Unit 4 APES Review

Front

What is the leeward side of a mountain?

Back

The leeward side of a mountain is the side that faces away from the prevailing winds, often resulting in drier conditions and less vegetation, sometimes leading to desert-like environments.

Front

What causes the unequal warming of the Earth?

Back

The unequal warming of the Earth is caused by: 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.

Front

What is the primary cause of earthquakes in California and Japan?

Back

Both areas are on the boundary of active tectonic plates, where the motion of the plates causes earthquakes.

Front

What are deep ocean currents primarily a result of?

Back

Deep ocean currents are primarily a result of density differences in water, influenced by temperature and salinity.

Front

Define upwelling in oceanography.

Back

Upwelling is the process where wind near a shore pushes surface water away, allowing nutrient-rich cold water to rise from the depths.

Front

What is the Coriolis effect?

Back

The Coriolis effect is the deflection of moving objects, such as winds and currents, caused by the rotation of the Earth.

Front

Explain the concept of oceanic gyres.

Back

Oceanic gyres are large systems of circulating ocean currents, driven by wind patterns and the Coriolis effect, that help distribute heat and nutrients across the oceans.

Front

What role do ocean currents play in climate regulation?

Back

Ocean currents help regulate climate by redistributing heat from the equator to the poles, influencing weather patterns and temperatures.

Front

What is the significance of the thermohaline circulation?

Back

Thermohaline circulation is a global ocean circulation driven by differences in water density, which is affected by temperature and salinity, playing a crucial role in climate and nutrient distribution.

Front

Define the term 'plate tectonics'.

Back

Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that describes the large-scale movement of Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates that interact at their boundaries.