Introductory Concepts and Earth Science - AP Environmental Science

The correct response is soil. Soil is a mix of sand, clay, pebbles, and silt. It is the foundation of all our ecosystems.

The correct response is cohesion. This property measures how well a soil clumps together or breaks apart.

The correct response is permeability. This measure how quickly water can move through any substance - including soil.

Climate may impact the population dynamics of a keystone species, but not the other way around.

The correct response is era because it represents longer periods of time on the geological time scale. The answer choicest from longest to shortest are as follows: Era > Period > Epoch > Age.

The correct response is La Nina. The La Nina has low air pressure and cooling, while El Nino contains high air pressure and warming. Madden-Julian oscillation and Coriolis effect do not make sense as answer choices.

This type of volcano is called a cinder cone volcano. Unlike a composite volcano or a shield volcano, a cinder cone volcano is characterized by a missing chunk near the top. This crater is a result of violent explosions followed by the falling of large quantities of debris and ash.

Events that occur infrequently but potentially carry large consequences are classified as a low risk events. An earthquake along the eastern shoreboard of the North American Continent would fall into this classification. "Very high risk" is not a risk classification.

A convergent plate boundary forms when two tectonic plates (large plates that make up the Earth's surface) move towards each other. When they meet, the higher density plate goes underneath (subducting) under the other. This is the type of plate boundary happening along the west coast of the United States. Divergent plate boundaries occur when two tectonic plates move apart. This process, over millions of years, can form ocean basins. As the divergent plate boundaries continue to move apart, new rock is formed between them. This type of plate boundary is taking place in the center of all modern ocean basins. Transform plate boundaries form when two tectonic plates slide against each other. This is occurring in California at the San Andreas Fault. Strike-slip faults are structures that form along transform plate boundaries.

Along convergent plate boundaries, friction from the subducting plate causes earthquakes. These quakes form deep within the Earth and can cause significant damage to the Earth's surface and human developments upon it. An example of a convergent boundary that causes frequent earthquakes is the west coast of the United States. While tornados, tropical storms, and tsunamis created by mass wasting are all natural disasters; they are typically not the result of plate tectonics.

The correct response is lithosphere . The lithosphere is comprised of parts of the crust and upper mantle.

The correct response is seismic waves . Geologists can identify the magnitude of an earthquake using a seismograph that measure seismic wave activity.

The correct response is dormant. The term dormant volcano refers to any volcano that has never been known to erupt. An active volcano is currently erupting or has been known to erupt in the past. An extinct volcano will never erupt again.

The correct response is s ubduction volcano. This type of volcano is formed when plates collide and slide under each other. A rift volcano is formed when plates move away from each other. The other three answer choices describe volcanic activity which was never mentioned in the question.

Both the Hawaiian and the Galapagos islands are formed by 'hot spots' in the Earth's mantle. As the tectonic plate passes over these hot spots, some mantle pushes through to form a volcano beneath the ocean, which gradually builds itself tall enough to become an island. When the plate moves away from the hot spot, the process starts over, and another island forms.

Contrary to what many people think, the seasons are caused by the amount of light that the surface of each hemisphere of Earth receives during different parts the year. Because of the tilt of the Earth's axis and its rotation, certain months of the year result in more direct sunlight, but not necessarily because they are closer to the sun. The Northern hemisphere receives less sunlight during some months when the Earth's axis is tilted away from the sun; the resulting season is winter. Each ray of sunlight is spread out over more distance at the poles, whereas the warmest areas (at the equator) get the most direct sunlight. When Earth's axis is pointed towards the sun, the resulting season is summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

The correct response is **tilt of the Earth.**The Earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees. This tilt allows seasonal differences to exist on the Earth since each region is pointing towards the Sun at different angles throughout the year.

Unlike the other processes, driving a hybrid vehicle does not actively remove carbon from the atmosphere. Trees and native flora that are planted absorb atmospheric carbon, fossilization removes carbon from the active recycling of carbon, and carbon dioxide readily dissolves in seawater. Driving a hybrid car releases less carbon into the atmosphere than driving one powered solely by fossil fuels; however, driving a hybrid vehicle does not actively remove carbon from the atmosphere. Hybrid vehicles produce fewer carbon emissions, but they do not take carbon out of the atmosphere.

All of the products are exchanged except for nitrogen dioxide; most nitrates are exchanged between the soil and the atmosphere. Oxygen is readily exchanged between air masses and water masses during the water cycle. Carbon dioxide is also absorbed by the oceans from air masses through gas exchange. Lastly, heat is also exchanged mainly due to the differences in specific heat content of water and the surrounding air.