteristics, properties and behavior of ocean currents?
the rotation of the earth does not affect current flow in the oceans.
Which potato piece had the greatest change in mass?
the saltwater piece
In the following food chain, the shrimp would occupy which trophic level? phytoplankton → zooplankton → shrimp
the second consumer level
The maximum wave height for wave trains is reached when which of the following is true of wave crests?
they are moving at nearly the same as the speed as the wind
How does the sun primarily heat the earth?
through sunlight energy
Why do some of these deep sea animals have light organs? (Select all that apply.)
to find mates to attract prey as a form of defense
In order to meet future needs, Utah must promote effective water conservation. One way to do this is to help people use less water. What is the goal set for this conservation effort?
to reduce per capita use by 25 percent
In which direction is the continent of North America moving?
toward the Pacific Ocean
Which way do the winds from the Jet Stream move storms?
toward the east
In which of the following types of plate boundaries is the crust neither created nor destroyed?
transform boundary
What geologic feature is created when an ocean plate converges with another ocean plate or a continent plate?
trench
What geologic feature is created when an ocean plate converges with another ocean plate?
trench
Which layer in the atmosphere contains the bad ozone?
troposphere
A ten meter rise in sea level would flood about 25 percent of the U.S. population.
true
A water budget is much like a financial budget in that it keeps track of the amount of water received, the amount used, and the amount taken out of savings
true
Agriculture uses more water that industries and homes.
true
As an animal breathes it exhales carbon dioxide back into the air. This carbon dioxide can be used by plants for photosynthesis.
true
Bad ozone is created by reactions between chemicals commonly found in factory and car pollution.
true
Both deforestation and degradation are currently a source of carbon for the atmosphere.
true
Carbon dioxide traps heat waves more effectively than do the molecules that make up the air.
true
Heat from the interior of the earth is an energy source for plate motion.
true
Households (homes) use more water than factories.
true
Human activities may be accelerating the natural warming the earth has experienced since the last ice age ended some 12,000 year ago
true
It is obvious that plants need sunlight to stay alive. Animals also need sunlight to stay alive.
true
Nitrogen cycles between plants and animals can occur on both the land and in the sea.
true
Oceans help to moderate the climate of Earth.
true
One chlorine atom can destroy 100,000 ozone molecules.
true
One chlorine atom can destroy tens of thousands of ozone molecules.
true
Ozone destroying substances release chlorine and bromine, which are the chemicals that actually break up ozone molecules faster than nature is forming them.
true
Ozone is continually being formed and destroyed in the stratosphere.
true
Photosynthesis is a sun-powered process that supplies needed energy to much of the biosphere.
true
Photosynthesis is the reverse chemical process of respiration.
true
Respiration is the reverse chemical process of photosynthesis.
true
Satellite data has shown that the earth's temperature has increased over the past few decades.
true
Steep, rocky shorelines are evidence of powerful waves carrying a lot of energy.
true
Surface currents are rivers of water flowing along the surface and deep currents are flows of water underneath the ocean surface.
true
Taking action to stop good ozone destruction and reducing bad ozone formation will also help many other forms of environmental degradation.
true
The amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has risen in the past few decades.
true
The greater the fetch, the stronger the current.
true
The nineteen percent of the sun's energy that is absorbed by the atmosphere helps to warm the air. The warmth of the air helps keep the surface of the earth warm.
true
The water cycle is used to generate electricity for our modern world.
true
The water in a wave moves in circular orbits as the wave crest passes over the surface, but the water doesn't move forward with the wave .
true
Transform fault and divergent boundaries generally have less violent quakes than convergent boundaries.
true
Volcanic dust can lower Earth's temperatures by reflecting some sunlight back into space.
true
Waves move energy across the sea.
true
When we burn fossil fuels we are actually using sunlight energy that was captured and stored by plants millions of years ago.
true
kilocalorie
unit used to measure food energy in food chains
producer
usually green plants
In winter the ocean keeps the temperatures of the coastline
warmer than normal.
falling sea level during glacial epochs
water is evaporated from ocean and stored as ice on land
It rained five inches in just six hours yesterday.
weather
Last week's hurricane had wind speeds of 135 mph
weather
The high temperature today was 85°F.
weather
In which direction is South America moving? (Hint: Plates move away from a divergent boundary and toward a convergent boundary.)
west
Most waves are formed by which of the following?
wind
Which kind of information is not obtained from ice core air sample data?
wind speed and direction
How much pressure would this anemone be subjected to at the deepest part of the ocean—a depth of 37,000 feet (about seven miles)?
2,390,200 pounds per square foot
A person here in the U.S. uses about how many gallons of water each day?
20-80
A person here in the United States uses about how many gallons of water each day?
20-80
A person here in the United States uses between _________ gallons of water each day.
