deas Flashcards
Term/Front
Definition/Back
(Radioactive Decay) Absolute Dating
As an unstable atomic nucleus (core
of an atom) attempts to become
stable, it sheds an alpha particle
(protons and neutrons) and emits
radiation
• This causes original atomic nucleus to
become a new atomic element
– This process is called radioactive
decay and it will continue until the
forces in the nucleus are balanced
and stable
Similarities and differences between Midlatitude and Tropical cyclones
Both have low-pressure centers.
Both cause heavy rain and strong winds.
Midlatitude Cyclones: Form in temperate zones, need cold and warm fronts.
Tropical Cyclones: Form over warm tropical waters, powered by ocean heat.
Uniformitarianism
The Earth has gradually changed over time
– That said, the processes that have shaped the Earth have not changed
– “The present is the key to the past”
The Geologic Time Scale
Rocks can be used to piece together
Earth’s history
• The challenge is putting the pieces in
the correct order.
Relative Dating
Compare rocks or events to other rocks or events to determine
which is older/younger
– Can’t determine the exact age using this methodology
Absolute Dating
Determines the age of rocks or events in terms of actual years* (e.g.,
2.4 million years old)
(Stratigraphy) Relative Dating
Branch of geology concerned with the order and relative position of
strata (layers of rock) and their relationship to the geological time scale
Superposition Relative Dating
This is the most basic principle of relative dating
– In undeformed stratigraphic sequences, the oldest strata will lie at the
bottom of the sequence, while newer material is above
(Unconformity) Relative Dating
A break/gap in time within the rock record
– Many unconformities are due to sea-level changes, sea-level has
fluctuated hundreds of feet over time
(Lateral Continuity) Relative Dating
Layers of sediment (and the rock layers they form) extend laterally in
all directions when first deposited
– So, similar rock layers that are separated by valleys or other erosional
features can be assumed to have been originally continuous
Fossil Succession) Relative Dating
This is what was used to create The
Geologic Time Scale
– Different types of fossils appear in a
predictable sequence through
geological time (i.e., each fossil
species has a unique age range)
– Index Fossil
• Commonly found fossils with a very
narrow age range
(Correlation) Relative Dating
Matching up rock layers from
different locations to determine if
they are the same age, even if they
are geographically separated
• Do this by comparing features like rock
type, fossil content, and sedimentary
structures
– Can create a complete record in
some cases despite unconformity
at particular locations
Radioactive Decay (Continued)
– Half-life
• The time it takes for half the mass of a
radioactive isotope to decay into the
daughter product
– Can range from fractions of a second
to billions of years
Dating the Rock Record
Have to use BOTH relative and
absolute dating methods when
looking at an actual rock record
Folding
The process by which rocks bend instead of break when stress is
applied, creating wave-like structures
• Rocks are typically deposited in flat horizontal sheets, but folding will cause
these to warp into new directions
Rock Cycle
Magma cools to make igneous rocks -> metarmorphism and weathering -> sediments -> erosion -> sedimentary rock -> metamorphic rock -> melting -> magma
Metamorphic Rocks (Non-Foliated)
not foliated it does not a have any banding stripes or layers
Earth’s Oldest Mineral
4.4 Billion Years)
Precipitation
is falling water/ice
All precipitation originates from
parcels of moist air rising (cooling adiabatically)
steps for precipitation
Parcels cool until saturation is reached, thus allowing for condensation – Clouds form from condensed moisture – Over time accumulated moisture can fall (precipitation)…
For precipitation we need two things: – 1. – 2.
Moisture in the air
A mechanism to cool the air – This is necessary to cause condensation, such as rising air, which cools and allows water vapor to condense into droplets, eventually leading to precipitation.
Air Mass Thunderstorms form when the following three conditions are met:
Sufficient Moisture – There must be enough moisture in the atmosphere to form clouds and precipitation.
Atmospheric Instability – The air must be unstable, meaning that warm air at the surface can rise easily through cooler air above, allowing convection to occur.
A Lifting Mechanism – There needs to be a trigger, such as surface heating, that forces the warm air to rise and form the thunderstorm.
Frontal Uplift Cold Front
If a cold air mass (dense) approaches a warmer air mass (less dense), the cold air will “bulldoze” the warmer air vertically
Frontal Uplift – Warm Front
If a warm air mass (less dense) approaches a colder air mass (more dense), the warm air mass will ride up over the cooler air
Orographic Lifting
Air rises over mountains, cools, and causes rain on the windward side; the leeward side stays dry.
Convectional Uplift
Warm air rises, cools, and condenses, often causing thunderstorms and heavy rain.
Severe Thunderstorms Defined as severe when (at least 1) of the following occur:
Hail
Tornado
Winds reach 58 mph or higher
Severe thunderstorms form when three conditions are met:
Sufficient Moisture
Atmospheric Instability – Warm air can rise rapidly through cooler air above
Lifting Mechanism – A trigger, like a front or intense surface heating, forces the air to rise.
Lightning
is electric discharge from thunderstorm based on charge differences in atmosphere during a thunderstorm (not fully understood)
Thunder
produced by rapid expansion and compression of air by lightning bolt
Hail
Precipitation phenomena – Ice crystals pass through subfreezing and above-freezing layers collecting water
Tornado
– Small vortex of air – Associated with very low pressure – Descends down from the wall cloud at the base of the thunderstorm – Winds can range from 110 mph – 200 mph+
Dissipating stage (E)
– Once the storm has elevated all warm air
Midlatitude Cyclones
Surface large scale low pressure systems –
Central pressure near 990 to 1000 mb •
Jet streams usually responsible for formation and movement* •
Exists between 35-70° latitude •
Converging counterclockwise circulation (Northern Hemisphere) –
Rising motion • Circulation creates fronts
Jet Streams
Fast flowing upper air (neartropopause) currents – Polar jet stream • Found between large boundaries of warm and cold air in the midlatitudes
Life Cycle of a Midlatitude Cyclone:
Early stage (A and B) – Open wave stage (C) – Occlusion stage (D) – Dissipating stage (E)
Early stage (A and B)
Stationary front is prominent •
Separating cold air mass and warm air mass –
Beginning of the formation of the surface low due to divergence aloft –
Winds begin to circulate around the center of low pressure
Open wave stage (C)
During this stage the system has well-defined fronts •
Cold Front • Warm Front
Occlusion stage (D)
Eventually, the surging cold front will catch up with the warm front
– Warm air begins lifting from the surface as the cold “dense” air forces it upwards
– Occluded front created
– Cyclone starts to weaken or “dissipate”
Tropical Cyclone
Low surface pressure system •
Thrive off warm waters (Tropics)
– “Warm core system” •
Typically form between 5-25° latitude
Converging counterclockwise circulation (Northern Hemisphere)
Eye –
located in the center of a hurricane – Generally calm/clear condition
Eyewall
towering ring of cumulonimbus clouds that surrounds the eye
Rapid rising motion from just outside of the eye fuels these storms – Strongest winds, heaviest rainfall
• Rainband
convective bands of heavy precipitation that spirals inward toward the center of the storm
what is banding
banding is a type of foliation with alternating thick layers with different mineral compositions
Crystal form
unique shape of crystals
Define Rocks
Made up of a combination of minerals
• Three main types:
– Igneous
– Sedimentary
– Metamorphic
Metamorphic Rocks (Foliated)
Foliated (striped, distinct sheets of minerals)
• Banding