Earth Science

Question 1

Two biggest evidences for our model of earth’s core

Answer 1

1) Earth’s magnetic field
2) Travel of seismic waves of earthquakes

Question 2

Adiabatic process

Answer 2

a thermodynamic process that occurs without heat transfer between a system and its surroundings.

Question 3

Adiabatic cooling

Answer 3

a natural process that cools air by reducing its pressure and allowing it to expand.

Question 4

Adiabatic heating and cooling

Answer 4

Changing temperature based on a change in pressure not in a transfer of kinetic energy.

Question 5

Hygrometer

Answer 5

An instrument that measures humidity

Question 6

Explain how the greenhouse effect works

Answer 6

Visible light is absorbed by the earth’s surface. Some is transformed and reflected as IR. This reflected IR is absorbed by CO2 and other greenhouse gases. These gases reradiate IR trapping it to the earth’s surface.

Question 7

How have scientists estimated the age of the earth?

Answer 7

Radiometric dating of meteorites

Question 8

What is an isobar on a weather map?

Answer 8

• a line on a weather map that connects points of equal atmospheric pressure.
• Isobars are used by meteorologists to predict the weather, especially wind speed and direction.
• Isobars close together indicate areas where the pressure is changing over a short area. This indicates the movement of a cold or warm front.

Question 9

What is a Lahar?

Answer 9

• volcanic mudflow resulting from the explosion of a volcano when a part of the rim of the crater breaks free, releasing volcanic material and material of the broken rim
• Lahars are mudflows that contain water, ash, and rock. Lahar flows have a great deal of momentum knocking down everything in their path and burying a region in several feet of volcanic material.

Question 10

What are responsible for the surface currents in the ocean?

Answer 10

Wind and earth’s rotation

Question 11

What are the layers of the atmosphere starting from sea level (five)

Answer 11

Troposphere –> Stratosphere –> Mesosphere –> Thermosphere –> Exosphere

Question 12

What determines the boundaries in the layers of the atmosphere

Answer 12

The layers of the atmosphere are determined by temperature

Question 13

How does the temperature change with increasing altitude for each layer of the atmosphere

Answer 13

Troposphere – temp. decreases
Stratosphere – increases
Mesosphere – decreases
Thermosphere – increases
Exosphere – increases

Question 14

What layer of the atmosphere holds the ionosphere?

Answer 14

Thermosphere

Question 15

What is a pyroclastic flow?

Answer 15

A pyroclastic flow is a dense, fast-moving flow of solidified lava pieces, volcanic ash, and hot gases. A pyroclastic flow is extremely hot, burning anything in its path. It may move at speeds as high as 400 miles per hour

Question 16

What is a mudflow?

Answer 16

• Flow of water that contains large amounts of suspended particles and silt.
• Mudflows occur on steep slopes where vegetation is not sufficient to prevent rapid erosion but can occur on gentle slopes if other conditions are met. Other factors are heavy precipitation in short periods and an easily erodible source material.

Question 17

phreatic volcanic eruption

Answer 17

a volcanic explosion that occurs when water is heated by magma and turns to steam

Question 18

Nuees Ardentes

Answer 18

a fast-moving, turbulent cloud of hot ash and gas that erupts from a volcano.

Question 19

What is a mineral

Answer 19

natural, inorganic, homogenous solids that have a definite chemical composition. They are never liquids or gasses.