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Earth And Environmental Science > Earth Basics > Flashcards

Earth Basics Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the Earth’s Structure? – The layers of Earth

A

including the crust

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2
Q

What is the Crust? – The outermost layer of Earth

A

made of solid rock.

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3
Q

What is the Mantle? – The thick layer of semi-solid rock beneath the crust.

A
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4
Q

What is the Core? – The innermost layer of Earth

A

consisting of the outer liquid core and the solid inner core.

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5
Q

What is Plate Tectonics? – The theory that Earth’s lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that move and interact.

A
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6
Q

What are Tectonic Plates? – Large sections of Earth’s crust that move due to convection currents in the mantle.

A
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7
Q

What is a Convergent Boundary? – A boundary where two tectonic plates collide

A

often forming mountains or causing earthquakes.

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8
Q

What is a Divergent Boundary? – A boundary where two tectonic plates move apart

A

leading to the formation of new crust.

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9
Q

What is a Transform Boundary? – A boundary where two tectonic plates slide past each other

A

causing earthquakes.

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10
Q

What is a Fault? – A crack or fracture in Earth’s crust where movement has occurred.

A
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11
Q

What is a Volcano? – A vent in Earth’s crust through which molten rock

A

ash

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12
Q

What is an Earthquake? – A sudden shaking of the ground caused by the release of energy along a fault.

A
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13
Q

What is the Richter Scale? – A scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.

A
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14
Q

What is the Focus of an Earthquake? – The point within Earth where the earthquake originates.

A
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15
Q

What is the Epicenter? – The point on Earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.

A
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16
Q

What is a Tsunami? – A series of large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

A
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17
Q

What is the Rock Cycle? – The continuous process by which rocks are formed

A

altered

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18
Q

What is Igneous Rock? – Rock formed from the cooling and solidification of molten magma or lava.

A
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19
Q

What is Sedimentary Rock? – Rock formed from the compression of sediments over time.

A
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20
Q

What is Metamorphic Rock? – Rock formed when existing rocks are subjected to heat and pressure.

A
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21
Q

What is the Water Cycle? – The continuous movement of water on

A

above

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22
Q

What is Evaporation? – The process by which liquid water turns into vapor and rises into the atmosphere.

A
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23
Q

What is Condensation? – The process by which water vapor cools and turns back into liquid water.

A
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24
Q

What is Precipitation? – Water released from clouds in the form of rain

A

snow

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25
Q

What is Infiltration? – The process by which water enters the soil from the surface.

A
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26
Q

What is Groundwater? – Water that exists beneath Earth’s surface in the soil and rock layers.

A
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27
Q

What is a River Basin? – The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries.

A
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28
Q

What is a Watershed? – The land area that collects water for a river or stream.

A
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29
Q

What is Runoff? – Water that flows over the ground surface into bodies of water

A

such as rivers and lakes.

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30
Q

What is a Glacier? – A large

A

slow-moving mass of ice and snow that moves under its own weight.

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31
Q

What is a Fossil? – The preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms.

A
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32
Q

What is Fossilization? – The process by which organic material is preserved as fossils over time.

A
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33
Q

What is an Aquifer? – A layer of rock or sediment that holds groundwater.

A
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34
Q

What is the Atmosphere? – The layer of gases surrounding Earth.

A
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35
Q

What is the Troposphere? – The lowest layer of the atmosphere

A

where weather occurs.

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36
Q

What is the Stratosphere? – The second layer of the atmosphere

A

containing the ozone layer.

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37
Q

What is the Ozone Layer? – A layer in the stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

A
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38
Q

What is the Mesosphere? – The layer of the atmosphere where meteors burn up upon entering Earth’s atmosphere.

A
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39
Q

What is the Thermosphere? – The layer of the atmosphere that contains the ionosphere and where the Northern and Southern Lights occur.

A
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40
Q

What is the Exosphere? – The outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere

A

where atoms and molecules escape into space.

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41
Q

What is the Magnetosphere? – The area around Earth influenced by Earth’s magnetic field.

A
42
Q

What is the Coriolis Effect? – The deflection of moving objects

A

like winds

43
Q

What is the Greenhouse Effect? – The trapping of heat in Earth’s atmosphere by gases like CO2

A

methane

44
Q

What is Global Warming? – The increase in Earth’s average temperature due to the buildup of greenhouse gases.

A
45
Q

What is a Meteor? – A small object from space that burns up upon entering Earth’s atmosphere.

A
46
Q

What is a Meteorite? – A meteor that survives its passage through Earth’s atmosphere and lands on the surface.

A
47
Q

What is a Comet? – A small body of ice and dust that orbits the Sun and produces a glowing tail when heated.

A
48
Q

What is an Asteroid? – A small

A

rocky object that orbits the Sun

49
Q

What is a Solar Eclipse? – When the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun

A

blocking sunlight.

50
Q

What is a Lunar Eclipse? – When the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon

A

casting a shadow on the Moon.

