Earth Science Exam Review

1. Define the three types of rocks and the rock cycle.

2. List and explain the types of volcanoes. Explain how tectonic plates create volcanoes and the impact volcanoes have on the lithosphere.

3. Explain earthquakes and their waves. Explain how tectonic plates create volcanoes and the impact earthquakes have on the lithosphere.

4. Compare and contrast lava and magma.

5. Compare an earthquakes focus and epicenter.

6. Illustrate and describe the three types of faults and tectonic plate boundaries. Also indicate the lithospheric formations associated with each plate boundary.

7. Explain how to prepare for the following geohazards: landslides, avalanches, earthquakes, tsunamis, sinkholes, flooding and volcanoes. 8. Explain how the rise and drop in sea level has affected and shaped the coastline.

9. Explain how humans affect the lithosphere through the following activities: mining, deforestation, agriculture, overgrazing, and agriculture).

10. List the forms of renewable and nonrenewable resources and indicate the pros and cons of each.

11. Explain weathering and compare and contrast chemical and mechanical weathering. How does climate and topography affect weathering rates?

12. Compare erosion rates of water, ice, wind, and gravity on the various lithosphere landforms.

13. Explain and illustrate how surface water and groundwater interact. 14. Explain and illustrate the water cycle.

15. Explain how humans impact water quality.

16. Explain surface currents and deep density ocean currents. Explain how these currents work in distributing heat from the equator through ocean waters. Explain how coastal climates are moderated by ocean water versus inland climates.

17. Explain how humans use water and evaluate the benefits and consequences of these actions (wells, aquifer depletion, dams, agricultural, recreation, and dam removal).

18. Compare and contrast point and non-point source pollution.

19. Compare weather and climate. 20. Illustrate the atmospheric layers and summarize each layer.

21. Explain air masses and their formation.

22. Explain how fronts interact and the results of these interactions.

23. Compare and contrast cyclonic and anticyclonic storms.

24. Explain how humans impact the atmosphere. (include: acid rain, aerosols, CFCs).

25. Explain the three major climate zones: tropic, temperate, and polar.

26. Explain global warming and all the factors that affect climate change.

27. Define abiotic and biotic. Explain the importance of biodiversity. Explain how the abiotic and biotic factors (temperature, rainfall, altitude, plant life, animal life, and latitude) determine biomes.

28. Explain ecological footprint. Explain strategies available to help humans alleviate their ecological footprints (ex: reduce, reuse, and recycle). 29. Explain and illustrate how the rotation and revolution of the Earth create seasons and tides.

30. Explain galaxies, solar systems, stars, planets, orbit, rotation, precession, nutation, and revolution.

31. Explain the life cycle of a star and explain how stars are fueled by fusion.

32. Explain how the sun’s energy powers Earth. (include heating our atmosphere, oceans, and photosynthesis).

33. Explain how Earth’s magnetic field and ozone layers protect it.