AP Environmental Science Exam
Review||Over 200 questions With
Correct Verified Answers||guaranteed
100% pass
abiotic -CORRECT ANSWER Pertaining to factors or things that are nonliving.
acid -CORRECT ANSWER Any compound that releases hydrogen ions when
dissolved in water. Also, a water solution that contains a surplus of hydrogen ions.
A horizon -CORRECT ANSWER a soil horizon; the layer below the O layer is called
the A layer. The A layer is formed of weathered rock, with some organic material; often
referred to as topsoil.
alkaline -CORRECT ANSWER a basic substance; chemically, a substance that
absorbs hydrogen ions or releases hydroxyl ions; in reference to natural water, a
measure of the base content of the water.
aquifer -CORRECT ANSWER an underground layer of porous rock, sand, or other
material that allows the movement of water between layers of nonporous rock or clay.
Aquifers are frequently tapped for wells.
arable -CORRECT ANSWER land that's fit to be cultivated.
asthenosphere -CORRECT ANSWER the part of the mantle that lies just below the
lithosphere.
atmosphere -CORRECT ANSWER the gaseous mass or envelope surrounding a
celestial body, especially the one surrounding the Earth, which is retained by the
celestial body's gravitational field.
barrier island -CORRECT ANSWER a long, relatively narrow island running parallel to
the mainland-built up by the action of waves and currents and serving to protect the
coast from erosion by surf and tidal surges.
biological weathering -CORRECT ANSWER any weathering that's caused by the
activities of living organisms.
biotic -CORRECT ANSWER living or derived from living things.
B horizon -CORRECT ANSWER a soil horizon; B receives the minerals and organic
materials that are leached out of the A horizon.
,chemical weathering -CORRECT ANSWER the result of chemical interaction with the
bedrock that is typical of the action of both water and atmospheric gases.
C horizon -CORRECT ANSWER a soil horizon, horizon C is made up of larger pieces
of rock that have not undergone much weathering.
clay -CORRECT ANSWER the finest soil, made up of particles that are less than
0.002 mm in diameter.
convection -CORRECT ANSWER the vertical movement of a mass of matter due to
heating and cooling; this can happen in both the atmosphere and Earth's mantle.
convection currents -CORRECT ANSWER air currents caused by the vertical
movement of air due to atmospheric heating and cooling.
convergent boundary -CORRECT ANSWER a plate boundary where two plates are
moving toward each other.
coral reef -CORRECT ANSWER an erosion-resistant marine ridge or mound
consisting chiefly of compacted coral together with algal material and biochemically
deposited magnesium and calcium carbonates.
Coriolis effect -CORRECT ANSWER The observed effect of the Coriolis force,
especially the deflection of an object moving above the Earth, rightward in the Northern
Hemisphere, and leftward in the Southern Hemisphere.
crop rotation -CORRECT ANSWER the practice of alternating the crops grown on a
piece of land - for example, corn one year, legumes for two years, and then back to
corn.
delta -CORRECT ANSWER a usually triangular alluvial deposit at the mouth of a river.
divergent boundary -CORRECT ANSWER a plate boundary at which plates are
moving away from each other. This causes an upwelling of magma from the mantle to
cool and form new crust.
doldrums -CORRECT ANSWER a region of the ocean near the equator, characterized
by calms, light winds, or squalls.
drip irrigation -CORRECT ANSWER a method of supplying irrigation water through
tubes that literally drip water onto the soil at the base of each plant.
earthquake -CORRECT ANSWER the result of vibrations (often due to plate
movements) deep in the Earth that release energy. They often occur as two plates slide
past one another at a transform boundary.
, El Nino -CORRECT ANSWER a climate variation that takes place in the tropical
Pacific about every three to seven years, for a duration of about one year.
erosion -CORRECT ANSWER the process of soil particles being carried away by wind
or water. Erosion moves the smaller particles first and hence degrades the soil to a
coarser, sandier, stonier texture.
estuary -CORRECT ANSWER the part of the wide lower course of a river where its
current is met by the tides.
fault -CORRECT ANSWER the place where two plates abut each other.
Green Revolution -CORRECT ANSWER the development and introduction of new
varieties of (mainly) wheat and rice that has increased yields per acre dramatically in
countries since the 1960s.
greenhouse effect -CORRECT ANSWER the phenomenon whereby the Earth's
atmosphere traps solar radiation, caused by the presence in the atmosphere of gases
such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane that allow incoming sunlight to pass
through, but absorb heat radiated back from the Earth's surface.
Hadley cell -CORRECT ANSWER a system of vertical and horizontal air circulation
predominating in tropical and subtropical regions and creating major weather patterns.
Headwaters -CORRECT ANSWER the water from which a river rises; a source.
Horizon -CORRECT ANSWER a layer of soil.
humus -CORRECT ANSWER the dark, crumbly, nutrient-rich material that results from
the decomposition of organic material.
hurricane (typhoon, cyclone) -CORRECT ANSWER a severe tropical cyclone
originating in the equatorial regions of the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea or eastern
regions of the Pacific Ocean, traveling north, northwest, or northeast from its point of
origin, and usually involving heavy rains.
inner core -CORRECT ANSWER the molten core of the Earth.
jet stream -CORRECT ANSWER a high-speed, meandering wind current, generally
moving from a westerly direction at speeds often exceeding 400 km (250 miles) per
hour at altitudes of 15 to 25 km (10 to 15 miles).
land degradation -CORRECT ANSWER when soil becomes water-logged and then
dries out, and salt forms a layer on its surface.
