Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Geology

A

The study of Earth

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2
Q

Geologist also study…

A

Rocks, water, soil, & the atmosphere

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3
Q

Natural Disaster

A

A naturally occurring event that has a negative effect on humans

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4
Q

What makes a natural disaster?

A

A disaster that happens in nature by nature

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5
Q

What makes a natural event a disaster?

A

The destruction of homes and loss of lives

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6
Q

“Great” Natural Disaster

A

A natural disaster that kills 1,000s of people & require international aid

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7
Q

Why are “Great” Natural Disasters increasing?

A

Because Earth’s population is increasing

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8
Q

“Return Time”

A

The average # of years between same-sized events

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9
Q

Gas giant planets

A

Large, low density balls of gas

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10
Q

Terrestrial planets

A

Small, more dense balls of gas

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11
Q

Earth’s constant changing surface

A

.Internal heat from radioactive decay
.K, Th, & U isotopes
.”Tectonic system”
.”Hydrologic system”

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12
Q

Scientific Method

A

Analyze scientific problems in a way that leads to verifiable results

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13
Q

Hypothesis

A

A possible explanation, involving naturally occurring processes

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14
Q

Theory

A

Scientific ideas that are tested and could be proved wrong

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15
Q

Law

A

Scientific ideas that are absolutely correct

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16
Q

Uniformitarianism Principle

A

.Traditional: The present is the key to the past

.”Actualism: The laws of nature do not change through time

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17
Q

Application of uniformitarianism

A

Traditional

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18
Q

Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships

A

Any geologic phenomenon that cross-cuts something is younger than whatever it is cross-cutting

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19
Q

Hydrologic System

A

Water in solid, liquid, & gas form

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20
Q

Tectonic System

A

Moving plates

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21
Q

Tectonic plates control

A

Mountain ranges, position of continents, earthquakes, & volcanoes

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22
Q

Seismologists

A

Study earthquakes

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23
Q

Volcanologist

A

Study volcanoes

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24
Q

Scientific Method Steps

A
  1. Identify problem
  2. Collect data
  3. Propose hypothesis
  4. Test hypothesis
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25
Q

Everyday Theory

A

A “hunch”

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26
Q

4 common elements on Earth

A

Iron, Oxygen, Silicon, & Magnesium

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27
Q

Mineral

A

Solid substances of specific chemical composition, w/ arranged atoms in an orderly pattern

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28
Q

Rock

A

Aggregates of minerals

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29
Q

3 types of rocks

A

Sediment, Metamorphic, & Igneous

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30
Q

Igneous rock

A

.Granite
.Intrusive/Extrusive
.Solidification (Crystallized) from magma/Consolidation

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31
Q

Sedimentary rock

A
.Conglomerate
.Metamorphism
.Lithification
.Deposited by water, wind, glaciers, or landslides
.Compacted/cemented
.Forms near the surface
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32
Q

Metamorphic rock

A

.Former igneous/ sedimentary rock
.Changes due to high temperature and pressure
.Compresses
.Foliation/banding

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33
Q

Intrusive

A

.aka plutonic

.Rocks forming deep underground

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34
Q

Extrusive

A

.aka volcanic

.Rocks forming from lava cooling quickly

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35
Q

Foliation

A

Pressure squeezes mineral crystals into layers

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36
Q

Banding

A

Separation of minerals into light & dark layers

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37
Q

Silicate minerals

A

.Minerals that contain silicon & oxygen and aluminum of iron
.Found in the Earth’s crust

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38
Q

Mohorovicic discontinuity

A

Boundary between crust & mantle, where velocity of earthquakes waves change

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39
Q

Crust

A

.Outermost layer

.Continental crust less dense than oceanic crust

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40
Q

Mantle

A

.Below the crust to 2900km
.More dense
.Composed of silicates minerals w/ more Fe & Mg

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41
Q

Core

A

.Most dense
.Composed mostly of Fe & no silicates
.2900km to the center

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42
Q

Atmosphere

A

Mostly gas

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43
Q

Hydrosphere

A

Water originated from volcanic activity

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44
Q

Lithosphere

A

.Solid, rigid and brittle
.Crust & upper mantle
.Thickness

45
Q

Asthenosphere

A

.Upper mantle
.Ductile rocks
.Deform easily

46
Q

Mesosphere

A

.Middle to lower part of mantle
.More solid
.Somewhat ductile
.Temperature decreases with height

