Earth Flashcards
Fault
A break or fracture in the crust of the earth
Seismograph
How earthquakes are measured. The size and strength of the seismic waves that are released during an earthquake
Earthquake
Shaking or trembling of the earth caused by movement along a fault
Uplift
Upward movement of earths crust (mountains)
Tsunami
Earthquake underwater
Topographic map
2 dimensional model of the earths surface
Also known as contour maps
Relief
Difference between high and low elevations
Contour line
A line on a map that connects point of equal evaluation and shape of land
How was the theory of plate tectonics developed in the 1960s
Combining theories of the continental drift and sea floor spreading
The crust
The thin outer layer of earth known as the lithosphere
The asthenosphere
The upper liquid part of the mantle
Tectonic plate
The sections the crust and the upper mantle are broken into that move on a plastic like layer of the mantle
How is a earthquake made
The motion of the upper mantle is the main force threat causes the tectonic plates to move
Convergent
When an oceanic plate converges with the less dense continental plate, the denser oceanic plate subducts or goes down into the mantle is called the subduction zone
Transform
Transform boundaries occur where two plates slide right past one another. They move in opposite directions or in the same direction at different rates
Divergent
The boundary between two plates that are moving apart is called a divergent boundary
The thick line on a topographical map
Index contour line
Evidence for the continental drift
Fossils. Climate. Landforms
What is a convection current
Convection nuclear motion of water or air. Gets hot, then cold, then hot again. Convection currents are in the mantle. Convection does not touch anything
What are three types of heat transfer
Radiation. Conduction. Convection.
What is radiation transferred through
Empty space, does not need contact
Does conduction touch things
Yes
Does convection touch things
No
The layer of rock it earth surface is called the
Lithosphere
A large Area of earth surface is covered with
Hydrosphere
All rocks are made of solid components called
Minerals
Mineral can be identified it by what properties
physical and chemical
What is the minerals streak
The color of its powder
How are rocks classified
By their method of formation
What type of rock are pebbles cemented together
Sedimentary
What rock is found in an area of volcanoes
Igneous
What rock is most common at the surface near water areas
Sedimentary
What rock Contains fossils
Sedimentary
What rock is exposed to extreme pressure and heat
Metamorphic
What rock has layers of sand compacted together
Sedimentary
What rock has magma cooled and hardened
Igneous
What rock is made of minerals
Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic
Igneous rock
Forms when hot, liquid rock material (magma or lava) cools and hardens. This hot liquid rock material is found in regions of volcanic activity can make large mineral crystals
Sedimentary rock
Forms from cement sediment. sediment can be rock fragments of pieces of organic matter such as seashells in plant leaves. These sediments overtime will get buried, compressed, and cemented together. Most sedimentary rock forms on earth surface or near water were sediment accumulates. As a sediment accumulates many plants and animals are buried and become part of the rock. These remains of the organisms may become fossils.
Metamorphic rock
Forms when pre-existing rock is exposed to insane heat or pressure. This usually occurs during mountain building or deep within earth. Metamorphic rock may form when a small area of rock is in contact with hot magma.
Weathering breaks down into small pieces called
Sediments
Gravity and glacier
Water and wind
Organic plant and animal matter are found in the
Soil
The force behind all transporting agents of a erosion is
Gravity wind and rain
Sediment is moved by what in the dessert
Wind
Most Sediment is moved by
Gravity
What will break up the land
The deposition of sediment
Crust
The thinnest outermost layer, which completely surrounds the earth. It is the least dense layer. The crust is made of continental crust which makes up landmasses and ocean crust, which makes up the ocean floor
Mantle
The upper part of the mantle is a liquid like plastic that the crust floats on. Beneath This the mantle is a stiff solid.
Outer core
The outer core is above its melting point there for this there is a liquid. It’s composition liquid iron.
Inner core
The inner core is very dense and very hot. It is solid iron and nickel the elements that make up the core of the earth are believed to be the same as those that are found in some meteorites.
The structure of earths interior was discovered by studying what
Earthquake waves
The crust does what to the mantle
Floats on it
The largest section of earth
Mantle
Liquid iron layer
Outer core
The theory of plate tectonics
Describes earths lithosphere to be decided into plates
What can form if two plates collide
Mountains
Where are volcanoes and earthquakes common
The edges of plates
Where do volcanos form
Weak spots in the crust
What is the ring of fire
Refers to crustal activity along the edge of the Pacific Ocean
What does a benchmark indicate
The exact measurement of location
Luster
A gentle sheen or soft glow
Deposition
The action of deposing someone especially a monarch
Glacier
A slow moving mass for river of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction snow on mountains or near the poles
Mineral
A solid in organic substance of natural occurrence
Organic matter
Matter that has come from a recently living organism it is capable of decay or is the product of decay or is composed of organic compound
Rock
The solid mineral forming part of the surface of the earth and other similar planets to expose the surface or underlying the soil of oceans
When does weathering occur
When rocks are exposed to atmospheric gases, water, and the weather.
Weathering of bedrock is caused by
The action of expanding ice, temperature changes, animal and plant activity, and the action of chemicals such as water or carbon dioxide.
Weathering is most effected by
Climate. Air and water pollution have increased the rate of weathering in some locations.
Basalt
Gas bubbles dark on color. Makes up most of the ocean floor. Most common rock type in the earths crust
Conglomerate
Lots of compressed pebbles and sand spell water waves. Running the rack is a great clue that a river or beach once existed there. Often found in large expanses or beds
Gneiss
Ribbon like layers. It’s formed from other rocks that of been squeezed for a long time deep within earths crust. Can be seen on mountainsides where rocks formed below the surface has been pushed up by movements in the earths crust
Limestone
Fossils. Found near oceans and lakes
Marble
Crystals. Formed when limestone is pushed down into the earth and subjected to intense heat and pressure for a long period of time. Some is pure white, others have colorful swirls. Found in Mountainsides and quarries ( pits dug into the earth )and is often used in construction and sculpture
Obsidian
Glassy surface. Created from lava that cools so quickly that no crystal can form On it’s service. Found near volcanic lava flows and is often used to make arrowheads because it’s edges are very sharp.
Why are rocks frequently pulled under the surface of the earth
Movements of earths crust. They get hotter and hotter, then the rock changes.The pressure caused by tons of other rocks passing down from above can transform rocks too heat and pressure usually work together
What is metamorphism
The change when heat and pressure work together to change a rock is called metamorphism him which makes the resulting like a metamorphic rock
Why are forces bringing rocks closer to the surface
Forces are bringing rocks closer to the surface where (they weather and erode and compacted ) Then the forces on earth sync them back down. (Where they are heated, pressed and melted)
The elements that make up rocks
Are never created or destroyed they are constantly being recycled
What does a erosion move to a new location
Sediment
Where is windy erosion common
Dry climates in along beaches
Glacierssssss
Masses of ice that moves slowly down hill
Most sediment on earths surface is moved by
Gravity
Why are the plates constantly in motion
The plates are constantly in motion due to the convection currents in the mantle.The flow of these convection currents move the earths crust. Convection currents are caused by density differences.plate tectonics proves the mechanism that moves the continents
What does topography refer to
The shape of the land
What are hachure marks
Hachure marks show places of deposition where the elevation goes down
