AP Environmental Science Unit 4 - Earth Systems & Resources

AP Environmental Science Earth Systems Review

Here's an organized outline for AP Environmental Science Unit 4 reviews. This outline has been adapted from the 2019 Course Description published by College Board. You can use this to build an AP Enviro Unit 4 study guide.

Geology

Geological formations are created by shifts in Earth’s plate boundaries.  

• Geological features including; mountains, island arcs, earthquakes, volcanoes, and seafloor spreading are all found at tectonic plate boundaries.
• An earthquake occurs when built up stress is finally released at a fault, releasing stored energy in the form of waves that cause shaking of the Earth.

⚡ Read: AP Environmental Science - Tectonic Plates 

Soil is a valuable global resource and has given characteristics. 

• Soils are formed when parent material is weathered, transported, and deposited.
• Soils are generally categorized based on their composition and organic material.
• The properties of soil can be tested and indicate the biological potential of soil in agricultural uses.

⚡ Watch: AP Environmental Science - 🎥 Soil Comparison

Atmosphere and Climate

The atmosphere has varying properties and composition of gases that can be organized into layers.   

• The layers of the atmosphere is organised into layers based on temperature gradients.  These include the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.

⚡ Read: AP Environmental Science - Earth's Atmosphere 

Earth’s climate is dynamic and is influenced by geologic features, the sun's energy and the movement of water and air. 

• The Coriolis effect is the flow of air and water from the equator to the poles and back in circular motions based around the world oceans. This exchange of heat is driven by intense solar radiation arriving at the equator and results in atmospheric circulation.
• The Earth’s seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis. This tilt and its relation to the sun cause varying hours of daylight in a particular location on the Earth’s surface.
• Weather and climate are affected not only by the sun’s energy but by geologic and geographic factors, such as mountains and ocean temperature. Weather is the short term change in atmospheric conditions while climate is long term trends in a given ecosystem.
• El Niño and La Niña are phenomena associated with changing ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. 

⚡Read: AP Environmental Science - Earth’s Atmosphere & Global Wind Patterns and Earth’s Seasons and Climate

Unit 4 Vocab

• Atmospheric gases
• Atmospheric layers
• Convergent boundaries
• Coriolis effect
• Distribution of plate boundaries
• Divergent boundaries
• Earth’s seasons
• Earthquakes
• El Niño and La Niña
• Global wind patterns
• Soil erosion
• Soil horizons
• Soil texture triangle
• Solar radiation
• Transform boundaries
• Water holding capacity
• Watershed characteristics
• Weather and climate