Cuyo Region: Natural Conditions

The Cuyo region is characterized by its arid climate and high mountain environment. It features a rugged terrain formed by the Cordillera, where rainfall is insufficient. The population is primarily settled in fertile oases, including cities such as Mendoza, San Rafael, San Juan, and Luján de Cuyo.

Mountain Ranges

The Front Range is an integral part of the Puna, forming an environment with undifferentiated characteristics. A southern mountain axis emerges, with eastern offshoots separated by high valleys.

High Peaks and Isolation

The highest peaks stand in isolation along this continuous line of high mountains. Their height progressively decreases towards the south.

Precordillera of San Juan, La Rioja, and Mendoza

This... Continue reading "Cuyo Region: Geography, Climate, and Natural Phenomena" »

Air Pollution: Sources and Consequences

Emissions originating from industries, power stations, and other sources lead to several critical environmental consequences, including atmospheric warming, thinning of the ozone layer, acid rain, and localized air pollution in urban areas.

Atmospheric Warming and Climate Change

Atmospheric warming is primarily due to increased emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. This phenomenon causes the elevation of the Earth's average temperature, leading to significant climate change. Manifestations include increased frequency and intensity of droughts and floods. While this is a global problem, its impact is often more severe in arid and semi-arid regions.

Thinning of the Ozone Layer

The ozone layer protects... Continue reading "Global Environmental Challenges: Causes and Consequences" »

Ecosystem Load Limits and Human Impact

An ecosystem has a load limit, which is the maximum number of individuals it can sustain regularly. Each species tends to reproduce and increase its population until environmental resources reach a point where they cannot support further growth. At this point, the population stabilizes, reaching the load limit for that species. Humanity's advanced technology and increased consumption of natural resources cause environmental changes that affect the global biosphere. While technology can alter local conditions to favor human needs, the biosphere remains subject to its limits.

Loss of Biodiversity

Causes: Degradation of ecosystems and alterations that disrupt ecological equilibrium. Consequences: Species extinction... Continue reading "Ecosystem Load Limits, Biodiversity Loss, and Sustainable Development" »

The climate in the Northern Hemisphere temperate zones is primarily determined by the position and interaction of the Polar Front and the Polar Front Jet Stream. These features represent the boundary between cold polar air masses and warm tropical air masses.

Key Atmospheric Factors

The Polar Front Jet Stream

The polar jet is described as "a swift river of wind that surrounds the Earth like a snake biting its tail, at altitudes of the tropopause. Its direction is from West to East" (Mariano Medina). This high-altitude current plays a crucial role in steering weather systems.

The Polar Front

The Polar Front is formed by a series of warm, cold, and occluded fronts that collectively surround the Earth, creating a continuous boundary. It is an imaginary... Continue reading "Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Phenomena" »

Orogen: geological structures originally larger d is due to internal heat molded by external agents.

Meander: Curves in the path of a river where erosion occurs on the outside and sedimentation on the inside.

Dolina: Subsidence in the ground caused by the dissolution in the subsurface.

Loess: Extensive clay deposits transpote wind up thousands of miles

Morrenas: are deposits of sediment is called till, which is transported by glaciers

Domain Mediterranean: are temperate climates are dry and rainfall in spring and autumn floods. Streams and wadis are dry all year round except when it rains. The sediment-laden water flows for this reason the presence of alluvial fans in the valley bottom end their tour the streams and ravines. Vegetation is... Continue reading "Key Geological Terms and Weathering Factors" »

Study Methods of Earth's Interior

Several methods are used to study the Earth's interior:

• Probes and Mines: Direct observation is limited by depth (radius ~6371 km, probes go as deep as 13km).
• Study of Rocks: Natural phenomena like erosion and volcanic eruptions expose deeper rocks.
• Meteorites: Provide information about the primordial materials of the solar system, including Earth.
• Seismic Methods: The most effective method. Analysis of seismic waves from earthquakes that travel through the Earth's interior, providing data via seismographs.

Inner Layers of the Earth

The Earth's internal layers are distributed in order of increasing density, separated by seismic discontinuities.

Compositional Layers

• Crust and Mantle: Composed of rocks, with the less

Earth's Structure and Landforms

The Lithosphere

Earth was formed 4.6 billion years ago. Its internal structure consists of:

• The Core: The center of Earth.
• The Mantle: Surrounds the core.
• The Crust: A thin layer of solid rocks.

The external structure includes:

• The Lithosphere: Composed of the crust and the upper part of the mantle.
• The Hydrosphere: All the water on Earth.
• The Atmosphere: The gaseous layer surrounding Earth.

Continents

Continents are large expanses of dry land surrounded by oceans and seas, covering 29% of Earth's surface. The majority are located in the Northern Hemisphere:

• Asia
• America
• Africa
• Antarctica
• Europe
• Oceania

Islands

Islands are smaller masses of land surrounded by water, often located near the coast of continents. Some islands are grouped... Continue reading "Earth's Structure, Landforms, and Climate Zones" »

Transportation

The eroded materials produce waste that can be classified into three types: ions, small particles, and clasts or fragments of different sizes. Depending on their size, detrital or clastic sediments are classified as gravel or ridges, coarse and fine sand, silt, and clay. The sediments are transported to lower areas by conveyor agents. The most important agent is water, followed by wind and glaciers.

In some cases, such as with particles dissolved in water, all transported materials are alike. However, in most cases, the lighter particles reach farther than the heavier ones, which are usually larger. This is known as selective transport, resulting in a selection of materials by size. Transport occurs in three basic ways: in solution,... Continue reading "Sediment Transport and Deposition Processes" »

Continuation Vertical Dykes

Phases in the construction of dams with floating caissons:

Construction, launching, towing, positioning, anchoring, filling, building superstructure.

Factors to Consider in Building:

1. Previous studies
2. Quarry selection
3. Execution control

Previous Studies:

• Geological studies
• Climate studies
• Bathymetric studies
• Organization and valuation
• Execution

Works for Berthing and Mooring:

That perform the following functions: Contact land-sea, surface crossing of goods, creating a terminal area of transportation systems and storage area of goods.

Types:

Dock: A structure with two vertical planes where vessels are attached to a horizontal plane through which the manipulation of goods is done.

Pontoons and platforms: Areas or pathways through which... Continue reading "Dam Construction & Port Infrastructure: Phases, Factors & Types" »

Solid Waste Classification by Composition

Solid waste, in terms of its composition, can be classified as follows:

Organic Wastes

This includes all waste of biological origin that was once alive or part of a living being. It is biodegradable, meaning it decomposes naturally and quickly. Examples include leaves, twigs, shells, food scraps, and fruit and vegetable remains.

Inorganic Wastes

This category comprises all non-biological waste. Due to their chemical characteristics, these materials undergo natural decay very slowly. Many are natural but not biodegradable, such as plastic containers, glass, and cans.

Hazardous Waste

This refers to any waste, whether organic or inorganic, that constitutes a potential hazard (e.g., flammable, toxic, reactive,... Continue reading "Solid Waste Classification and Management Strategies" »