47
Q

Outer core

A

Liquid

48
Q

Inner core

A

Solid

49
Q

Radioactive decay

A

Earth’s internal heat source

50
Q

Earth’s energy sources

A

.Sun
.Radioactive decay
.Gravity
.Impact by extraterrestrial objects

51
Q

Seismic wave refraction

A

.Light travels more slowly

52
Q

Seismic wave reflection

A

.Light travels faster

53
Q

Hydrologic system

A

.Erosion & deposition by water

.Primary source: sun & gravity

54
Q

Tectonic system

A

.Plates moving on Earth’s surface

.Primary source: radioactive decay

55
Q

Mars

A

.Has no tectonic plates

.Volcanoes are not common

56
Q

Oceanic crust

A

.Composed of volcanic igneous rock aka basalt

.Created by sea floor spreading

57
Q

Continental drift

A

.Alfred Wegener (1914)

.Continents were united to form pangaea

58
Q

Wegener’s evidence

A
.Fossil distribution
.Ancient glacier
.Rocks
.Fit of continents
.Paleoclimate distribution
59
Q

Wegener’s evidence rejected

A

Lack of a mechanism

60
Q

Plate tectonic theory

A

.Lithosphere- rigid plates which move relative to each other

.Asthenosphere- plastic, allowing movement of the lithosphere

61
Q

Principle of superstition

A

Older layers are on the bottom

62
Q

Fixed continent

A

Wandering poles & don’t move

63
Q

Drifting continent

A

Fixed pole & continents move

64
Q

Seafloor

A

.Igneous & thin layer of sediments

.Gives clues as to how plates move

65
Q

Mid-ocean ridges

A

High heat flow & volcanic activity

66
Q

Ocean ridge spreading rapidly

A

Longer and wider

67
Q

Pillow lava

A

Fount at the bottom of mid-ocean ridges

68
Q

Sea-floor magnetic anomalies

A

.Parallel bands of reversed & normal polarity
.Found across mid-ocean ridges
.Calculate the rate of plate movement

69
Q

Global Positioning System

A

Helps us understand plate movement

70
Q

Oceanic plate

A

thin, dense

71
Q

Continental plates

A

thicker, less dense

72
Q

Isostasy

A

An idea that the asthenosphere deforms plastically to accommodate the plates

73
Q

GPS

A

Precisely calculate rate & direction of movement

74
Q

Guyots

A

.Seamounts

.Flat-topped ones

75
Q

Paleomagnetism

A

Preserves Earth’s magnetic field in iron-rich rocks

76
Q

Magnetite

A

.Common in igneous rocks

.Can be found in sedimentary rocks where grains align

77
Q

Poles of continents

A

Varied by continent

78
Q

3 types of plate boundaries

A

Divergent, convergent, & transform

79
Q

Majority of divergent plates

A

Mid-ocean ridges

80
Q

mid-ocean ridges features

A

Increase in age & decrease in temperature & volume as you move away from the center

81
Q

Continental rifting, less common why?

A

They eventually become a mid-ocean ridge

82
Q

Triple-junction rift

A

3 armed rift (shaped like a “Y”)

83
Q

Aulacogen

A

1 failed arm in a triple-junction ritft

84
Q

East African rift

A

Is a triple-junction rift

85
Q

Basin & range area

A

.Rifting at 1-5 cm/yr

86
Q

Name of Basin & range area

A

Presence of “fault block mountains & valleys

87
Q

Subduction zone

A

Oceanic plate is pushed beneath another plate

88
Q

Where are subduction zones?

A

Deep ocean trenches

89
Q

Plates involved in subduction zones

A

Continental and oceanic

90
Q

Pattern of earthquake distribution at subduction zones

A

Deep earthquakes

91
Q

Focus of an earthquake

A

Exact location below the surface measure in km

92
Q

Volcano activity at subduction zones

A

Magma rises towards the surface

93
Q

Volcanic arc

A

A chain of volcanoes overridden by a continental plate

94
Q

Island arc

A

A chain of volcanoes overridden by a oceanic plate

95
Q

Japan

A

.Oceanic plate & oceanic plate

.Island arc

96
Q

Andes

A

.Continental plate & oceanic plate

.Volcanic arc

97
Q

Cascade range

A

Volcanic arc

98
Q

Pacific ocean aka “Ring of Fire”

A

subduction zones surround it

99
Q

Continental & continental plates

A

.No subduction

.Highly deformed rocks of mountain ranges form

100
Q

The Himalayas

A

Continental & continental plates

101
Q

What are common at continental/ continental plates

A

Because the earthquakes are shallow

102
Q

Transform plates

A

Move past each other

103
Q

Name: transform plates

A

It causes faults

104
Q

Most common type of transform boundary

A

.Mid-ocean ridges

.Contact between 2 plates

105
Q

Mantle plume

A

A long-lived fixed “hot spot” in the mantle

106
Q

Why do mantle plumes rise?

A

Because if comes from the core-mantle boundary

107
Q

No silicate material

A

The core

108
Q

Subduction zones properties

A

.Deep focus earthquakes
.Volcanic arc
.Deep ocean trench

109
Q

Tectonic system primary source

A

heat from radioactive decay from unstable isotopes