Complete Test Preparation For GED Test

Earth and Space Science

May Oo Khaing
B.Sc (Hons: Physics)
M.Sc ( Physics)
Ph.D ( Nuclear Technology)
Ocean Currents
What causes Ocean Currents?

Ocean currents are caused by:

•changes in temperature
•changes in salinity
•wind
•Tides

There a two main types of ocean current:

1.Surface currents in the top 400m of the
ocean are driven mainly by wind and tides.
2.Deeper currents are driven by changes in
water density.
Both surface and deep ocean currents work with the atmosphere to shape the
Earth’s climate.
• Oceanic currents, measured in meters per second or in knots?
• 1 knot = 1.15 miles per hour or 1.85 kilometers per hour), are driven by several
factors.

What affects and drives the ocean current?

• One is the rise and fall of the tides, which are
affected by the gravitational force of the moon.
• A second factor that drives ocean currents is
wind, which is caused by many things, from high-
and low-pressure systems to the rotation of the
earth.
• A third factor that drives currents is density
differences in water due to temperature and
salinity in different parts of the ocean
 Five main Oceans and Currents

There are five main oceans, these are -

1.North Atlantic Ocean
2.South Atlantic Ocean
3.North Pacific Ocean
4.South Pacific Ocean
5.Indian Ocean
 Surface currents

• Surface currents in the ocean are

classified as warm or cold currents.
• In general, warm currents tend to
travel from the equator toward the
poles along the eastern coast of
continents.
• Cold currents tend to travel from the
poles toward the equator along the
western coast of continents.
Surface currents general Pattern
 Gulf Stream

• they can impact weather globally

and locally.
• For example, the Gulf Stream is an Newfoundland
ocean current that runs from the tip of
Florida, flowing along the eastern
coastline of the United States and to
Florida
Newfoundland before crossing the
Atlantic Ocean.
• Because it carries warm water, it
makes northern Europe warmer than it
would be otherwise.
 What is an El Niño in weather?
• An El Niño condition occurs when surface water in the equatorial Pacific becomes
warmer than average and east winds blow weaker than normal.
• El Niño is a band of very warm ocean water that develops off the western coast of South
America and can cause climatic change.
 Globally Effect of Elnino

• thunderstorms (increased rainfall across the eastern Pacific Ocean.)

• reduces the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water that sustains large fish
populations (led to lower fish populations off the shore of Peru.)

• tropical thunderstorms (higher temperatures in western Canada and the

upper plains of the United States , colder temperatures in Southern United
States.)
• the flooding rains experienced in South America (the eastern coast of Africa
can experience severe drought)
 Increased rainfall across the eastern Pacific Ocean
• Because El Niño’s warm waters feed thunderstorms, it creates increased rainfall
across the eastern Pacific Ocean
• Typically, El Niño happens every two to seven years and lasts nine months to two
years.
 Reduction in upwelling
Along the west coast of South America, El Niño reduces the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich
water that sustains large fish populations. This reduction in upwelling has led to lower fish
populations off the shore of Peru.
• reduction in
upwelling has led
to lower fish
populations off
the shore of Peru.
west coast of South America
• With the tropical thunderstorms fueled
by the hot, humid air over the oceans,
the atmosphere produces patterns of higher temperatures
high and low pressure in response. colder temperatures

• This can result in higher temperatures Tropical thunderstorms

in western Canada and the upper
plains of the United States and colder
temperatures in the southern United
States.
 Global Effect of El Nino
• In contrast to the flooding rains experienced in South America, the eastern coast of
Africa can experience severe drought during an El Niño event.

drought

South America
eastern coast
flooding rains of Africa
World Map
 Natural Hazards

Natural Hazards While the earth’s

systems interact in a way that creates
an environment most beneficial to
sustaining life, these systems also can
lead to natural hazards.
• Floods,
• earthquakes,
• hurricanes,
• tsunamis, and
• droughts
• are all examples of natural hazards,
and all of these conditions produce
stresses on the environment
 Floods
• Floods can erode the topsoil;
destroy trees, grass, and crops;
and even tear down homes.
• Floods can also contribute to
the spread of disease by
damaging sewage and waste
disposal mechanisms.
• The results of a flood can take
years to undo.
 Earthquakes

• Earthquakes can tear up the

land and produce rockslides.
• They can even cause
flooding if a river is
redirected.
• The effects of an earthquake
in a big city can be
devastating.
 Hurricanes