51
Q

What is the Moon’s Influence on Earth? – The Moon’s gravity causes tides and affects Earth’s rotation.

A
52
Q

What is the Tidal Effect? – The gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth’s oceans

A

causing high and low tides.

53
Q

What is the Earth’s Rotation? – The spinning of Earth on its axis

A

which causes day and night.

54
Q

What is the Earth’s Revolution? – The orbit of Earth around the Sun

A

which takes one year.

55
Q

What is a Leap Year? – A year with 366 days

A

occurring every four years to account for extra time in Earth’s revolution.

56
Q

What is a Solstice? – The two points in Earth’s orbit where the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky.

A
57
Q

What is an Equinox? – The two points in Earth’s orbit when day and night are of equal length.

A
58
Q

What is the Hydrosphere? – All the water on Earth

A

including oceans

59
Q

What is the Lithosphere? – Earth’s outer shell

A

including the crust and uppermost mantle.

60
Q

What is the Biosphere? – The region of Earth where life exists

A

including land

61
Q

What is the Carbon Cycle? – The movement of carbon between the atmosphere

A

land

62
Q

What is the Nitrogen Cycle? – The process by which nitrogen is converted into different chemical forms and circulates in the environment.

A
63
Q

What is the Phosphorus Cycle? – The movement of phosphorus through Earth’s ecosystems

A

primarily in rocks and soil.

64
Q

What is the Water Cycle? – The continuous movement of water on

A

above

65
Q

What is Continental Drift? – The theory that continents have moved over geologic time to their current positions.

A
66
Q

What is Pangaea? – The supercontinent that existed about 300 million years ago before it split into the continents we have today.

A
67
Q

What is Seafloor Spreading? – The process by which new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges as tectonic plates pull apart.

A
68
Q

What is the Ring of Fire? – A zone of high seismic and volcanic activity around the Pacific Ocean.

A
69
Q

What is a Hotspot? – A region in Earth’s mantle where a column of hot material rises

A

creating volcanic activity.

70
Q

What is a Mid-Ocean Ridge? – A long mountain range under the ocean formed by tectonic plate movement.

A
71
Q

What is a Basin? – A low area of land

A

often with water

72
Q

What is a Mountain Range? – A series of connected mountains formed by tectonic processes.

A
73
Q

What is Erosion? – The wearing away of Earth’s surface by wind

A

water

74
Q

What is Deposition? – The process by which sediment is laid down in new locations.

A
75
Q

What is Weathering? – The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces due to physical

A

chemical

76
Q

What is Mechanical Weathering? – The physical breakdown of rocks into smaller fragments.

A
77
Q

What is Chemical Weathering? – The breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions

A

often involving water.

78
Q

What is Biological Weathering? – The breakdown of rocks due to the activities of organisms

A

like plant roots.

79
Q

What is an Ice Age? – A period of time in Earth’s history when large parts of the planet were covered by ice sheets.

A
80
Q

What is a Meteorological Phenomenon? – A natural occurrence related to weather

A

such as a tornado or hurricane.

81
Q

What is a Tornado? – A rapidly rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground.

A
82
Q

What is a Hurricane? – A large

A

powerful tropical storm with strong winds and heavy rain.

83
Q

What is a Thunderstorm? – A storm characterized by lightning

A

thunder

84
Q

What is the Water Table? – The level below which the ground is saturated with water.

A
85
Q

What is Groundwater Recharge? – The process by which groundwater is replenished

A

typically through infiltration.

86
Q

What is a Sinkhole? – A depression or hole in the ground caused by the collapse of a surface layer.

A
87
Q

What is Geothermal Energy? – Energy derived from the heat inside the Earth.

A
88
Q

What is a Fossil Fuel? – Energy resources like coal

A

oil

89
Q

What is the Earth’s Magnetic Field? – The field generated by the movement of molten iron in Earth’s outer core.

A
90
Q

What is the Earth’s Axis? – An imaginary line around which Earth rotates.

A
91
Q

What is the Earth’s Orbit? – The path Earth takes around the Sun

A

completing one cycle every year.

92
Q

What is an Earthquake Fault Zone? – A region with a high risk of earthquakes due to fault line activity.

A
93
Q

What is a Richter Scale? – A scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.

A
94
Q

What is Geology? – The study of Earth’s structure

A

composition

95
Q

What is Seismology? – The study of earthquakes and seismic waves.

A
96
Q

What is Earth’s Atmosphere? – The gases that surround Earth

A

including nitrogen

97
Q

What is a Solar Wind? – A stream of charged particles released from the Sun’s atmosphere.

A
98
Q

What is a Magnetosphere? – The area around Earth influenced by its magnetic field.

A
99
Q

What is a Geothermal Spring? – A spring that produces hot water heated by geothermal energy from Earth’s interior.

A
100
Q

What is Continental Shelf? – The shallow seabed around a continent

A

which extends to a depth of around 200 meters.

Earth And Environmental Science (2 decks)

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