Geo 120 Exam 3 questions with 100%
complete solutions
Geomorphology - correct answer ✔✔ study of the origin and development of landforms
Geomorphic agent - correct answer ✔✔ a medium that erodes, transports, and deposits earth
materials
Earth Systems Approach - correct answer ✔✔ changes in the solid earth are a result of
interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere
Biogeochemical cycles - correct answer ✔✔ cycling of chemical elements (gases, solids, liquids)
required for life between biotic and abiotic components of the environment
Lithosphere - correct answer ✔✔ rocks
Pedosphere - correct answer ✔✔ soils, sediments
biosphere - correct answer ✔✔ biota (plants and animals)
hydrosphere - correct answer ✔✔ water
What are two examples of global biogeochemical cycles (GBCs)? - correct answer ✔✔ Carbon
and nitrogen cycles
, photosynthesis - correct answer ✔✔ uses sunlight energy to convert carbon dioxide into organic
compounds
autotrophs - correct answer ✔✔ organisms that make their own food (ex. plants, green algae,
bluegreen bacteria)
respiration - correct answer ✔✔ opposite of the photosynthesis reaction; organisms break
down organic compounds to release energy and carbon dioxide
Human effects on carbon cycle - correct answer ✔✔ fossil fuel combustion accelerates
decomposition, alters photosynthesis and respiration; methane production in the absence of
oxygen
Nitrogen fixation - correct answer ✔✔ converts nitrogen gas into biologically availabel forms;
decomposition processes driven mostly by bacteria; occurs through lightening
Industrial Haber-bosch process - correct answer ✔✔ process for nitrogen fixation invented in
1913; was done to increase our agricultural production
anoxic conditions - correct answer ✔✔ low conditions of oxygen
soil - correct answer ✔✔ zone of interaction between biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and
lithosphere-critical zone; plays a major role in most GBCs
What are soils composed of? - correct answer ✔✔ Solids (50%)-mineral (45%) and organic (5%)
Pore Spaces (50%)- water (20-30%) and air (20-30%)
How are soils classifed - correct answer ✔✔ based on their properties into soil orders
complete solutions
Geomorphology - correct answer ✔✔ study of the origin and development of landforms
Geomorphic agent - correct answer ✔✔ a medium that erodes, transports, and deposits earth
materials
Earth Systems Approach - correct answer ✔✔ changes in the solid earth are a result of
interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere
Biogeochemical cycles - correct answer ✔✔ cycling of chemical elements (gases, solids, liquids)
required for life between biotic and abiotic components of the environment
Lithosphere - correct answer ✔✔ rocks
Pedosphere - correct answer ✔✔ soils, sediments
biosphere - correct answer ✔✔ biota (plants and animals)
hydrosphere - correct answer ✔✔ water
What are two examples of global biogeochemical cycles (GBCs)? - correct answer ✔✔ Carbon
and nitrogen cycles
, photosynthesis - correct answer ✔✔ uses sunlight energy to convert carbon dioxide into organic
compounds
autotrophs - correct answer ✔✔ organisms that make their own food (ex. plants, green algae,
bluegreen bacteria)
respiration - correct answer ✔✔ opposite of the photosynthesis reaction; organisms break
down organic compounds to release energy and carbon dioxide
Human effects on carbon cycle - correct answer ✔✔ fossil fuel combustion accelerates
decomposition, alters photosynthesis and respiration; methane production in the absence of
oxygen
Nitrogen fixation - correct answer ✔✔ converts nitrogen gas into biologically availabel forms;
decomposition processes driven mostly by bacteria; occurs through lightening
Industrial Haber-bosch process - correct answer ✔✔ process for nitrogen fixation invented in
1913; was done to increase our agricultural production
anoxic conditions - correct answer ✔✔ low conditions of oxygen
soil - correct answer ✔✔ zone of interaction between biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and
lithosphere-critical zone; plays a major role in most GBCs
What are soils composed of? - correct answer ✔✔ Solids (50%)-mineral (45%) and organic (5%)
Pore Spaces (50%)- water (20-30%) and air (20-30%)
How are soils classifed - correct answer ✔✔ based on their properties into soil orders
