APES Objectives – Unit 4

Summary

Unit 4, “Earth Systems and Resources,” examines the physical processes of the planet. It begins with plate tectonics, describing the geological events that occur at convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries. The unit then shifts to soil, covering its formation, erosion, composition, and properties like water-holding capacity and porosity. Students learn about the Earth’s atmosphere, its layers, and how global wind patterns and the Coriolis effect are generated by solar radiation. The unit concludes by discussing watersheds, the effect of solar radiation and Earth’s tilt on seasons, and how phenomena like El Niño and La Niña influence global climate and weather patterns. This unit makes up 10-15% of the AP Exam.