Earth Science Flashcards
Epicentre
The point on Earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
What is the epicentre of an earthquake?
The point on Earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.
Define erosion.
The gradual wearing away and removal of rock at the surface of Earth.
What is igneous rock?
A type of rock formed by the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
What is lava?
Molten rock above Earth’s surface.
What is lithification?
The process in which sediments come together to form sedimentary rock.
Define the lithosphere.
A layer of Earth consisting of the crust and the lithospheric mantle.
What is magma?
Molten rock located below Earth’s surface.
What is metamorphic rock?
A type of rock formed by heat and pressure.
Define a mineral.
A naturally-occurring, inorganic solid substance.
What is a protolith?
The original rock that has undergone metamorphism.
What is the rock cycle?
An idealised series of processes undergone by rocks in Earth’s crust that change rocks from one type to another
What is sedimentary rock?
A type of rock formed by the accumulation and lithification of sediment
Define subduction.
A geological process at convergent boundaries where one tectonic plate sinks beneath another plate
What is a tsunami?
A large ocean wave (or series of waves) caused by the displacement of large amounts of water, typically due to an earthquake or large landslide