20-80
About what percent of the sun's energy received by earth is reflected by clouds and the atmosphere? Four students answered this question as below. Which student is correct?
26
Groundwater is how many times more abundant than surface water?
3
About what percent of the sun's energy that reaches the earth is reflected back into space from the atmosphere, clouds, and surface combined?
30%
One kilogram of water will absorb about how many times the energy of one kilogram of soil?
4
A lantern fish is caught at the bottom of a bay. The external pressure on the fish is 5,280 pounds per square foot. What is the internal pressure of the fish? (Note: water weighs 64.6 pounds per cubic foot.)
5,280 pounds per square foot.
The warmth of earth surface affects the temperature of the planet. About what percent of the sun's energy received by earth is absorbed at the surface?
51
One type of deep sea fish is the angler fish. If the pressure in pounds per square foot outside the fish is 675,000 lbs/sq ft, what is the pressure inside the cells of the fish?
675,000 lbs/sq ft
How much pressure is the anemone subjected to at a depth of 10,500 feet.
678,300 pounds per square foot
About what total percent of the sun's energy received by earth is absorbed by all components of the surface and air of the planet?
70
The oceans cover about how much of the globe?
75 percent
Based on the data in the table, which substance would absorb the most energy if each was placed in the same amount of sunlight and each had a mass of one kilogram? (Assume all experimental variables for each substance are the same.)
A
Based on this data, which of these planets has an unstable energy balance?
A
Use this picture to answer the following 4 questions. Where is new crust being created?
A
Where are two ocean plates diverging?
A
Which arrows on the diagrams show precipitation, transpiration, and evaporation correctly labeled?
A
Which diagram shows a convergent boundary?
A
Which labeled point or arrow shows the crest?
A
Which location shows a transform fault boundary?
A
What is a gyre?
A full spiral of ocean water (a large circular flow of water formed as several currents merge).
Which of the following best summarizes the plate tectonic theory?
Earth's crust is divided into moving pieces called plates that interact with each other, creating mountain ranges, ocean ridges, and ocean trenches. Continents move with the plates. Plates move as they ride on convection currents within the earth.
Which weather instrument is correctly matched with its purpose?
Barometer-- measures air pressure
In which beaker will osmosis cause water to move into the cells? Select all that apply.
Beaker C Beaker B
What advantage does small size give abyssal fish?
Being small means that they are more likely to be able to get enough food in an environment where food is limited.
Define the term convection current.
Convection current: a pattern of rising and sinking of rock material in the asthenosphere due to uneven heating in the earth.
According to the modern theory of tectonic plates, what force causes the plates to move?
Convection currents in the earth cause the crust to move. Much like water currents in a frozen lake can cause slabs of ice floating on its surface to move.
How are plates moving relative to each other at convergent plate boundaries?
Convergent boundaries are collision boundaries. Two plates collide together often producing subduction as one plate is forced under another.
How are currents an important part of the earth's heating and air conditioning system?
Currents carry warm and cool waters over the earth to help moderate the climate.
Where is crust being destroyed?
D
Which diagram shows the hot spot island formation process?
D
Which labeled point or arrow shows the wave height?
D
Which type of molecule in living things contains nitrogen? Select all that apply.
DNA proteins
In which month did Southern Texas receive the least precipitation?
December
Why does the crust have high continents and low ocean basins?
Density differences between continental rock and oceanic rock mean that the continents float higher in the asthenosphere than the oceanic rock.
Which of the following best summarizes the plate tectonic theory?
Earth's crust is divided into moving pieces that collide with each other, creating mountain ranges, ocean ridges, and ocean trenches.
Which factor below does not affect the properties and behavior of ocean currents?
Earth's orbital speed
What is the source of the extra carbon dioxide we currently measure in the air?
Emissions from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gasoline is the source of the carbon dioxide.
differentiation
Differentiation is the process of forming layers within a planet as matter melts and separates due to differences in density. The heaviest stuff sinks to the center, forming the core. The lightweight stuff forms the crust on the surface.
Which of the following is the best summary of the plate tectonic theory?
Earth's crust is divided into large pieces that move around and collide with each other, creating mountain ranges, ocean ridges, and ocean trenches.
Which statement concerning the greenhouses effect and our environment is false?
Human actions are lowering the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
What is the cause of the extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as shown on the graph?
Human use of fossil fuels.
What are two facts about the global warming theory?
Humans are causing the level of carbon dioxide to increase each year. Carbon dioxide traps infrared energy better than ordinary air does.
How do we know that the seafloor is not old?
If it were old, it would have a large build-up of sediment.
The carbon needed by living organisms comes from the atmosphere. Why do scientists not worry about the earth running out of carbon?
