Earth Systems Test Review – Flashcards

The atmosphere is divided into spherical layers based upon the: A. density of each layer. B. concentration of ozone in each layer. C. temperature changes from variations in absorption of solar energy. D. concentration of oxygen in each layer. E. precipitation in each layer.

Which of the following contributes to the unequal warming of Earth? I. Variation in the angle of sunlight that reaches Earth II. Variation in the amount of surface area over which the Sun's rays are distributed III. Variation in the amount of sunlight reflected from clouds A. I B. I and II C. II and III D. III only E. I, II, III

Which of the following is NOT true of an El-Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event? A. It causes increased upwelling on the coast of South America B. It causes wetter conditions in the southern United States C. It can last from several weeks to several years D. It includes a reversal in tropical ocean currents E. It often begins near Christmas

Which statement best explains why polar regions are colder than tropical regions? A. Polar regions have lower albedo values B. Polar regions receive less solar energy per unit of surface area C. Tropical regions receive less direct sunlight throughout the year D. Sunlight travels through more atmosphere and loses more energy in tropical regions E. Tropical regions rotate at a faster speed than polar regions

The current geologic era is called the A. Eocene B. Cenozoic C. Cambrian D. Neozoic E. Quaternary

Which of the following elements constitutes the highest percentage of mass in Earth's crust? (AP) A. Oxygen B. Nitrogen C. Aluminum D. Potassium E. Carbon

High rates of species extinction caused by human activities have taken place at which of the following times in Earth's history? (AP) I. At the end of the Permian Period II. At the end of the Cretaceous period III. During recent times A. I only B. II only C. III only D. I and II only E. I, II and III

The place on a fault where an earthquake begins is called the: A. magnitude B. seismograph C. epicenter D. focus E. strongest point on a fault

Sedimentary rocks: A. form when organic debris or rock fragments are cemented together B. solidify from molten lava C. include sandstone and granite D. are the most abundant kind of rock on the earth's surface E. are the product of lithification

What is an important role of ozone? A. It plays an important role in the greenhouse effect B. It reflections solar gamma radiation that would otherwise reach Earth's surface C. It acts as an insulator for the earth and helps to maintain a livable temperature D. It absorbs incoming UV rays E. It reflections incoming heat back into space

The region of the atmosphere that is involved with the biogeochemical cycling of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, sulfur and water and is the site and source of our weather is the A. Troposphere B. Thermosphere C. Stratosphere D. Mesosphere E. Tropopause

The upper layer of the atmosphere that contains the ozone layer is the A. troposphere B. thermosphere C. stratosphere D. mesosphere E. tropopause

The most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere is (AP) A. Nitrogen B. Oxygen C. Water Vapor D. Carbon Dioxide E. Hydrogen

The primary cause of Earth's seasons is the (AP) A. constant tilt of Earth's rotational axis with respect to the plane of its orbit around the Sun B. changing distance of Earth from the Sun at different C. periodic wobbling of Earth on its axis of rotation D. changing relative positions of Earth, its Moon and Sun E. periodic changes in solar energy output

What is the general location of the Pacific Plate? A. In the S. Atlantic Ocean between S. America and Africa B. Off the West coast of N. America C. In the N. Pacific Ocean off the coast of Asia D. In the S. American Land Mass Near the Coast of Brazil E. The is not a Pacific Plate

The San Andreas Fault is consider to be a(n)- A. Divergent plate B. Convergent plate C. Transform plate D. Both Divergent and Convergent plate E Unstable plate

El Nino, a periodic warming of ocean surface waters, occurs in which of the following regions? (AP) A. Tropical East Pacific B. Gulf of Mexico C. Arctic North Pacific D. Temperate West Atlantic E. Tropical Indian Ocean

Which term refers to the ridged layer of Earth that is about 100 km thick and generally less dense than the material below it? A. Transform boundary B. Asthenosphere C. Lithosphere D. Mantel E. Pangea

A type of rock that forms when particles from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are compacted and cemented together. A. Sedimentary Rock B Metamorphic Rock C. Igneous Rock D. Magma E. Volcanic Rock

Chemical or physical process that breaks down rocks into smaller pieces. A. Erosion B. Deposition C. Sediments D. Weathering E. Cementation

The troposphere is A. the bottom layer in the atmosphere - where we live, breathe . It is also where all the weather occurs. B. where the ozone is located. C. where meteors burn. D. composed mostly of water vapor and oxygen atoms. E. absorbs UV radiation.

