Key Concepts in Geomorphology and Soil Formation
1. Vocabulary:
- Marine Transgression: The advance of the sea over a territory not previously occupied by it, caused by coastal subsidence or rising sea level. The transgression is accompanied by the deposition of marine sediments over that territory.
- Evapotranspiration: The loss of moisture from the Earth’s surface due to the sun, plant transpiration, and soil evaporation.
- Leaching: The process of rainwater carrying soluble materials from the soil’s surface horizons to deeper horizons. It is stronger
Understanding Plant Species and Ecosystems
Cork Oak
The cork oak (Quercus suber) is a tree characteristic of the Mediterranean area, covered by a thick crust, which produces cork. The leaves are persistent, remaining on the tree between 12 and 22 months. The fruit is an acorn, which matures in autumn and winter. It thrives on siliceous, loose, and permeable land. It needs bright light and holds heat well but does not thrive in excessively dry climates. The acorn is used as feed for pigs, but the most important product is the cork.
Dryness
Dryness
Read MoreRenewable Resources, Pollution, and Sustainable Development
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
Renewable resources can be replaced at the same rate they are consumed. However, some may cease to exist if they are overused, like animal or plant species, which, once extinguished, do not recover. Non-renewable resources require a long and complex formation process. Once exhausted, they are gone forever. This is the case with geological resources (minerals and fossil fuels).
Biomass Energy in Corn Crops
In a pilot plant with corn crops, biomass energy could be
Read MoreHealth and Safety: Diseases, Natural Disasters, and Self-Esteem
Epidemic, Endemic, and Pandemic Diseases
An epidemic disease crosses borders, extending into several countries and affecting continents, e.g., AIDS. An endemic disease persists for a long time in a specific location, e.g., Chagas’ disease. An epidemic is a sudden appearance of a disease that attacks a large number of individuals in a particular area, e.g., the dengue outbreak in 1989.
Malaria
Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium, a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium Life Cycle
The Plasmodium
Read MoreMineralogy: Properties, Bonds, and Crystallography
Minerals
A mineral is an inorganic compound in its natural state and must comply with four conditions:
- It must be an inorganic, natural substance.
- Its composition must be represented by a chemical formula.
- It must have a defined internal structure.
- Its physical properties must be determined and governed by its composition and texture.
Ionic and Covalent Bonds
- Ionic bonds are formed through an electrostatic force that binds ions in an ionic compound.
- Covalent bonds are formed when two electrons are shared
Landforms and Coastal Features: A Comprehensive Overview
Morphostructural Units
Morphostructural units are the shape and internal arrangement adopted by the relief.
Erosion, Orogeny, and Sedimentation
Erosion is the wearing of relief by some agents that can be erosive, climatic, or atmospheric, and biological agents.
Orogeny is the process of creating mountains.
Sedimentation is the deposit on the Earth’s crust of material from the disintegration of rocks or substances in solution.
Rock Types and Geological Processes
Marl is a sedimentary rock composed mainly
Read More