It is constantly recycled from the atmosphere through plants and animals and eventually decomposers, and then back into the atmosphere.
In animal cells during respiration water and carbon dioxide are both produced. What happens to the extra carbon dioxide that the animal doesn't need?
It is exhaled back into the atmosphere.
How is the level of carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere being affected?
It is increasing.
Which is a false statement about the role of carbon in our world?
It is made directly from just sunlight by plants. So as long as the sun shines there will be new carbon atoms formed.
The carbon needed by living organisms cannot be depleted. Why?
It is recycled from the atmosphere through the biosphere and back to the air.
In photosynthesis, glucose and oxygen are both produced. What happens to the extra oxygen that the plant doesn't need?
It is released back into the air.
What does the thermosphere do to protect life?
It is the first to block out harmful X-rays and cosmic rays from space.
What does the mesosphere do to protect life?
It is the layer in which man-made or natural debris from space burns up.
Which is a false statement about the influence of the Coriolis Effect on ocean and atmospheric circulation?
It is the main cause of ocean evaporation
Part of the sun's energy that strikes the surface is used by plants in the process called photosynthesis. Why is this process important to earth's systems?
It is used to convert carbon dioxide and water into food for the biosphere thereby removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Part of the sun's energy that strikes the surface is used by plants in the process of photosynthesis. Why is this process important to the earth's systems?
It is used to convert carbon dioxide and water into food for the biosphere, thereby removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Why is desalination of seawater done in only a few regions of the earth and even then in only limited ways?
It is very expensive compared to using rivers, lakes, or groundwater.
What impact does the Gulf Stream have on the climate of Europe?
It makes the climate warmer that it otherwise would be.
What does it mean when the text says the oceans are a carbon sink?
It means the oceans remove carbon from the carbon cycle.
What must happen to plant and animal matter in order for it to be turned into fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas?
It must be buried for millions of years under high heat and pressure.
List three ways energy stored in the oceans affects Earth.
It powers storms. It drives the wind. It keeps Earth warmer than it otherwise would be.
What happens to the excess fertilizer that runs off farms and fields into the oceans?
It produces large dead zones in the ocean.
What is the Montreal Protocol?
It was a plan adopted by many nations to reduce the release of CFCs into the atmosphere.
If the earth's interior were to suddenly cool, what would happen to plate tectonic motion?
It would eventually stop.
Which of the countries listed below is in the greatest danger of having earthquakes?
Japan
Which water sample below would be considered freshwater?
1000 ppm
Ozone is harmful to breathe.
Bad
In the U.S., which of the following spheres use(s) the most water?
agriculture
Sunlight is used by what type of organism to produce and store food molecules?
plants
About what percentage of the energy in one level is passed on to the next higher level?
10 percent
When carbon dioxide enters the ocean it is used in which of the following ways? Select all that apply.
-It is used by ocean plants to carry on photosynthesis. -It is used by organism to make seashells. -It precipitates becoming minerals.
Consider the following food chain: phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, squid, human. If there are 1,000 Calories of energy in the producer level, how many calories will be in the third consumer level?
1
1. Which box represented the heating of a desert? 2. Which box represented the heating of forests/grassland areas of earth?
1. C 2. B
potential flooding of 25 percent of the U.S. population
10 meter rise in sea level
Which statement is true concerning water use in the United States?
Agriculture uses more water that industries and homes.
According to Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift, how were all of the continents originally arranged?
All continents were part of a large mass of land he called Pangaea.
Plants affect the atmosphere. Which statement is true?
All of the above are true. (Plants release water into the atmosphere by the process of transpiration, Plants release oxygen into the atmosphere during photosynthesis, Plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere)
How does the flow of ocean currents affect the earth's global climate?
All of these (Currents move cold water from the poles toward the equator, Currents move warm water from the tropics toward the poles, They keep northern Europe warmer than it normally would be)
Nitrogen is used to produce DNA. What else does it do for living things?
All of these (It is used to make fertilizers needed for plant growth, It is used to make proteins, It is used to make DNA molecules)
While international efforts to improve the atmosphere are important, it is also important that you and I take action to reduce our pollution. Why is this so?
All of these (Reducing our pollution means that the world is just a little bit cleaner, and individuals and families can save money in many cases as well, Reducing pollution from individuals and families will not only affect ozone but many other forms of environmental degradation as well, Millions of small improvements can add up to make a big difference in the world.)
In what ways do the ocean and its currents affect the earth's global climate?
All of these are true (Currents move warm water from the tropics toward the poles, The ocean helps keep to moderate the climate of earth, Currents move cold water from the poles toward the equator.)
Which instrument is incorrectly matched with its purpose?
An anemometer measures wind direction
Which mountain range is being created by the convergence of the Nazca and South American plate?
