Earth's major systems and biogeochemical cycles, including carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles, tested on AP Environmental Science.
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- What is the lithosphere?
- The solid, rocky outer layer of Earth consisting of the crust and upper mantle
- What is the hydrosphere?
- All of Earth's water including oceans, ice, groundwater, lakes, rivers, and water vapor
- What is the atmosphere?
- The layer of gases surrounding Earth, composed primarily of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%)
- What is the biosphere?
- All living organisms on Earth and the environments they inhabit
- Define evaporation
- The process by which liquid water changes to water vapor
- Define condensation in the water cycle
- The process by which water vapor cools and changes to liquid water
- Define precipitation
- Water falling from clouds to Earth's surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
- Define transpiration
- The release of water vapor from plant leaves during photosynthesis
- What is infiltration?
- The downward movement of water through soil into the groundwater below
- What is runoff?
- Water flowing over the land surface toward streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans
- Define groundwater
- Water stored in soil and rock layers below the surface, replenished by infiltration
- What is the water table?
- The level below which all soil and rock pores are saturated with water
- What is photosynthesis?
- The process by which plants use sunlight to convert CO2 and water into glucose and oxygen
- What is cellular respiration?
- The process by which organisms break down glucose to release energy, producing CO2 as a waste product
- How does combustion affect the carbon cycle?
- Burning of fossil fuels releases stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere