chapter 27.3 & 4 Flashcards
a major principle of stratigraphy stating that within a sequence of layers of sedimentary rock, the oldest layer is at the base and that the layers are progressively younger with ascending order in the sequence.
principles of superposition
Relative dating puts geologic events in chronological order without requiring that a specific numerical age be assigned to each event
relative dating
the process by which water enters earth and becomes ground water
inflitration
the upper boundary of a saturated zone
water table
the transfer of water through pore space
aquifer
percentage of a material’s total volume
porosity
the process of assiging an exact age
absolute dating
which states the law of nature that operates today
uniformitarism
gaps in rock
unconformities
remains or traces of organisms
fossils
what percentage of water on Earth is salt water
97%
what percentage of water on Earth is freshwater
3%
where is the majority of freshwater found
glaciers
where is the smaller percentage of fresh water found
lakes, rivers, ground water
what is percipitaion
rain snow sleet hail
what is runoff
water running off the land surface
what is infiltraition
the process by which water enters earth and becomes groundwater below the surface
what is transpiration
when plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves
what is evaporation
when water enters the atmosphere as water vapor
what is condensation
when water vapor collides with other water vapor molecules to form water droplets
what is the water cycle
where freshwater moves from the land to the atmosphere
what is an unsaturated zone for groundwater storage
a porous area where water easily passes through
what is the saturated zone for groundwater storage
bemeath the saturated zone where water completely fills the pore space
what is a water table
the upper boundary of the saturated zone