Andes
Which continents came from the breakup of Gondwanaland? Select four please.
Antarctica Australia South America Africa
Which continents came from the breakup of Laurasia? Select three please.
Asia North America Europe
Which ocean/sea formed from the rifting of North and South American away from Europe and Africa?
Atlantic Ocean
Africa is famous for its gold mines. According to evidence that supports the theory of plate tectonics, where would be the best place to look for similar deposits of gold?
B
Where are two continental plates converging?
B
Which diagram shows a divergent boundary?
B
Which graph below correctly shows the amounts of water in the earth major reservoirs?
B
Which labeled point or arrow shows the trough?
B
Which location shows a divergent boundary?
B
Match each drawing to the correct term, either "spring tide" or "neap tide."
B: neap tide A: spring tide
Ozone damages crops and vegetation.
Bad
Ozone is formed by human pollution activities.
Bad
When we burn fossil fuels we are actually using sunlight energy that was captured and stored over millions of years. Which statement below is false concerning this process?
Burning these fuels stores some of the sunlight energy captured by plants from long ago.
Which diagram shows a transform boundary?
C
Which labeled point or arrow shows the wavelength?
C
What man-made substance was the source of the exact substances that destroy ozone?
CFC
Which pairs of substances result in the destruction of the ozone in the stratosphere?
CFC's and Chlorine
What are the two main facts that have caused many scientists to believe that human actions have induced climate change?
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. The level of carbon dioxide is increasing.
What are two inescapable facts that led to the theory of global warming
Carbon dioxide levels are increasing and carbon dioxide is an effective greenhouse gas.
The carbon cycle can be thought of as interconnected carbon sources and sinks. Which statement below describes a carbon sink?
Carbon is removed from the air by forests and other plant life.
Which statement is correctly matched?
Carbon released by burning fuel in factories: Carbon Source
Which mountains were formed as the Juan de Fuca plate subducted underneath the North American Plate?
Cascades
Chlorine is a catalyst for the destruction of ozone. What is a catalyst?
Catalysts are chemicals that trigger a reaction but are not used up in the reaction.
Wegener found coal in Greenland and claimed that this supported his ideas about continental drift. How does coal in Greenland support the idea of continental drift?
Coal is a product of jungles, so at one point Greenland must have been closer to the equator where jungles could thrive
Why would the discovery of coal in Greenland be evidence for Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift?
Coal is found in places where jungles used to be; Greenland must have been closer to the equator where jungles are common.
The climate of earth varies because continents, coastlines, and oceans heat and cool at different rates. Which is not correctly matched?
Continental Interiors → slight annual temperature ranges
Why is it difficult to integrate nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into the nitrogen cycle of the biosphere?
Few organisms can break apart the nitrogen molecule into nitrates or ammonia.
Deforestation alters the carbon in the atmosphere in two primary ways. What are they? Select two please.
Forests are often burned. The burning gives off carbon dioxide into the air; thus, a burning forest is a carbon source. Forests remove carbon from the atmosphere as the plants carry on photosynthesis.
Which statement below is true as it relates to how deforestation affects the carbon in the atmosphere?
Forests are often burned. The fires release carbon dioxide into the air. Thus burning a forest produces a carbon source.
Which statement below is false as it relates to how deforestation affects the carbon in the atmosphere?
Forests store more carbon in the tissues of the vegetation than in all other sinks combined.
What evidence do scientists have that the earth's climate has been suitable for life for millions of years?
Fossils have been found that date from much of geologic time.
Which statement best describes the current state of our understanding of the idea of global warming?
Global warming is a logical inference given the facts that carbon dioxide levels are rising as an effective greenhouse gas.
Ozone is formed naturally in the stratosphere.
Good
potential of 6.5 meter rise in sea level in the future
Greenland ice melting
The climate of England and Northern Europe is warmer than it should be for their northerly latitude. What current is likely the source of this warmer-than-expected climate?
Gulf Stream current
Photosynthesis and respiration are vital process for nearly earth's entire biosphere. Which statement is false as it applies to photosynthesis and respiration concepts?
Heat and pressure are two sources of energy which power photosynthesis
What is the power source that provides the energy to move water through the water cycle?
Heating from sunlight
lithosphere
In physical terms, the outside of the earth is composed of a hard and relativity strong, solid rock. This crust is also called the lithosphere. The lithosphere varies in thickness from about ten kilometers under some ocean regions to as much as 300 kilometers under continental mountain ranges. The average depth is about 150 kilometers. It is rigid and transmits all earthquake waves. Physically, this layer is solid, brittle rock.
What does the good ozone in the stratosphere do for living things?
It absorbs UV rays that are harmful to living cells from the sun.
How does carbon dioxide prevent infrared heat energy from escaping into space? It reflects sunlight back into space.
