earth science Flashcards
keeps the surface warm and protects us from radiation and 100 miles thick
atmosphere
is any portion of the universe that can be isolated from the rest for the purpose of observing and measuring changes
system
in which there is only an exchange of heat and energy and no exchange of matter
closed system
compromises of four vast reservoirs with constant flows of energy and matter
geosphere
atmosphere
biosphere
hydrosphere
it is the only planet known to have an atmosphere containing free oxygen, oceans of water on it’s surface and of course life
earth
atmos means
gas
sphaira which means
globe
5 layers of the atmosphere
troposphere
stratosphere
mesosphere
thermosphere(ionosphere)
exosphere
contains about 75% of all the air in the atmosphere
troposphere
it contains much of the ozone in the atmosphere, 50km upward
stratosphere
the proposed boundary between our atmosphere and outer space
karman line
the region above the stratosphere, here the temperature decreases with height
mesosphere
also known as_______ it reflects and absorbs radio waves
ionosphere / thermosphere
contains mainly hydrogen and oxygen atoms they follow ballistic trajectories under the influence of gravity
exosphere
geosphere comes from the greek word meaning ground
geos
layers of earth
crust, upper mantle, mantle, outer core, inner core
includes the rocks of the crust and mantle, is the solid outer part of the earth
lithosphere
it is the movement of the liquid in the _____ that generate earth’s magnetic field
outer core
is the outermost and thinnest layer of our planet, divided into 15 major tectonic plates k
crust
the totality of earth’s water
hydrosphere
how many percent of the earth’s surface is covered with water
70%
biosphere comes from the greek word______
bios
includes all of earth’s organism and matter has not yet decomposed
biosphere
greek word which means water
hydro
do not contains life
abiotic
contains life
biotic
the study of minerals
minerology
is naturally occuring crystalline inorganic element or compound
mineral
most rock forming minerals composed of mainly of oxygen and silicon
silicates
constitute less than 10% of the mass of the earth’s crust
non silicate
are formed when carbonate ion bonds with other ion
carbonate minerals
are produced when oxygen ions bond with metallic ions
oxide materials
is the size and shape assumed by the crystal faces when a crystal has time and space to grow
crystal form
the ability to resist scratching
hardness
is the softest mineral
talc
is the hardest mineral
diamond
is the tendency of some minerals to break along definite smooth planes
cleavage
refers to the way in which a mineral breaks
fracture
is the property of reflecting of one or more wavelengths
color
is the color of the powder of a mineral
streak
is the appearance of a mineral’s surface in reflected light
luster
is a ratio of a mineral’s sample mass to the mass of an equal voume of water
specific gravity
is a solid natural aggregate of one or more minerals
rock
most abundant primary rocks, source is magma or lava
igneous
secondary rocks
sedimentary
branch of geology which deals with study of rocks
petrology
change of forms of igneous and sedimentary due to temperature pressure and chemical fluids
metamorphic rocks
forms when lava cools on earth’s surface
extrusive
forms when magma cools within the earth
intrusive
by the rate at which molten rock cools
grain size
the transformation of sediment into a sedimentary rock is a process called
lithification
is classified as an organic chemical sedimentary rock
coal
icicle - shaped stalatites and cone shaped stalagmites
dripstone
gives clue to it’s place of origin
shape
is the layering that develops at the time the sediment is deposited
bedding / stratification
where a river empties into a lake where sediments fill in depressions
cross bedding
is the process by which the structure, mineral content or both of a rock is changed while the rock remains solid
metamorphism
types of metamorphism
contact, regional, shear and hydrothermal
the father of geology
James hutton
