APES 1st Semester Final Exam Review

Front

What are Hadley cells?

Back

Huge circuits of air that rise at the equator, drop at the tropics, and move back towards the equator.

Front

What is the role of bacteria and lightning in the nitrogen cycle?

Back

They can naturally 'fix' atmospheric nitrogen so plants can utilize it.

Front

What does the First Law of Thermodynamics state?

Back

Neither mass nor energy can be created or destroyed.

Front

Why is the ocean important to the carbon cycle?

Back

It keeps sediment containing carbon underwater for millions of years.

Front

What process transforms carbon into chemical energy?

Back

Photosynthesis.

Front

What are the Westerlies?

Back

Winds that blow from the west to the east in the mid-latitudes.

Front

What is the Coriolis effect?

Back

The deflection of moving objects caused by the rotation of the Earth.

Front

What is primary production?

Back

The process by which plants and other autotrophs convert light energy into chemical energy.

Front

What is respiration in ecological terms?

Back

The process by which organisms convert glucose and oxygen into energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water.

Front

What is the Second Law of Thermodynamics?

Back

Energy transformations are not 100% efficient; some energy is lost as heat.