Hurricanes are also known as

tropical cyclones. A tropical
cyclone is a rapidly rotating
storm system with a low-
pressure center, strong winds,
and a spiral arrangement of
thunderstorms that produce
heavy rain. They form over large
bodies of relatively warm water.
Hurricanes can wreak havoc
along the coasts, destroying
plants, trees, buildings, and even
highways.
Tsunamis
Tsunamis are very large, destructive
water waves that are caused by
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or
landslides (not wind). They used to be
called tidal waves because they
resembled a rising tide, but tsunamis
have nothing to do with tides.
 Drought

Drought occurs when an area

receives substantially less
precipitation than normal.
Droughts can be designated
after 15 days with reduced
rainfall. Significant and sustained
droughts can impact crops and
livestock and result in
widespread food shortage,
malnutrition, and famine.
• The table
identifies four
types of natural
hazards and
indicates the
probability that
each will occur
in any given
calendar year.
Effects of Natural Hazards

• The short- and long-term

effects that a natural hazard has
on an area depend on a
number of factors.
Extra Practice
The following question contains a blank
marked “ Select . . . ▾ .” Beneath it is a set
of choices. Indicate the choice that is
correct and belongs in the blank. (Note:
On the real GED test, the choices will
appear as a “drop-down” menu. When
you click on a choice, it will appear in the
blank.)
The biogeochemical cycle pictured represents
the cycle.
Extra Practice
What term describes the release of water vapor
from the leaves of plants?
A. evaporation
B. precipitation
C. transpiration
D. condensation

Which of the following describes precipitation?

A. Water rises up into the atmosphere as vapor.
B. Water vapor in the air forms clouds.
C. Trees drop their leaves in winter.
D. Water falls from clouds as rain or snow
 Extra Practice

Fossil fuels, which are coal, fuel oil, and natural gas, are hydrocarbons formed from the
remains of dead plants and animals. As trees and plants died and sank to the bottom of
swamps and oceans, they formed layers of a spongy material called peat. The peat
became covered by sand and clay, which over time became sedimentary rock. As more
rock formed, it pressed down on the peat.

The increased pressure over millions of years turned the peat into fossil fuels.
Which of the following is NOT a fossil fuel?
A. coal
B. petroleum
C. wood
D. methane
Coal is formed when-
A. minerals replace the organic matter in dead plants and animals, creating fossils
B. deposits of methane are subjected to high pressure until they condense into
crystals
C. swamp plants are buried by sediment, producing heat and pressure that convert
the organic matter to coal
D. organic matter from dead plants and animals becomes trapped within layers of
sedimentary rock
A fault is a disruption in the Earth’s crust along which a movement can take place,
causing an earthquake. A sudden slip of a fault, volcanic activity, or other sudden stress
or changes in the Earth can cause an earthquake. There are various terms related to
earthquakes and faults. The focus is the point within Earth where the earthquake
rupture starts. The epicenter is the point on Earth’s surface directly above the point
where a seismic rupture begins. Dip is the angle that the fault is inclined from the
horizontal. The fault scarp is the feature on the surface of the Earth that looks like a step
caused by a slip in the fault.

In the diagram, where is the focus with respect to

the epicenter?
A. directly below the epicenter
B. directly above the epicenter
C. between the epicenter and the dip
D. between the epicenter and the fault scarp
Identify points A, B, and C in the diagram.
A. Point A represents the focus. Point B represents the epicenter. Point
C represents the fault scarp.
B. Point A represents the epicenter. Point B represents the focus. Point
C represents the fault scarp.
C. Point A represents the epicenter. Point B represents the focus. Point
C represents the dip.
D. Point A represents the fault. Point B represents the epicenter. Point
C represents the focus.
A tropical storm that develops over the Ocean can

cause a hurricane in the eastern United States, whereas a storm that develops over
the Ocean can cause a typhoon in the Philippines and Hong Kong.
Warm equatorial air rising into the atmosphere and flowing toward
the poles is called a
A. convergence zone.
B. high pressure area.
C. low pressure system.
D. geostrophic wind effect.

Different places on Earth have various seasons throughout the year. The change in
these seasons is easily predictable based upon the date of the year. The change in
seasons is most dependent upon the
A. distance of Earth from the sun
B. tilt of Earth on its axis
C. amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
D. number of earthquakes that have occurred over 3 months
Directions: Choose the best answer for each of the following items.
1. Which of the following statements best explains why less developed
countries experience more long-term effects from natural hazards?

A. Poverty and population density increase the impacts of natural

hazards.
B. Highly organized emergency services reduce the spread of
disease and death.
C. Education about action during a hazard reduces the
vulnerability of the population.
D. Building standards do not specify what types of materials can
be used to build homes.
The probability of an earthquake that results in loss of life for more
than 1000 people in any given calendar year is
A. 0%.
B. 0.1%.
C. 1%.
D. 11%.
Wishing you to

With high marks