Topics: I. Plate Tectonics VI.  Watersheds

II. Soil Formation and Erosion

VII.  Solar Radiation and Earth’s Seasons

III.   Soil Composition and Properties

VIII. Earth’s Geography and Climate

IV.   Earth’s Atmosphere V.   Global Wind Patterns

IX.  El Niño and La Niña

Textbook: Chapters 5.1, 5.2, 11.2, 11.6, 12.3, 13.1, 19.1

Vocabulary  Climate Weather Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere Exosphere Albedo Tilt Saturation

point Adiabatic

heating/ cooling

Latent heat release

Atmospheric convection current

Insolation

Convection cells: Hadley, Polar, Ferrell

Coriolis effect Rain shadow Gyre Upwelling  Thermohaline

circulation ENSO 

(El Niño/ Southern Oscillation, La Niña)

Core/Mantle/Crust

Asthenosphere Lithosphere Magma Hot spot Plate tectonics

Subduction Plate boundaries Seafloor spreading Divergent/

convergent Transform fault Seismic activity Earthquake Epicenter Richter scale Rock cycle  Igneous/

Sedimentary/ Metamorphic

Physical/Chemical weathering

Acid precipitation  Rainshadow effect

Erosion Parent material Soil degradation Horizons:

O/A/E/B/C Water holding

capacity/retention

Porosity Permeability CEC (Cation

exchange capacity)

Soil texture triangle

Saltwater intrusion

Floodplain Watershed Watershed divide Intertropical

convergence zone

Unit FrameworkEnduring Understandings A variety of earth systems and resources support life. Geological changes along tectonic boundaries create geologic features and

seismic events. Soils are a resource that are both formed and eroded over time. The atmosphere is a resource with characteristic components. Climate is influenced by the sun’s energy, Earth’s geography, and the movement

of air and water.

Target Skills Interpret and analyze qualitative models and representations of environmental

issues.1

Describe global maps and maps of plate boundaries, then explain global changes that occur at these plate boundaries.

Interpret climatograms. Describe the impact of El Niño on marine food chains, and other specific

examples. Identify and describe environmental processes displayed visually. Explain the meaning of a diagram or infographic. Explain the consequences of a change in an environmental process

Unit at a GlanceTopic 4.1 – Plate Tectonics

Topic 4.2 – Soil Formation and Erosion

2

Topic 4.3 – Soil Composition and Properties

Topic 4.4 – Earth’s Atmosphere

3

Topic 4.5 – Global Wind Patterns

Topic 4.6 – Watersheds

4

Topic 4.7 – Solar Radiation and Earth’s Seasons

5

Topic 4.8 – Earth’s Geography and Climate

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Topic 4.9 – El Ni ñ o and La Ni ñ a

I. Geology & Plate Tectonics

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Geological Timeline – p. 305 of textbook

Earth’s Structure

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Magma vs lava _______________________________________________________________________

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____________________________________________________________________________________Convection __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Plate TectonicsThe scientist _____________________________ first came up with the theory of continental drift and plate tectonics in the early 1900s. Continental drift ______________________________________________________________________Plate tectonics _______________________________________________________________________What were the three pieces of evidence that this theory was built on? 1. 2.3. The supercontinent ___________________ began to break up __________________________ . 

True/False: Was this new theory widely supported by most scientists?The modern theory of plate tectonics provides us with a framework for understanding what?

How many tectonic plates make up the earth’s surface? _______

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Type of Boundary Describe and give a real-life example Draw a picture

1. 

2. 

3. 

4.

Write the following terms under the type of plate boundary it relates to:

Earthquakes (usually)

Himalayas Island arcs Mid-Atlantic Ridge Mid-ocean ridge

Mountain ranges Rift San Andreas Fault Seafloor spreading Subduction zone

Slip-strike Tsunamis Volcanoes (usually)

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Hotspots – holes in the tectonic plate – explain formation of Hawaiian Islands and gradual deaths of their volcanoes“Ring of Fire” Mapping 

ATION 5: Types of RocksIgneo

usSediment

aryMetamorp

hic

Formation

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Pangaea Puzzle

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The Rock Cycle

II. Soil Formation and Erosion

Weathering1.                                                               --Mechanical breakdown of

rocks and mineralsAbiotic causes:

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Biotic causes: Increases Surface Area, leads to…

2.                                                            --Change in chemical composition of mineral compounds:

carbonation, hydrolysis, oxidation

 

Anthropogenic chemical weathering

Acid rain effects1.

2.

3. 

4.

