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Geography Ch 8-14

Terms

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cindar cone
smallest volcano; produces little lava and consists largely of pyroclasts (mexican cornfield)
extrusive
molten material that solidify at the surface and are fine crystals (rapid cooling)
entropy
energy lost as heat as you move up the food chain
primary succession
succession where no soil or seedbed exists;barren substrate is the beginning point
yellow/red soil
iron-rich soil
composite cone
volcano with a mixture of lava flows and pyroclastic material (most famous...St Helens, Vesuvius)
tectonic processes
processes that add material, displace and deform the lithosphere
Calcification
occurs in dry climates where evaportranspiration exceeds precipitation. Alkali Dusts (Caliche) Grasslands (Abundant Humus) Not Leached Out
leaching
process by which gravitational water moves nutrients deeper into the soil
bedrock.
solid rock that underlies the surface material
heterotroph
can not make its own food
slope aspect
the direction a mountain slope faces in respect to the sun's rays
genetic classification
classification based on the causes of climate variation
desert
arid-precip less than half ET
ocean ridge
formed when plates diverge in the ocean
Laterization
soil-forming process that occurs in humid, tropical and subtropical climates. • Little to no humus (high rate of decay) • A- horizon leached out except Fe and Al. • Topsoil is reddish, coarse and porous. • The B- horizon has a heavy concentration of illuviated materials
hot spots
static sources under moving plates
tropical rainforest
humid tropical- steady precipitation, no month less than 6 cm precip.; small temperature variation
decomposers
4th componant of ecosystem;breaks down decaying matter
patches
gaps in the matrix
corridor
linear features cutting across the mosaic
eluviation
removal of soil particles from the topsoil
regolith
layer of weathered rock above the bedrock
asthenosphere
2nd layer of earth
zones of transition
areas where different regions meet
igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
3 types of rocks
productivity
rate at which new organic material is created
mosaic
term used to describe landscape of various, interlocking parts
divergent, convergent, transform faults
3 types of plate boundaries
Thornthwaite classification system
classification system used mainly in smaller regions (midwest US) based on moisture in soil
batholith
large pluton
porosity
how much space in a soil that can contain water
niche
combination of role and habitat
caldera
when the summit of a volcano collapses into its empty magma chamber, producing a vast crater
permeability
rate at which fluids pass through the soil
autotroph
makes its own food
obliquity cycle
orbital change- affects the tilt of the earth's axis
nekton
swimming animals such as fish, squid, and swimming mammals
biomes
earth's major terrestrial ecosystems
ecosystem
community of organisms functioning together in an interdependent relationship with the environment they occupy
hardpan
clay formation when illuviation causes subsoil to become dense and compact
tolerance
range of conditions that a plant can survive under
empirical classification
classification based on statistical parameters or physical characteristics
climograph
a display of a location's climate (average monthly temperature and precipitation)
abiotic
non-living
uniformitarianism
(catastropism counter) idea that internal and external processes of earth's surface are operating today in the same manner as they have for millions of years
plug dome
volcano where lava fills the cone; vents get stuck; cleared by an explosion
intrusive
molten material that solidify below the surface and are coarse crystals (cool slowly)
ocean-continent
convergent boundary (continental mountains)
horizon
zone or distinct layer exhibited by well-developed soil distinguished by their different physical and chemical properties
orbital changes
eccentricity, obliquity, and precession
stock
small pluton
continent-continent
convergent boundary (high mountains)
orographic effects
effect that mountains have on a climate
marine west coast
humid mesothermal-influenced by westerlies; mild to cool summers
light gray soil
soil where the humus has been leached out leaving silicon and aluminum
mediterranean
humid mesothermal- high pressure in summer;westerlies cause mild, moist winters
humus
decayed remains of plant and animal material, partially transformed by bacterial action,
pyroclasts
solidified ash to block-sized fragments ejected from volcanoes by gas explosion
respiration
major form of oxidation; combination of oxygen with chemical compounds in living cells
trophic structure
pattern of eating in an ecosystem
Podzolization
occurs in its purest form in the high middle latitudes - moist, cool summers - long, severe winters. • Associated with coniferous forests. • Abundant Humus • Acidic (Iron and Aluminum Leached out) • Local example: Pine Barrens (NJ
magma
molten rock below the surface
organic
sedimentary rocks that are a product of bioaccumulation
humid continental-mild summer
humid microthermal-coldest month below 0; mild summers
lava
magma that reaches the surface
igneous rock
rock formed from molten material from earth's interior
polar
no months above freezing
volcanism
rise of magma and its cooling above the earth's surface
core, mantle and crust
basic layers of earth
tropical savannah
humid tropical-wet summer, dry winter;shift of doldrums and tropical high
benthos
plants and animals that live on the ocean floor
ash falls, pyroclastic flows, pyroclastic surges,lava flows, landslides and mudslides
5 types of volcanic emissions
climax community
final process of succession where equilibrium is reached
capillary water
water held to the surface of individual soil particles by surface tension
clastic, organic, evaporite
3 types of sedimentary rocks
clastic
sedimentary rocks physically deposited by wind or water (most common)
shield volcano, composite cone, plug dome, cindar cone
4 types of volcanos
illuviation
process by which soil particles are deposited at a lower depth
outcrop
bedrock exposed at the surface
biomass
total amount of living material in an ecosystem
atmospheric changes
volcano ash, greenhouse gases, and solar output
precession cycle
orbital change- determines when the time of year perihelion occurs
color, humus content, texture, structure, PH level
5 characteristics of soil
generalists
species that can adapt to different and changing environments
parent material
weathered fragments of rock that soil is derived from
shield volcano
volcano with fluid lavas and relatively little ash (Hawaii)
secondary succession
succession that happens after some natural process has destroyed previous vegetation
metamorphic rock
any rock that isn't igneous or sedimentary
sedimentary rock
accumulated sediments deposited in horizontal layers
pluton
intrusive igneous bodies that are deep-seated and are only exposed after many years of erosion
humid continental-subarctic
humid microthermal-coldest month below 0;cool summers, cold winters
Koppen classification system
classification system based on temperature and precipitation.(and vegetation associations)
matrix
dominant area of the mosaic
habitat
where a species lives in an ecosystem
natural vegetation
plant communities developing without human intervention
region
area that has similar characteristics
humid continental-hot summer
humid microthermal-4 distinct seasons; mostly found in N America; coldest month below 0; hot summers
ocean trench
formed when plates converge in the ocean
evaporite
sedimentary rocks as a result of chemical precipitation
black/dark soil
soil with lots of humus
tundra
at least 1 month above freezing but never more than 10C
tropical monsoon
humid tropical-at least 1 month less than 6 cm precip.; slightly more temperature variation; distinct rainy season, short dry season
ocean-ocean
convergent boundary (island arcs)
plankton
microscopic plants and animals that float freely in the water
humid subtropical
humid mesothermal-continental east coast; summers can be as hot as the tropics
lithosphere
outer layer of earth including the crust and part of the mantle
specialists
species that don't adapt well and only flourish if their preferred resources are abundant
eccentricity cycle
orbital change- variation in the earth's orbit around the sun
steppe
arid-precip. greater than half but still less than ET
rain shadows
leeward side of a mountain that is dry since rain doesn't get to it

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