Dynamic Earth: Chapter 1 Flashcards
the scientific study of the Earth
Geology
the study of Earth’s materials, changes of the surface and interior of the Earth, and the forces that cause those changes.
Physical Geology
Natural Resources, Geological Hazards, and Environmental Protection are the three…
Practical Aspects of Geology
Earth layer: Continental Crust: thicker and less dense. Oceanic Crust: thinner, more dense. (30km thick and 0dg Celsius)
Crust
Earth layer: Hot solid that flows slowly. (2,900km 1000dg Celsius (Mg, Fe, Al, Si, O)
Mantle
Earth layer: Outer: metallic liquid. Inner: metallic solid, mostly iron (5,200km, Liquid, 4300dg Celsius (Fe, S)
Core
Earth layer: Solid (Fe)
Inner core
created 4.56 m.y.a
Earth
Formed 4 b.y.a, upper most mantle, underlying the lithosphere
Asthenosphere
the gases that envelope the earth
Atmosphere
water on or near the earths surface
Hydrosphere
All living or once living materials
Biosphere
the solid rocky earth
Geosphere
An engine that gets its energy from the sun, is the driver of atmospheric and hydrospheric circulation, and controls the weathering of rocks at Earth’s surface
Earth’s External Heat Engine
An engine that drives most geospheric phenomena (volcanic magnetism, tectonism)
Earth’s Internal Heat Engine
A mechanical layer (100km) both crust and uppermost mantle that makes up earths tectonic plates.
Lithosphere
A boundary in which plates move apart, magma rises, cools and forms new lithosphere
Divergent Boundaries
A boundary in which plates slide past one another, fault zones, earthquakes mark boundaries
Transform Boundaries
A boundary in which plates move toward each other, common as mountain belts and volcanoes
Convergent Boundaries
volcanic and/or tectonic forces build crust above sea level, erosion allows isostatic uplift of underlying continental rocks
Uplift
rainfall and glaciers flow down slopes, moving water, ice and wind loosen and erode geological materials creating sediment
Weathering and Erosion
loose sediment is deposited and earlier sediments get buried by later ones and harden
Deposition
word describing elevation
Topographic
land under a body of water
Bathymetric
location of an earthquake
Epicenter