Soil Development _________________________: Physical breakdown of rocks and primary materials

(newly exposed minerals) provide _______________________ _________________________: Deposition of ___________________ _____________________ 

from dead organisms and their waste ___________________________________ has more organic material and more nutrients BUT very old soils may be _________________________ due to plants and water

leaching nutrients

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Important biome differences:

Forests  

Grassland

Rainforest

Desert

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Reading World on the Edge: Chapter 3—Eroding Soils and Expanding Deserts  http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/wotebook.pdfWhy does Lester Brown call topsoil the “foundation of civilization”?

Why is soil erosion the “silent global crisis”?

Briefly explain how desertification occurs and dust bowls are formed (see p. 37).

List three regions or countries affected by soil degradation and desertification and give 2 pieces of data that support the claim. 1.

2. 

3. 

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III. Soil Composition and Properties

Properties of Soils are determined by: 1. Quartz Nutrient-poor (Atlantic coast)

Calcium carbonate high calcium, high pH, high agricultural productivity

2. Too cold: Much undecomposed organic material Humid tropics: Rapid weathering, leaching of

nutrients, decomposition of organic detritus3. Slope and arrangement of landscape

Amount of erosion, depth of soil4. Plants: Nutrient removal, excretion of acids

Animals: Tunneling and burrowing (earthworms, gophers, voles)

All organisms: Cycling of nutrients (fungi, bacteria) Humans

5. Young vs. mature soils (see above)

Anthropogenic Soil Degradation  

 

 

Draw a Positive Feedback cycle of the above processes:

Agriculture  

Pesticides

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Physical Properties Chemical Properties

2. 

____________ > ____________ > ____________

Why are many landfills lined with clay? 

What is one factor that makes groundwater especially susceptible to toxic contamination? 

2.

What is the best agricultural soil?Why? 

Biological Properties  

 

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Using the soil texture chart above, determine soil textures using the percentages given below.

% Sand

% Silt

% Clay

Texture Name

75 10 15 Sandy loam10 83 720 20 70

20

42 3752 2135 50

64 3050 4036 Clay loam

Silty clayLoamy sand

Silt loamIV. Earth’s Atmosphere

The earth’s life-support system consists of four interacting systems:

Importance of the Atmosphere: 

Atmospheric PressureWe live at the bottom of an “___________________________________” Just as water pressure is caused by the weight of water...

____________________________________ is caused by the ______________________________

___________________________________ from surface to the top of the atmosphere

 Change with altitude:

Composition of the Atmosphere

Permanent gases:_____________________    78%_____________________    21%

Other permanent gases: _____________________    0.9%

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_____________________    0.002% Helium               0.0005% Krypton              0.0001%     Hydrogen             0.00005%

Layers of the Atmosphere:Arranged according to _______________________________The _________________ in the layers are the transition zones between temperature changes 

Almost all weather occurs in the _______________________________.

Planes fly in the ____________________________________________ .

The (helpful) ozone layer is in the _____________________________. 

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Glowing gases known as auroras occur in the _________________________________.

The Storm May Take Everything

Why does the temperature change from layer to layer?

Shift in Temperatures Reason

Increase in Thermosphere

Decrease to Mesopause

Increase to Stratopause

Decrease to Tropopause

V. Global Wind Patterns

Video: “Global Atmospheric Circulation” (2:24) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye45DGkqUkE

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Video: “Coriolis Effect” (2:55) http://video.pbs.org/video/2365036901/  What is the Coriolis Effect? Draw it!

VI. Watersheds

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http://www.discoverwater.org/explore-watersheds/

Characteristics of watersheds:1. 

Will affect volume of water that can be generated from rainfall2.  

Principal Flowpath3.  

Will affect momentum of runoff, erosion potential, and local winds4.  

5.   

Adds organic matter to the soil Tree litter protects the soil’s surface  Roots prevent erosion

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Canopy keeps water cool to prevent thermal pollution Canopy reduces the force of the rain and wind velocity  Plant cover provides food and protection for organisms ______________________--buffers waters from runoff (sediments,

chemicals, nutrients) 6. 

Peaks and ridgelines with line connecting highest points 

Barren fields, compact soil, less infiltration. Fewer streams

Application of fertilizers and manure changes structure

Natural water flow pattern greatly altered; high runoff, vulnerable to flooding

Fixed land use—precipitation changes all that matter

Steep gradient, less porous soil (more rocky)

Less infiltration, high runoff 

Downstream areas vulnerable to flooding

Evapotranspiration dominant

High infiltration, little runoff

Sandy, porous soil Little rainfall, no stream

development Limited groundwater

recharge

High rainfall No channel control,

local flooding, high water table

Saltwater intrusion

Water is not a limiting factor

High rainfall, high runoff Dominant evaporation

What effects can dams have on watersheds?