It absorbs it and redirects some rays back toward the earth.
How does carbon dioxide prevent energy from Earth's surface (infrared rays) from escaping into space?
It absorbs the energy and redirects some of it back toward the earth.
What role does the Coriolis effect have on ocean surface circulation?
It causes currents to deflect to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.
What role does the Coriolis effect have on ocean circulation?
It causes gyres to form and winds to deflect.
What does the stratosphere do to protect life?
It contains the ozone layer, which blocks harmful UV rays.
The country of Haiti is located southeast of Florida and almost directly east of Cuba in the Caribbean sea. How would you explain the earthquake in Haiti?
It formed because of the motion of the Caribbean Plate and North American Plate
How has the level of carbon dioxide in earth atmosphere changed during the last fifty years?
It has increased
How has the level of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere changed since 1958, when the first direct measurements were started?
It has increased.
In the last fifty years, how has the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere been affected?
It has increased.
What effect has the Montreal Protocol had on CFC levels in the atmosphere?
It has reduced the levels in the troposphere, but has not affected the level of CFC in the stratosphere.
Is the island of Iceland formed along a plate boundary, or is it a hot spot island?
It is a divergent plate boundary.
Which statement is false about the intertidal zone?
It is a food- and nutrient-poor place, which makes it hard for creatures to survive there.
Which of the following statements is true about the intertidal zone?
It is a food/nutrient-rich place.
What does the term specific heat capacity mean?
It is a measure of the heat-absorbing ability of a substance.
What is desalination?
It is a process of removing salts from sea water so it can be used by humans for drinking and other purposes
hich of the following is true of the volume of water in the oceans?
It is changing slowly over geologic time scales.
protoplanets
Protoplanets are planet-sized objects that grew as planetesimals collided together in the nebula.
What does the troposphere do to support life?
Provides warmth, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and weather for living things.
Heat from inside the earth is the energy source that produces convection currents. These currents move the plates. What two processes are the major sources of the earth's interior heat?
Residual heat form earth's formation and radioactive decay
Why hasn't all of the heat from inside of the earth escaped into outer space?
Rock is a poor conductor of heat. There has not been enough time for all of the heat to have escaped.
The motion of the earth's crustal plates creates all of the following except:
Rotation of the earth on its axis
A science student is asked to perform the water tests similar to those you studied in objective 3 of this lesson. He selects four water samples to test, one from each of the following locations: A, B, C, and D. If his hypothesis is that the paint company is polluting the water, what is wrong with his selection?
Since each sample selected is downstream from the plant, he will not be able to determine if the pollution came from the plant or from a source farther upstream.
Four students (A, B, C, and D) were asked to write a short answer about the question, "What is the energy that powers the earth's surface currents?". Which student is most correct?
Since the sun is the power behind the wind , and winds drive currents, the sun is the original source of much of the power that moves the surface currents.
A science student is asked to perform the water tests similar to those you studied in Lesson Five. Which list of collection sites would be best if the hypothesis is that the plant is polluting the river?
Sites A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H
Smaller solar system bodies like the moon show no plate tectonic activity. What do you suppose would be the reason for this?
Smaller objects must have cooled off, so there is no energy source to power plate motion.
rganisms are adapted to survive in the intertidal zone in several ways. Which of the following is a false statement about adaptation in this zone?
Some organisms are able change from cold-blooded to warm-blooded, so they are not too cold when they are underwater at high tide.
The Andes were formed from a collision between which two plates?
South American and Nazca
What does strong sunlight and hot temperatures of the summer time do to the bad ozone?
Strong sunlight and hot weather increases the effects of bad ozone.
Four students draw a convection current as part of an assignment. The four drawing are shown below. Which student most accurately illustrated convection currents?
Student C
Students were asked to determine the energy in each level of the following food chain: phytoplankton --- zooplankton ---- herring ---- pelican Which student is correct?
Student D phytoplankton: 1000 ---- zooplankton: 100 ----herring: 10 ---- pelican: 1
What energy source provides the power that makes ocean surface currents move and winds blow?
Sunlight energy
Which statement below is not a fact concerning the energy budget of our earth?
Sunlight energy from the sun is increasing and infrared energy escaping from the earth is increasing.
Suppose a tropical jungle island like Borneo (one of the warmest and wettest places on earth) is moved by plate tectonics so that in 10 million years it is found near the Arctic Circle. Which of the following would be probable changes to its climate? Please choose the best answer.
The average temperatures would decrease
Suppose an ice-covered region like Greenland were moved by plate tectonics so that in ten million years, it would be located at the equator. Which of the following would be probable changes to its climate? Choose the best answer.
The average temperatures would increase.
In summer, how do the oceans affect the temperatures of the coastline?
The coast is cooler than normal.