Which of the following best describes the Cenozoic Era? A. It was the last era before Pangaea split. B. It began with the emergence of complex life forms and ended with the largest mass extinction the Earth has ever experienced. C. Sharks and amphibians are abundant and the first reptiles appeared. D. The first placental mammals appeared and modern man occurred during this era. E. During this early era fossils were extremely rare.

Lithification is A. the movement of material from one place and its transport to another B. the movement of material cross the earth's surface by water, wind, ice, or gravity C. the downslope movement of soil and rock due to gravity D. the formation of rock through the processes of compaction, binding, and crystallization E. where tectonic plates grind and slip past one another

A subduction zone can be described as A. area when the earth's lithospheric plate move apart in opposite directions. B. an area in which oceanic lithosphere is carried downward under an island arc or continent at a convergent plate boundary. C. an area where the earth's lithospheric plates move in opposite but parallel directions along a fracture (fault) in the lithosphere. D. an area in which fault form due to fractures in the Earth's crust. E. an area in which internal forces pushes two plates together.

The jet stream is located in the- A. stratosphere B. mesosphere C. ionosphere D. thermosphere E. troposphere

Why do polar regions receive less solar energy than equatorial regions? A. The Earth's curvature allows for more intense sunlight at equatorial regions because it travels a shorter distance though the atmosphere. B. The polar ice caps reflect solar energy away from polar regions. C. There are more land masses in equatorial regions that absorb more solar energy than the poles. D. The poles experience a higher angle of incoming sunlight. E. All of the above.

The tilt of the Earth is responsible for A. weather systems to form over equatorial regions. B. Coriolis effect. C. season. D. prevailing winds. E. convective circulation of warm and cold air.

La Nina is associated with A. tropical storms systems in the Indian and the western Pacific oceans. B. cooler and normal sea-surface temperatures in central and eastern tropical Pacific ocean areas. C. warmer conditions on the east coast of Americas that create a warmer and rainier climate. D convection cells in which the Atlantic ocean experiences cooler temperatures. E. giant, rotating tropical storms with strong winds in the Pacific Ocean.

Which of the following factors determine global air circulation patterns? A. uneven heating of the Earth's surface B. seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation C. the rotation of the Earth on its axis D. the properties of air, water and land E. All of the above

What causes Earth's seasons? A. The ability of the Earth's surface to reflect light. B. Global weather patterns based on the movement of ocean currents. C. The 23.5 degree tilt and revolution of the Earth around the sun. D. The convergence of tradewinds at the equator. E. Weather patterns that are driven by the jet stream.

How often do El Nino conditions occur? A. Every 1 to 3 years B. Every other year C. Every 2 to 8 years D. Every 6 to 10 years E. El Nino is unpredictable.

Which of the following are impact of El Nino? A. Currents in the tropical Pacific Ocean reverse in direction. B. Trade winds near S. America weaken C. Warmer waters off the coast of Peru that interrupt the anchovy fisheries. D. Rainstorms and floods in southern California. E. All of the above.

The Earth is estimated to be approximately A. 4.6 million years old B. 6 million years old C. 4.6 billion years old D. 6 billion years old E. It is impossible to estimate the age of the Earth due to its ever changing surface.

A warm ocean current that affects the climate of the East Coast of the United States and the west coast of Europe that is typically 62 miles wide driven primarily by wind stress is called the - A. Jet Stream. B. North Atlantic Drift. C. Canary Current. D. Antilles Current. E. Gulf Stream.