What makes floodplains popular areas for human settlement?

What factors need to be considered when building housing on a waterway?

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Video: Water: The Source of Life (8:42) https://ed.ted.com/featured/FJ4ywGH8#watchTrack the water from the source to the sink.Location 1Source: The frejelón plant is an __________________ species, found

nowhere else on earth. (look up this ecological term—not in video)What service does the frejelón provide in the Andes?

What service does the moss provide?

Location 2Midway along the journey:

What is added to the water as it runs through agricultural areas?

Location 3Final destination: 

Who relies on clean water in a city?

What is a water fund, and which nonprofit is working on it in Bogotá?

Why should the city of Bogotá pay for conservation efforts in the Páramos?

What has the Avellanada family agreed to do, and why? 

What do you think about “water funds”? Would they work in the US? Why or why not? 

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VII. Solar Radiation and Earth’s Seasons

How many ways does the earth move? _______________

Factors that affect the amount of solar energy at the surface of the earth (directly correlated with plant productivity)

What causes seasons?  ____________________ (period of greatest solar radiation) occurs in the Northern

Hemisphere when it is ______________________________________________________ Sun rises _______________ and stays above the horizon _______________, rays

strike ground ______________________________ (less of an angle) –the opposite of this is when ______________ occurs

Earth is actually closest to sun in ________________ (Jan. perihelion) not summer (July aphelion)

Seasons are NOT caused by _______________________________________________________ !

Video: Bill Nye Explains Seasons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUU7IyfR34o 

1. Seasons are caused by 28

2. Temperatures being colder at the poles, warmer at the equator caused by

Weather (copy the definition in red)

 Examples of short-term atmospheric conditions: 

Climate (Copy the definition in red)

VIII. Earth’s Geography and Climate

Earth’s Climate Zones: Color and label

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Climate patterns determined by: 1. 

2. 

3.  

Convection Cells (Hadley, Ferrel, Polar) and Biomes

Draw and label a rain shadow effect.

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IX. El Niño and La Niña

___________________ : Large-scale water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the Southern. 

___________________________: upward movement of ocean water causes mixing, bringing cool and nutrient-rich water from the bottom of the ocean to the surface 

The warm water supports large populations of phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, fish-eating seabirds 

Upwellings occur when: 

Downwelling: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What happens in an El Niño?

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Possible Effects of El Niño:

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La Niña:

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Possible Activities Ecocolumns – analyze data Claims and the scientific method Revisit intro activities – can you see the cow?, Spoons, Cuffs, Count to 6 Study skills The Bubble Lab Walk for Water activity Soil Lab Insolation Lab Haboobs: https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/local/weather/other/monster-haboob-

sweeps-through-arizona/2018/07/10/bcab1698-846b-11e8-9e06-4db52ac42e05_video.html and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vQMuwRjI6s

Dust Bowl: https://www.pbs.org/video/dust-bowl-environmental-catastrophe/ Harvard students and seasons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0wk4qG2mIg Reasons for the seasons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD_8Jm5pTLk Insolation and seasons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgq0LThW7QA Tsunamis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWzdgBNfhQU Earthquakes: https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/00000144-0a2b-d3cb-a96c-

7b2fe2930000 and https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/101-videos/00000144-0a2d-d3cb-a96c-7b2d6cd80000

Math in APES Dimensional analysis Scientific notation Table/graph interpretation Soil texture triangle

Textbook Reading QuestionsTopic 4.1 – Plate Tectonics – p.305-307, 323-3281. Note during which eras the five mass extinctions took place.2. In which era and period are we currently in?3. Identify and describe the core, mantle, asthenosphere, crust, mantle, and

lithosphere of the globe.4. What element is the core mostly comprised of?5. Figure 11.3 – explain how convection works.6. What is the difference between magma and lava?7. Differentiate between igneous/sedimentary/metamorphic rock, and explain how

each is form.8. Give examples of igneous/sedimentary/metamorphic rock.

Topic 4.2 – Soil Formation and Erosion – p.70-72, 308-309. 348-3501. What is soil? How thick is the portion of soil which supports life?2. How quickly does soil replenish?3. Plant cover keep soil in place. Think about it – what part of the plant anchors the

soil in place?4. Describe the process by which bedrock becomes soil.5. Describe and differentiate between physical and chemical weathering of rock.6. Describe biological weathering of rock. (It’s not specifically labeled as such, but

you should recognize it as it is.)7. What is humus?