What would happen to the carbon-oxygen cycle if animals were removed from the process?
The cycle would eventually stop.
What would happen to the carbon-oxygen cycle if the sun stopped shining?
The cycle would stop and life would become extinct
Suppose that a flat, desert continent like Australia is moved by plate tectonics so that in ten million years, it is located at the equator. Which of the following would be probable changes to its climate? Select all that apply.
The desert climate would change to a jungle climate. The average temperatures would increase Rainfall would increase.
Suppose a flat, desert continent like Australia is moved by plate tectonics so that in ten million years, it is located at the equator. Which of the following would be probable changes to its biology? Select all that apply.
The diversity and number of jungle plants would increase. The diversity and number of desert plants would decrease. The diversity and number of desert animals would decrease. The diversity and number of jungle animals would increase.
Which statement below is an inference about the idea potential climate change caused by carbon dioxide?
The earth is warming because of too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
How does the Coriolis effect affect ocean circulation?
The force acts to rotate/deflect currents to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
granite rock
The foundation rock of the continental crust. It is composed of minerals made of silica and oxygen, including orthoclase, quartz, feldspar, and small amounts of ferro-magnesium minerals.
What is one difficulty mentioned in the text with using seawater as a source of freshwater?
The freshwater it produces from seawater is more expensive than water from other sources
When a deep sea submarine dives to the bottom of the ocean, the crew quarters are kept at normal air pressure. Why isn't the sub crushed by the water pressure?
The hull of the submarine is very strong and protects it from the pressure. One crack in the steel/titanium walls of the submarine would be disastrous.
Which organisms play a key role in fixing nitrogen from the air into nitrates available for plants?
bacteria
inner core
The inner core extends from 5,100 kilometers to the earth's center, about 6,400 kilometers below the surface. Temperature and pressure again combine at this depth to turn the material back into a solid. The inner core is very dense and hot. The heat originates from the decay of radioactive material and the heat leftover from the formation of the earth.
Which of the following best explains the formation of the Japanese Islands?
The islands are the result of a convergent boundary between the Pacific and the Eurasian Plates.
At site H the levels of cadmium are very high (levels above .001 are considered toxic). If the plant has been dumping cadmium into the water for many years, what will the process of bio-magnification have done to the level of cadmium in the vegetation and the animals living along the river banks?
The level of cadmium in the vegetation and animals will be higher than the level of cadmium in the water.
How would you explain the connection between the locations of quakes and volcanoes and plate boundaries? See the plate boundary map below.
The location of quakes and volcanoes generally falls along the plate boundaries. Not all occur at plate boundaries. The stress that produces a quake and the magma that forms a volcano develop mostly at plate boundaries.
How do the magnetic patterns on the seafloor support the theory of tectonic plates?
The magnetic patterns on each side of the ocean ridge are symmetrical, which proves that the seafloor is spreading.
outer core
The outer core extends from 2,900 kilometers to 5,100 kilometers. In its liquid state, the material is able to freely flow. It is believed that the earth's magnetic field is generated by the flow of iron material in the outer core. The refraction and absorption of earthquake waves evidence the liquid nature of this layer.
What happens when ozone absorbs UV rays?
The ozone molecule is broken apart into oxygen atoms, which quickly reform into ozone.
If a planet radiates back into space more energy than it gets from the sun, what would happen to its temperature?
The planet would cool down.
If a planet radiates back into space less energy than it gets from the sun, what would happen to its temperature?
The planet would warm up.
What would happen to the temperature of a planet if the amount of energy escaping into space were less than the energy it received from the sun?
The planet would warm up.
What would happen to the temperature of a planet if the amount of energy escaping into space is less than the energy it gets from the sun?
The planet's temperature would warm up.
Which of the following best describes what happens at a divergent plate boundary?
The plates separate from each other creating new crust in the process.
If humans pollute one part of the water cycle, say a lake or a river, how might this affect the other parts of the water cycle?
The pollution may spread to other reservoirs and bodies of water.
During an ice age, so much water is frozen into ice on land that the sea level drops significantly. Based on this fact, what would happen to sea level during warm periods between ice ages?
The sea level should rise.
mantle
The single largest layer of the earth in terms of its volume and mass. The mantle makes up nearly seventy percent of the mass of the earth. The weight of the rock above it compresses the mantle to tremendous pressure. The pressure gradually compresses the rock material so the density of the mantle increases with depth. By the time we get to the core, some 2,900 kilometers down, the density is nearly five grams per cubic centimeter. Occasionally, a volcanic eruption will bring a sample of mantle material to the surface. Silicate minerals compose the bulk of mantle material.
solar nebula
The solar nebula is the cloud of dust and gas from which the solar system formed.
If a planet radiates back into space the same amount of energy that it gets from the sun, what would happen to its temperature?
