Earth Science: Weathering, Erosion, Climate Change, and Biodiversity
- Earth is not quite as spherical as
a. the equatorial radius is a little larger than the polar radius.
2. Cryosphere includes:
o All forms of frozen water
3. Biosphere includes all of the following except:
o Atmosphere
4. Perihelion occurs in the Northern hemisphere (in January)
o Winter
· The seasons are caused by
o The tilt of the Earth’s axis
· On December 22nd the noon sun is directly overhead at
o 23.5° S
· The midnight sun or 24-hour daylight occurs on June 22nd
o North of the Arctic Circle
· The location
Read MoreRiver Processes and Landforms: A Comprehensive Guide
Rivers
Erosion
Corrosion: When sand and pebbles are dragged along the river bed, wearing it away.
Attrition: When rocks and stones wear each other away as they knock together, becoming smaller and more rounded.
Solution: Rocks such as limestone are dissolved in acidic water.
Hydraulic Action: Fast, flowing water forces into cracks, breaking up the bank over time.
Transportation
Solution: Where dissolved chemicals are carried along, invisible to the eye.
Suspension: When tiny particles are carried in the
Read MoreGlobal Warming and Soil Degradation: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect
What is Global Warming?
Global warming refers to the increase in Earth’s average temperature observed over the past 50 years, particularly since the 1980s. A key concern associated with global warming is the buildup of greenhouse gases.
The Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is a natural process where certain gases in the atmosphere, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), allow shortwave radiation from the sun to pass
Read MoreGlobal Warming and Soil Degradation: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect
What is Global Warming?
Global warming refers to the increase in Earth’s average temperature observed over the past 50 years, particularly since the 1980s. A key concern associated with global warming is the buildup of greenhouse gases.
The Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is a natural process where certain gases in the atmosphere, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), allow shortwave radiation from the sun to pass
Read MoreThe Impact of Dams and Reservoirs: Costs, Benefits, and Management Strategies
Result from Construction of Dams and Reservoirs
Increased Water Storage and Evaporation
Reservoirs, as artificial stores with larger surface areas than rivers, increase the amount of water stored on the surface. This leads to greater water loss through higher evaporation rates, resulting in more water vapor in the atmosphere. As this vapor rises, it cools and condenses into water droplets, potentially increasing precipitation.
Groundwater and Discharge
Seepage into groundwater increases base flow. Dams
Read MoreRocks and Minerals of the Spanish Landscape: A Geological Overview
ITEM 1: ROCKS AND MINERALS
1. Introduction
There are many naturally occurring inorganic substances of varying chemical composition and structure: minerals. These minerals are not usually found naturally in isolation. Minerals are usually formed in rocks. The simplest definition of a rock is: material that is composed of the Earth’s crust. One way to classify rocks, which is useful for its simplicity, is to address the processes that gave rise to them. So the source can be separated:
- Igneous: These