Review||Over 200 questions With
Correct Verified Answers||guaranteed
100% pass
abiotic -CORRECT ANSWER Pertaining to factors or things that are nonliving.
acid -CORRECT ANSWER Any compound that releases hydrogen ions when
dissolved in water. Also, a water solution that contains a surplus of hydrogen ions.
A horizon -CORRECT ANSWER a soil horizon; the layer below the O layer is called
the A layer. The A layer is formed of weathered rock, with some organic material; often
referred to as topsoil.
alkaline -CORRECT ANSWER a basic substance; chemically, a substance that
absorbs hydrogen ions or releases hydroxyl ions; in reference to natural water, a
measure of the base content of the water.
aquifer -CORRECT ANSWER an underground layer of porous rock, sand, or other
material that allows the movement of water between layers of nonporous rock or clay.
Aquifers are frequently tapped for wells.
arable -CORRECT ANSWER land that's fit to be cultivated.
asthenosphere -CORRECT ANSWER the part of the mantle that lies just below the
lithosphere.
atmosphere -CORRECT ANSWER the gaseous mass or envelope surrounding a
celestial body, especially the one surrounding the Earth, which is retained by the
celestial body's gravitational field.
barrier island -CORRECT ANSWER a long, relatively narrow island running parallel to
the mainland-built up by the action of waves and currents and serving to protect the
coast from erosion by surf and tidal surges.
biological weathering -CORRECT ANSWER any weathering that's caused by the
activities of living organisms.
biotic -CORRECT ANSWER living or derived from living things.
B horizon -CORRECT ANSWER a soil horizon; B receives the minerals and organic
materials that are leached out of the A horizon.
,chemical weathering -CORRECT ANSWER the result of chemical interaction with the
bedrock that is typical of the action of both water and atmospheric gases.
C horizon -CORRECT ANSWER a soil horizon, horizon C is made up of larger pieces
of rock that have not undergone much weathering.
clay -CORRECT ANSWER the finest soil, made up of particles that are less than
0.002 mm in diameter.
convection -CORRECT ANSWER the vertical movement of a mass of matter due to
heating and cooling; this can happen in both the atmosphere and Earth's mantle.
convection currents -CORRECT ANSWER air currents caused by the vertical
movement of air due to atmospheric heating and cooling.
convergent boundary -CORRECT ANSWER a plate boundary where two plates are
moving toward each other.
coral reef -CORRECT ANSWER an erosion-resistant marine ridge or mound
consisting chiefly of compacted coral together with algal material and biochemically
deposited magnesium and calcium carbonates.
Coriolis effect -CORRECT ANSWER The observed effect of the Coriolis force,
especially the deflection of an object moving above the Earth, rightward in the Northern
Hemisphere, and leftward in the Southern Hemisphere.
crop rotation -CORRECT ANSWER the practice of alternating the crops grown on a
piece of land - for example, corn one year, legumes for two years, and then back to
corn.
delta -CORRECT ANSWER a usually triangular alluvial deposit at the mouth of a river.
divergent boundary -CORRECT ANSWER a plate boundary at which plates are
moving away from each other. This causes an upwelling of magma from the mantle to
cool and form new crust.
doldrums -CORRECT ANSWER a region of the ocean near the equator, characterized
by calms, light winds, or squalls.
drip irrigation -CORRECT ANSWER a method of supplying irrigation water through
tubes that literally drip water onto the soil at the base of each plant.
earthquake -CORRECT ANSWER the result of vibrations (often due to plate
movements) deep in the Earth that release energy. They often occur as two plates slide
past one another at a transform boundary.
, El Nino -CORRECT ANSWER a climate variation that takes place in the tropical
Pacific about every three to seven years, for a duration of about one year.
erosion -CORRECT ANSWER the process of soil particles being carried away by wind
or water. Erosion moves the smaller particles first and hence degrades the soil to a
coarser, sandier, stonier texture.
estuary -CORRECT ANSWER the part of the wide lower course of a river where its
current is met by the tides.
fault -CORRECT ANSWER the place where two plates abut each other.
Green Revolution -CORRECT ANSWER the development and introduction of new
varieties of (mainly) wheat and rice that has increased yields per acre dramatically in
countries since the 1960s.
greenhouse effect -CORRECT ANSWER the phenomenon whereby the Earth's
atmosphere traps solar radiation, caused by the presence in the atmosphere of gases
such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane that allow incoming sunlight to pass
through, but absorb heat radiated back from the Earth's surface.
Hadley cell -CORRECT ANSWER a system of vertical and horizontal air circulation
predominating in tropical and subtropical regions and creating major weather patterns.
Headwaters -CORRECT ANSWER the water from which a river rises; a source.
Horizon -CORRECT ANSWER a layer of soil.
humus -CORRECT ANSWER the dark, crumbly, nutrient-rich material that results from
the decomposition of organic material.
hurricane (typhoon, cyclone) -CORRECT ANSWER a severe tropical cyclone
originating in the equatorial regions of the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea or eastern
regions of the Pacific Ocean, traveling north, northwest, or northeast from its point of
origin, and usually involving heavy rains.
inner core -CORRECT ANSWER the molten core of the Earth.
jet stream -CORRECT ANSWER a high-speed, meandering wind current, generally
moving from a westerly direction at speeds often exceeding 400 km (250 miles) per
hour at altitudes of 15 to 25 km (10 to 15 miles).
land degradation -CORRECT ANSWER when soil becomes water-logged and then
dries out, and salt forms a layer on its surface.
