Earth Flashcards
1
Q
Characteristics of Earth
A
- only place with life found
- densest planet
- active surface (tectonics and volcanoes)
- oceans of liquid water
- atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen (when carbon dioxide atmospheres are more common)
2
Q
Differentiation of Earth
A
- average density of the crust and earth leads us to know that the interior is much more dense - made of iron & nickel
- seismic waves teach us that the interior is layered
Crust: lighter silicates (sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rock)
Mantle: dense oxides
Outer core: liquid iron
Inner core: solid iron
3
Q
How does the magnetic field work
A
- caused by iron core
- dynamo effect: circles the earth
- protects us from solar wind
4
Q
What causes the auroras?
A
- caused by charged particles from the sun hitting the atmosphere near the Earth’s sun
- sneak through the magnetosphere in the poles
5
Q
How is the surface active?
A
- has tectonics and weathering that shape and remake the surface
6
Q
Volcanism:
A
- correlates with plate tectonics
- also arises from hot spots
7
Q
what is the atmosphere made of?
A
- 77% nitrogen
- 21% oxygen
- almost 0 CO2
- 2% other
about 100 miles high - but at 5 miles high the density and pressure is only 40% of sea level
8
Q
Where did the oxygen come from
A
- started out as CO2
- oxygen and nitrogen came from living organisms
9
Q
atmosphere layers
A
- troposphere
- stratosphere
- mesosphere
- thermosphere
10
Q
1st layer:
A
Troposphere: clouds and weather
- gets cooler the higher you go
11
Q
2nd layer:
A
Stratosphere: ozone layer, UV protection
- gets hotter the higher you go
12
Q
3rd layer:
A
Mesosphere: a low density transition zone
- cooler the higher you go
13
Q
4th layer
A
Thermosphere: transition to space
- hotter the higher
14
Q
What are clouds and what do they do
A
- water condensation in the troposphere
- highly reflective (give the earth an albeod of .39)