The temperature of the planet would not change.
Suppose a desert region like Australia is moved by plate tectonics so that in 10 million years it is found centered at the hot and rainy equator. Which of the following would be least probable changes to its biology? Please choose the best answer.
The total biodiversity would remain unchanged.
Which statement concerning the volume of water in the oceans over geologic time is false?
The volume of water in oceans has not changed significantly since the earth was formed.
How do animals survive the pressure of the deep ocean?
Their internal body pressure is equal to the external water pressure.
Why aren't abyssal animals crushed by the high pressures of the deep sea?
Their internal body pressure is equal to the external water pressure.
Most of these animals are small, less than a foot long. What is one possible reason that abyssal animals tend to be small?
There is a limited food supply for most of these creatures
Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift was supported by many lines of evidence. Continental shapes match. Fossil patterns, rock patterns, and climactic evidence also indicated that the continents were once one landmass. Why was his hypothesis of continental drift rejected by most scientists of his day?
Wegener could not explain the force or natural process that made the continents drift (or move).
Why didn't scientists believe Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift?
Wegener had no explanation for what made the continents drift (or move)
Explain Wegener's theory of continental drift.
Wegener proposed that earth began with one giant landmass that slowly broke into what we now know as continents
potential of eight meter rise in sea level in the future
West Antarctic ice cap collapse and melt
What does it mean when the text says, "The worldwide availability of renewable energies and the availability of mature technologies make it possible to couple desalination plants with renewable energy production in order to ensure the production of water in a sustainable and environmentally friendly scheme for the regions concerned"?
Wind and solar energy can be used to power desalination plants and produce freshwater, a process that can be continued indefinitely and that will not hurt the environment.
Mountain ranges are most likely the result of what?
a collision between two plates
What does the collision of one plate with another form?
a convergent boundary
At the present time, the idea of global warming is
a logical inference.
What is a turbidity current?
a muddy current
Tsunami
a sea wave created by a quake volcano or landslide under the ocean
What other evidence did Wegener need in order to convince scientists that his theory of continental drift was correct?
a strong enough force that could move the continents
What is the plate boundary at which one plate is pushed beneath another called?
a subduction boundary
What is the boundary called that is formed by two plates sliding past each other?
a transform fault
What is a kilo-calorie?
a unit of food energy equal to one thousand calories
El Niño
a warm ocean current that forms off the coast of South America and alters weather and climate
Ocean swell
a wave train that has organized into series of rolling ocean waves
Breaker
a wave whose top has fallen forward because the bottom has slowed due to friction with the sea bed
Based on the graph and the reading above, what is the salinity of the fluids inside of the potato cells?
about 12%
Potato piece D was placed in a solution with a salinity of which of the following?
about 12%
Suppose that an ice-covered region like Greenland were moved by plate tectonics so that in ten million years, it would be found at the equator. Which of the following would be probable changes to its biology? Choose the best answer.
all of these (The diversity and extent of polar animals would decrease, The diversity and extent of plants would increase, The diversity of animal life would increase.)
What are some ways organisms cope with the danger of drying out at low tide and predation from the land and the sea?
all of these (They burrow in the sand, They have hard shells, They secrete coatings of mucus.)
How can government leaders help ensure that enough water is available for the future?
all of these (They can implement water conservation efforts, They can educate the public about water use needs, They can build more storage reservoirs.)
How do ice ages and the warm periods between them influence the water cycle?
all of these (They raise sea level, They lower sea level, They increase water storage in the ice cap reservoirs on land.)
Climate changes due to plate motion are illustrated by which of the following?
all of these (ice on Antarctica, coal seam in Greenland, volcanic gases and dust causing cooling of the atmosphere)
Earth's interior heat is the engine that powers
all of these (mid ocean ridges, trenches, and rift valleys, movement of the plates of the crust, earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building)
Good water use plans will have ways ensure that enough water is available for the community. Which of the following should they also include plans for?
all of these (protecting the environment, conservation efforts, educating the public)
How do the fish of the abyss use their photophores?
all of these (to attract prey, as a form of defense, to find mates)
Earth's interior heat is the engine that powers which of the following?
all of these (volcanoes, earthquakes, movement of the plates of the crust)
The earth developed a layered structure because of
all of these factors (changes in the density of the internal material, changes in chemical/mineral composition, changes in the physical state (solid liquid) of the material)
Besides water, what else does the water cycle transport around the earth?
all of these may be moved as water circulates through the water cycle (dissolved rock mineral from the land to the sea, latent heat energy from the sun, toxic chemical pollution from factories)
How does plant and animal matter become fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas?
all of theses (It must be buried for millions of years, The plant and animal matter must be buried under layers of mud, silt, and dirt, It must be subjected to high heat and pressure.)