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8. Figure 11.6 - Describe soil in the 5 main types of biomes. Note that the acidic soil in coniferous forests are a result of allelopathy, a form of self-protection in which the trees produce acidic leaves that both protect them from being eaten and make the surrounding soil too acidic for most other plants to grow in.

9. Identify the major soil horizons. Note that we will include Horizon E between Horizon A and Horizon B. See the in-class lecture notes on soil horizons associated with this topic.

10.What is the fertile uppermost layer of soil called?11.What is soil erosion? In general, how does it happen?12.What are the three types of flowing water that cause soil erosion? Define each,

and differentiate between them. 13.What keeps soil protected from water and wind erosion?14.It’s not specifically stated in the text, but how does loss of soil fertility lead to

erosion?

Topic 4.3 – Soil Composition and Properties - p.310-3111. More-fully describe and explain the function of the soil horizons (O,A,B,C).2. What can the color of soil tell you about of about the quality of the soil?3. What are the three particles that comprise soil? Be able to rank them in size

against each other.4. Explain how clay is important to nutrient retention. Which two nutrient ions are

cited as being retained by clay? How does the clay retain the nutrients?5. Differentiate between infiltration and retention.6. Differentiate between soil porosity and permeability, and apply those terms to

the three particles of soil.7. What can the feel of soil tell you about its composition?

Topic 4.4 – Earth’s Atmosphere – p.601-6021. Name the layers of the atmosphere. Be able to put them in the appropriate

order by altitude.2. Generally describe the temperature changes in the layers of the atmosphere as

you go from the surface of the earth into space.3. What happens to the density of air as you go from the surface of earth into

space?4. Memorize the composition of air in the troposphere, including percentages,

names of elements/compounds, and formulas of elements/compounds.5. In which layer of the atmosphere are greenhouse gases found? Name (both

names and formulas) the four given in the text.6. In which layer of the atmosphere does natural ozone occur? Write the chemical

reaction for the formation of ozone.7. What wavelength of light does ozone protect us from?8. NOTE THAT GREENHOUSE GASES AND OZONE OCCUR IN TWO DIFFERENT

PLACES OF THE ATMOSPHERE. THEREFORE CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE HOLE IN THE OZONE LAYER ARE LARGELY UNRELATED.

Topic 4.5 – Global Wind Patterns – p.125-1271. Define convection and convection cells.2. How does convection drive precipitation?3. Define Coriolis effect.4. Identify where Hadley cells are located. Via in-class lectures, identify where

Ferrel and Polar cells are located.

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5. Locate trade winds (northeast and southeast) and westerlies on a globe. Be able to draw them correctly. Note that there is no air movement at the equator (called the doldroms).

Topic 4.6 –Watersheds – p.3831. Define a watershed.2. We have already covered watersheds, and most of what you need to know will

be covered in class.

Topic 4.7-4.8 – Solar Radiation and Earth’s Seasons, Earth’s Geography and Climate – p.125-1271. Differentiate between climate and weather.2. What are the two main factors that account for the variations in global climate?3. What are the five main factors that help to determine regional climates?4. Define latitude.5. Define insolation, and explain how it determines average temperatures in

tropical and polar regions of the globe.6. What factor determines the seasons?7. Figure 5.10 – What is the tilt of the Earth’s axis in degrees? If the Northern

Hemisphere seasons are given, what must the corresponding seasons be in the Southern Hemisphere

8. Align the six air convection cells with the general location of biomes. Understand how the temperature and moisture content of the cells explain why certain biomes are located in certain places.

9. At what latitude are hot deserts found in both hemispheres?

Topic 4.9 – El Niño and La Niña – p.122-123, 1271. What does ENSO stand for?2. Describe normal winter weather patterns, wind movement, and upwelling

occurrence. Include wind direction, which ocean this all occurs in, rain patterns, temperature patterns, etc.

3. How often does an ENSO occur?4. How does ENSO impact global temperatures?5. How does ENSO impact the weather patterns described in Question 2 of this

topic?6. How does La Niña impact the weather patterns described in Question 2 of this

topic?7. Differentiate between tornadoes and cyclones.8. Where are tornadoes most common in the United States?9. What is a gyre?

Potential FRQsSome questions may be used in class for practice. Also note that questions are starting to become synthesis – information from previous units may be utilized in the questions. I reserve the right to change numbers (but not what is being asked) in questions involving math.Content 2017 released question #3b 2016 released question #4a-b 2014 released question #3 Textbook free response question on p.149 – 1c

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