Download CH 6 HW 11

APES / IBESS
NAME:____________________________Block: ___
Raven & Berg HW Ch. 6
I. Biogeochemical cycles (natural processes,
importance of bacteria & human impact)
A. Gaseous cycles
1. Carbon cycle
a. natural processes
b. human impact and G.W.
2. Nitrogen cycle
a. natural processes and the
role of bacteria
1) nitrogen fixation
2) nitrification
3) assimilation
4) ammonification
KEY TERMS
Gaia hypothesis
negative feedback
positive feedback
biogeochemical cycles
carbon cycle
nitrogen cycle
nitrogen fixation
nodules
nitrification
assimilation
ammonification
5) denitrification
b. human impact
3. Sulfur cycle
4. Hydrologic (water) cycle
5. Phosphorus cycle
6. Rock Cycle
II. Role of solar energy in global
ecosystems and events
A. Earth surface temperatures
1. Latitude
2. Season
B. Wind and water flow patterns
1. Structure of the atmosphere
denitrification
nitrogen oxides
phosphorus cycle
sulfur cycle
hydrologic cycle
estuaries
runoff
watershed
groundwater
albedo
troposphere
stratosphere
mesosphere
thermosphere
exosphere
winds
Coriolis effect
prevailing winds
polar easterlies
westerlies
trade winds
currents
2. Atmospheric flow and wind patterns
3. Global ocean currents
C. Ocean and atmospheric interactions
1. ENSO
2. La Niña
D. Weather vs. climate
1. Precipitation and regional differences
2. Tornadoes vs. tropical cyclones
III. Plate tectonics and environmental impact
A. Earthquakes
B. Volcanic eruptions
gyres
upwells
weather
climate
rain shadow
tornado
tropical cyclones
plate tectonics
plate boundary
subduction
magma
lava
hot spot
seismic waves
faults
focus
epicenter
El Niño—Southern
Oscillation (ENSO)
KEY QUESTIONS
1. Why might industrial polluters suppose that the Gaia Hypothesis gives them permission to pollute the air, water and soil
indefinitely?
2. What is a biogeochemical cycle? Why is the cycling of matter essential to the continuance of life?
3. List and briefly explain three ways in which human activities are impacting the carbon cycle.
4. Describe how organisms participate in each of these biogeochemical cycles: C, N, S, H 2O, K & Rock
5. Describe the importance of albedo for the earth’s global climate.
6. Briefly discuss the role of the Earth's rotation and inclination on its axis on global temperature variations (altitude and latitude).
7. Describe the special characteristics for each layer of the atmosphere.
8. Compare and contrast tornadoes and tropical cyclones.
9. Distinguish between weather and climate. What are the 2 most important climate factors?
10. Define "rain shadow" and explain why deserts form in the rain shadows of mountains.
11. Compare and contrast low and high pressure systems. What weather is associated with each system?
12. Compare and contrast the 4 types of frontal boundaries. (Warm, Cold, Stationary, Occluded)
13. How do ocean currents affect climate on land?
14. What is the ocean conveyor belt? Why is it important to global climate?
15. What is an ENSO event? What effects does an ENSO event have on the global environment, and how does it manage to have
such far reaching impacts?
16. Discuss the effect of wind patterns, water density, and the position of land masses on ocean water circulation. What role, if any,
does the Coriolis effect have in determining ocean circulation patterns?
17. Compare and contrast the major plate boundaries and describe the mechanism that drives plate tectonics.
18. Briefly explain why earthquakes and volcanoes occur with high frequency at crustal plate boundaries.