Ch 1: Foundation of the Earth

Question 1

What makes an idea scientific?

Answer 1

It can tested against observation or experiment

Question 2

Earth Science is primarily an _______ science.

Answer 2

observational

Question 3

What are Principles

Answer 3

Generalizations with exceptions. eg: Principle of Superposition, exception: overturned strata in mountain belts

Question 4

What is the Principle of Uniformitarianism

Answer 4

James Hutton - Ancient features of the Earth are best interpreted in terms of processes that operate at the present day. aka Hutton’s unconformity

Question 5

What is the Principle of Actualism

Answer 5

Ancient features of the Earth are to be interpreted in terms of physical and chemical processes that operate at the present day

Question 6

What are Laws

Answer 6

applied to theories which are very well established and for which no exceptions are known. eg: Law of conservation of energy

Question 7

Geophysicists

Answer 7

Magnetism, gravity, seismic waves

Question 8

Geologists

Answer 8

Mapping, field observations, sampling, chemicla analyses

Question 9

Paleontologists and Biogeographers

Answer 9

Paleontologist: fossils and history of life.
Biogeographers: distribution of living things at the present day.

Question 10

Hydrologists and Oceanographers

Answer 10

Liquid water on the Earth’s surface, sediments deposited on the sea floor

Question 11

Glaciologists

Answer 11

Behavior and distribution of ice. Materials deposited on the landscape by ice

Question 12

Atmospheric Scientists

Answer 12

Meteorologists and climatologists: physics of the atmosphere. Short-term (weather) Long-term (climate)

Question 13

What is a system?

Answer 13

A portion of the universe that can be separated from the rest for the purpose of observing changes>

Question 14

What is an isolated system?

Answer 14

No matter or energy lost or gained.

Question 15

What is a closed system?

Answer 15

No matter lost or gained, energy may be exchanged with surroundings. Earth is a closed system.

Question 16

What is an open system?

Answer 16

Matter and energy exchanged with surroundings

Question 17

What system is Earth?

Answer 17

An almost closed system. Amouts are negligible.

Question 18

Systems within Earth

Answer 18

Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Geosphere

Question 19

What are Cycles

Answer 19

cycles trace the flow of material or energy through a system. Energy cycle, hydrologic cycle, rock cycle.

Question 20

What is a budget?

Answer 20

When a cycle is quantified

Question 21

The Energy Cycle/Budget

Answer 21

Drives all the processes that we see operating on the Earth.

Question 22

Energy Pathways inputs

Answer 22

Energy inputs: solar radiations, geothermal energy, tidal energy

Question 23

Energy Loss

Answer 23

Reflected into space, re-radiated

Question 24

Solar Radiation

Answer 24

Energy comes from the sun as light, UV and other types of radiation. About 1.74 x 10^17 watts or 174000 tW

Question 25

Where does Solar Energy go?

Answer 25

• 30% reflected into space (52000tW)
• < 50% converted to heat and re-radiated (81000tW)
• < 25%% melts ice and evaporates water into hydrosphere (40000tW)
• 350tW are converted to winds, currents, waves
• 40tW captured by living things

Question 26

Geothermal Energy and where does it go?

Answer 26

Energy is released within the Earth by slow breakdown of radioactive elements. (about 32tW)

• Volcanoes and hot springs (0.3tW).
• Volcanoes under the sea (11tW)
• Heat loss/Conduction (21tW)
• Converted into movement: lava. geysers, plate tectonics.

Question 27

Tidal Energy and where does it go?

Answer 27

Gravity of the moon raises a bulge in the ocean surface. (27tW)
- Ultimately converted to heat as water moves over the solid Earth.

Question 28

Hydrologic Pathways: Evapotranspiration

Answer 28

Evaporations: from the surface water, land
Transpiration: from plants

Question 29

Hydrologic Pathways: Condensation and precipitation

Answer 29

Condensation: clouds
Precipitation: rain, snow

Question 30

Hydrologic Pathways: Surface and subsurface flow

Answer 30

Melting
Surface flow: glaciers, streams, rivers
Infiltration
Groundwater movement

Question 31

Hydrologic Reservoirs

Answer 31

Oceans (97.5%)
Ice Sheets (1.85%)
Groundwater (0.64%)
Lakes, rivers, atmosphere (0.01%)

Question 32

Residence Time

Answer 32

Size of reservoir / flow rate = residence time
A measure of how long the average water molecule spends in the reservoir.
Oceans/icecaps: 1000s of years
Streams and rivers: a few weeks
Atmosphere: a few days

Question 33

The Rock cycle

Answer 33

Cycling of rock material at surface of the Earth.

Question 34

What is Magma?

Answer 34

Molten rock that is underground: solidifies slow = bigger crystals

Question 35

What is Lava?

Answer 35

Molten rock on the surface: solidifies fast = smaller crystals

Question 36

How to tell where the magma solidified?

Answer 36

Crystal size

Question 37

Temperature range of Magma/Lava

Answer 37

800C - 1200C

Felsit (silica rich, pale) - Mafic (iron and magnesium rich, dark)

Question 38

Igneous Rock

Answer 38

cooling and solidification: granite and pillow lava

Question 39

Weathering

Answer 39

reactions, creature interactions, not erosion. Happens in situ (in place) no movement. Chemical/physical reaction in the material.

Question 40

Erosion

Answer 40

caused by exposure. requires transportation. The wearing away of land or soil by the action of wind, water or ice.

Question 41

Sediment

Answer 41

Reduced pieces. May be deposited

Question 42

Sedimentary Rock

Answer 42

Lithification

Question 43

Lithification

Answer 43

the process in which sediments compact under pressure

Question 44

Metamorphism

Answer 44

Heat and pressure, without melting

Question 45

Metamorphic rocks

Answer 45

New minerals, change in texture, fabric