Chapter 1 Vocab Flashcards
Asthenosphere
A weak and perhaps partly molten weak layer of Earth’s mantle below the lithosphere.
Conduction
Process of transferring heat by contact between two surfaces of different temperatures; head transfers without motion of water
Convection
Process of simultaneously transferring heat and matter by movement of fluid or plastically deforming rock because of density contrast; denser and typically colder material sinks while less dense and typically warmer material rises.
Convergent Plate Boundary
Curving zone where plates collide nearly head on into one another, compressing the lithosphere and causing subduction of one plate beneath the other.
Core
The central region of Earth composed primarily of iron metal and consisting of a molten liquid outer part and a solid inner part.
Crust
Outermost concentric layer of Earth composed of mostly silicate minerals and containing more silicon and aluminum than the underlying mantle.
Divergent Plate Boundary
Linear or curving zones where plates move apart from one another and new lithosphere forms.
Energy
A measure of the ability to do work.
Geology
The science of the origin, composition, structure and history of the Earth
Hot Spots
An area of intense volcanic activity not explained by plate boundary process. Hot Spots form where asthenosphere rises beneath lithospheric plates.
Hypothesis
Testable prediction about a natural process that can be checked using data.
Laws
Scientific description of how nature is observed to behave.
Lithosphere
Outer strong shell of earths consisting crust and uppermost mantle.
Mantle
The mostly solid but generically weak silicate zone of Earth below the crust and above the core.
Plates
One of several discrete, ridged to semi- ridged, roughly 100km thick slabs that make up earths lithosphere.
Plate Tectonics
Theory that Earths out shell is not seamlessly continuous but is broken into discrete pieces that move slowly relative to one another and change in size over geologic time.
Potential Energy
Energy that an object possesses because of its elevation. The potential energy that causes objects to move is greater for objects at high elevation that for objects at low elevation. Objects move from areas where the possess high potential energy to areas where they possess low potential energy.
Principal of Uniformitarianism
Geologic processes and natural laws now operation on and within Earth have acted throughout geologic time; the logic and method by which geologists reconstruct past events.
Principles
A guiding concept that consistently works to describe the natural world.
Radiation
The process of energy transport int the form of waves or particles, such as light.
Scientific Method
Process used to systematically and objectively examine and explain a problem of observed phenomenon.
Subduction
The process by which a lithospheric plate descends beneath a neighboring plate.
Tectonics
The field of study that encompasses deformation at a regional to global scale
Theory
Established throughly tested generally accepted example nation for an observed natural phenomenon that is supported by a substantial body of data.
Transform Plate Boundaries
Zones where lithospheric plates slide past one another neither creation or destruction of the lithosphere.
Major Fields
Historical Geology
Physical Geology
Physical Geology
Study of Earths Surface
Study of the process that form the surface features
Historical Geology
Applies the understanding of physical, chemical and biological process to interpret the history of earth.
Geologic Disciplines
Geochemists
Geophysicists
Paleontologist
Planetary Geologist
Geomorphologist
Mineralogist
Petrologist
Stratigrapher
Structural geologist
Hydrogeologist
Resource geologist Environmental geologist
Layers of the Earth
Curst - Continental and oceanic
Mantle - Thickest Layer
Core - Outer - liquid Inner - Solid
Subordinate Layers
1 lithosphere solid outer skin of rock, part of the crust snd uppermost mantle
2 Athensosphere less rigid molten zone, upper mantle
Slow Geologic Processes
Ground water flow, glacier flow, sediment accumulation in deep sea, eroding of river valleys, rise of mountains, motion oof lithospheric plates.
Fast Geologic Processes
Stream flow, earthquakes, and landslides
Why study geology
Curiosity, to find resources, reduce hazards, volcanic eruptions
Energy in Geologic Processes
Energy of river erosion, earthquakes, drives plate tectonics, geysers, hurricanes, rocky landscapes
Resourses
Water, soil, metals, non metals, energy, renewable resources, non renewable
Population Concerns
Demand for resources is rising, rate of usage is rising, the U.S. uses 30% of resources.
Environmental Problems
air pollution, acid rain, ozone depletion, disposal of toxic waste. global warming, loss of fertile soil. ground water contamination
Geologic Hazards
earthquakes, hurricanes, drought, landslides, floods
Theory of Plate Tectonics
The motion of separate plates of the lithosphere, the crust of earth is broken into separate plates. plates are ridged nd strong, plates move slowly over the atheowphere, plates collide, move apart or slide past
Hot Spots
mid plate volcanoes, Hawaiian islands, volcanoes
Types of plate boundaires
divergent - separate
convergent - collide
transform - slide past
Activites that reflect the scientific method.
observations, Devine the problem, investigate, new data, ask questions, hypothesis, results, reflect, communicate.
