Understanding Terrain: A Comprehensive Guide to Landforms
Terrain: Understanding Earth’s Diverse Landforms
Terrain: The physical features of a tract of land.
Erosion Features
Band: A form of sediment erosion on loamy-clay materials in a semi-arid environment, strongly dissected by the intense action of water.
Landscapes
Countryside: Lowlands alternating with layers of clay, sandstone, and other sedimentary rocks, characterized by their soft modeling.
Elevations
Cerro Witness: A stratified elevation that represents the residue of a horizontal platform eroded over
Read MoreEnvironmental Stressors: Population, Atmosphere, and Water Impact
Environmental Stressors
Environmental Stress: Atmosphere, water, oceans, soil, forests, species. Causes: Human population growth, overconsumption, pollution. Environmental Quality Control Concepts: Sustainability, sustainable development, ecological sustainability, ecosystem approach, precautionary principle, environmental stewardship.
Population Growth and Environmental Pressures
Thomas Malthus: Food is necessary for existence but is finite. Exponential reproductive rates affect population growth.
Read MoreBiodiversity Conservation: Threats and Solutions
Economic Reasons for Conserving Biodiversity
Raw materials, food, health, and ecosystem stability are all vital economic reasons for conserving biodiversity.
Living Planet Index: Indicates the abundance of species populations. A species is considered endangered when it reaches a critical number, which is the minimum population size needed for recovery.
Causes of Biodiversity Loss
- Habitat Loss and Degradation (Anthropogenic): Human activities are the primary cause.
- Habitat Fragmentation: For example,
Plate Tectonics: Transform & Convergent Boundaries
Neutral Edges: Interactions
When two plates move horizontally in opposite directions, they are also known as transform faults, passive margins, or conservative margins. Oceanic lithosphere is neither created nor destroyed.
The Origin of Transform Faults
The origin of transform faults is not very clear. Some scientists believe that these fractures are inherited from when the old continent opened to form the ocean. Others say that their genesis is related to the plate movement described, which diverges
Read MoreEnergy Sources: Renewable and Non-Renewable Explained
Energy Sources
Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources
Energy sources, or energy resources, encompass all materials and processes used by humans to generate primary energy. This energy can be used directly or transformed into other forms.
Non-Renewable Energy Sources
Non-renewable energy sources are finite resources that are not replenished at the rate they are consumed.
Coal
Coal is a solid, black mineral formed from plant matter buried under layers of earth for millions of years. Earth’s coal reserves
Fossil Fuels: Coal and Oil Formation, Uses, and Impacts
Fossil Fuels: Coal and Oil
Regarding energy, consider fossil fuels: carbon, petrochemicals, and natural gas. Currently, 78% of the commercial energy used worldwide comes from the combustion of fossil fuels. This process produces serious problems of contamination and increases the greenhouse effect due to CO2 emissions and other gases. However, we cannot ignore them until we have alternative energy sources. The sun is a possible alternative. We are gradually replacing fossil fuels with other cleaner
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