Unit 1: Environmental Change and Management

• What is the atmosphere?

  The layer of gases around Earth
• How does the atmosphere affect weather and climate?

  It influences temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns
• What role does the atmosphere play in the carbon cycle?

  It is involved in processes like photosynthesis and respiration
• What does the hydrosphere include?

  All bodies of water such as oceans, rivers, lakes, and glaciers
• Why is the hydrosphere central to the water cycle?

  It involves processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff
• What is the lithosphere?

  The rigid outer layer of the Earth, including rocks and soil
• How is the lithosphere involved in the rock cycle?

  Rocks are formed, broken down, and reformed within it
• What nutrients does the lithosphere provide for the biosphere?

  Nutrients necessary for plant and animal life
• How does the lithosphere interact with the hydrosphere?

  Through processes like erosion
• What does the biosphere encompass?

  All living organisms and their interactions with other spheres
• Why is the biosphere vital for the nutrient cycle?

  It facilitates the transfer of nutrients among organisms
• How is the biosphere affected by changes in the atmosphere?

  Climate change impacts living organisms and their habitats
• How does the lithosphere affect the biosphere?

  Soil quality impacts plant growth and animal habitats
• What are the main cycles on Earth?

  • Water cycle: Involves evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
  • Carbon cycle: Involves photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion.
  • Nitrogen cycle: Involves nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, and denitrification.
  • Rock cycle: Involves erosion, sedimentation, melting, and solidification.
  • Oxygen cycle: Involves photosynthesis and respiration.
• What is the water cycle?


  Water moves from the ground to the atmosphere and back again
• What processes are involved in the carbon cycle?

  Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion
• What is the nitrogen cycle essential for?

  It is essential for proteins and DNA
• What processes are included in the nitrogen cycle?

  Nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, and denitrification
• What happens in the rock cycle?

  Rocks change from one type to another over time
• What processes are involved in the rock cycle?

  Erosion, sedimentation, melting, and solidification
• What is the oxygen cycle?

  Oxygen is produced by plants and used by animals
• What processes are involved in the oxygen cycle?

  Photosynthesis and respiration
• What is erosion?


  The removal of sediment and rock from the coastline
• What are the effects of erosion on the coastline?

  Loss of land, formation of cliffs, and changes in coastal landscapes
• What is weathering?


  The breakdown of rocks and minerals at the coast
• What factors contribute to weathering?

  Wind, water, plant roots, and temperature changes
• What are the effects of weathering on the coastline?

  Formation of sediment and altered landforms
• What is transportation in coastal processes?

  The movement of sediments along the coast
• How does transportation affect coastal features?

  It helps form and maintain beaches and reshapes coastal features
• What is deposition?


  The process in which soil, rocks, and sediments are added to a landform
• What happens during deposition?


  It occurs when the transporting medium loses energy and can't hold the sediments
• What are the effects of deposition on coastal features?

  Formation of features like barrier islands and widening beaches
• What is longshore drift?

  The movement of sand and sediment along the coastline driven by wave action
• How does longshore drift affect coastal features?

  It changes beach formation and the shape of spits
• What are currents in coastal processes?

  The continuous directed movements of seawater
• What factors generate currents?

  Cold water going out, warm water going to the beach, wind, and tides
• How do currents affect coastal processes?

  They alter sediment distribution and influence marine ecosystems
• What is wave action?

  The impact of waves on the coastline
• What are the effects of wave action on the coastline?

  Coastal erosion, beach formation, and alteration of landforms
• What are tides?

  The rise and fall of sea levels caused by gravitational forces