Pacific Equatorial Countercurrent
along the equator just west of South America
Where is new ocean floor being formed?
along the mid-ocean ridge
omnivore
an animal that eats both plants and animals
carnivore
an animal that eats mainly or exclusively meat
herbivore
an animal that eats only plants
ion
an atom or molecule with a positive or negative electric charge
consumer
an organism that eats other organisms
Where is the Ring of Fire, an area where lots of volcanoes and earthquakes occur, found?
around the edges of the Pacific Plate
How much did the sea level fall during the last ice age?
as much as 440 feet
Upon which layer of the earth do the plates rest and move?
asthenosphere
Scientists think that the convection currents, which may be responsible for the movement of plates, circulate through the
asthenosphere/mantle
Scientists think that the convection currents, which may be responsible for the movement of plates, circulate through the what?
asthenosphere/mantle
Which sphere is not correctly matched?
asthenosphere—all the molten rock inside the earth
Where are volcanoes most often found?
at plate boundaries
What directions do warm currents generally flow?
away from the equator
A potato piece placed in a 25% salt solution would most likely do which of the following?
lose more weight than sample F
What are some concerns with computer models?
many possible outcomes, inaccurate data, or measurements
autotrophs
means "self-feeders"
barometer
measures air pressure
psychrometer
measures humidity
thermometer
measures temperature
anemometer
measures wind speed
potential rise in sea level of 80 meters
melting of all ice caps
Coastline regions will have ___________________ because oceans do not heat too quickly in the summer and do not cool too quickly in the winter.
moderate temperature climates
bipolar or polarity
molecules with a positive charge on one side and negative on the other
Which fossil fuel produces the lowest amount of carbon dioxide when burned?
natural gas
What gas in our atmosphere is a key ingredient in fertilizers needed for plant growth?
nitorgen
The Haber process creates ammonia from what gas in the atmosphere?
nitrogen
What kind of organism converts nitrogen from the air into a form that can be used by plants?
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
A student wrote the following answer to this question: Question: How do the currents around Antarctica help keep it ice-covered? Answer: The currents around Antarctica help moderate the climate. Thus, the continent of Antarctica will have the most moderate climate of any of the continents, because it is totally surrounded by the Antarctic circumpolar current. Is he correct?
no
What is the largest reservoir of the hydrosphere?
oceans
decomposer
organisms, fungi, and bacteria
Which property describes the movement of water in and out of cells?
osmosis
Did water move into or out of the piece in saltwater?
out of
Which layer of the earth is not matched with its correct physical state?
outer core—solid
What gas in the atmosphere is used to form ozone?
oxygen
A large part of the stratosphere where the amount of ozone is very low is called the...
ozone hole
What does the unit ppm stand for?
parts per million
In the food chain phytoplankton --- zooplankton ----herring ---- pelican, which organism is not correctly matched with its level?
pelican ---decomposer level
The process that forms glucose from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is called what?
photosynthesis
What is the name of the process that plants use to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen?
photosynthesis
What is the process by which plants utilize sunlight to manufacture food molecules?
photosynthesis
What is the process where plants use carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose called?
photosynthesis
What process do plants use to make food molecules—like glucose—and thus store energy from the sun?
photosynthesis
The biological process that utilizes sunlight to manufacture food molecules is called ________ the process that utilizes chemical energy to manufacture food molecules is called _______________
photosynthesis; chemosynthesis
Define rifting.
places where two plates are splitting open.
Currently, scientists have discovered about thirteen earth-like worlds orbiting around nearby stars. Suppose we could measure the energy input and output of four such planets. (Measurements of this type are not yet possible, but assume the data below is accurate.) Based on this data, which of these planets has a stable temperature?
planet B
A student wrote the following answer to this question: Question: Sargassum is the seaweed that drifts with the currents. This region has large mats of this floating seaweed. Also, sailing ships avoided sailing in the Sargasso Sea. Why? Answer: In the middle of the gyre there are few currents. Sailing ships depended on currents to help them make it across the sea. Without currents there was a danger of the ship sitting for days and not moving forward. They would then face running out of water or food or both. Because there are few if any currents the mats of sea weed just sits there too. Is she correct?(Note: The Sargasso Sea is centered in the middle of the North Atlantic gyre at sixty degrees west longitude and thirty degrees north latitude. Notice the current patterns in this region.)
yes
In light of your answer to the previous question, did this region have enough water to meet its needs?
yes
Is it correct to say that about half of the sun's energy is absorbed by the land and oceans of the earth?
yes
Is it true that when you and I burn gasoline in a car engine, we are using sunlight energy that was stored long ago by animals and plants?
yes
Was the twelve-month total of all precipitation received greater than the amount used during the same period?
yes