geog 2051 final Flashcards
1
Q
what are the 4 spheres of the Earth?
A
- lithosphere
-hydrophere
-atmosphere
-biosphere
2
Q
what is the solid portion of the globe
A
lithosphere
3
Q
what is the water portion of the globe
A
hydrosphere
4
Q
what is the gases that surround the globe
A
atmosphere
5
Q
what are the living organisms that occupy the globe
A
biosphere
6
Q
a method for producing new knowledge
A
scientific method
7
Q
a body of existing knowledge
A
theory
8
Q
a provisional explanation
A
hypothesis
9
Q
a set of objects and their attributes that are linked together by a flow of matter and energy
A
system
10
Q
matter and energy can leave the system
A
open system
11
Q
the system is self-contained; matter and energy are preserved
A
closed system
12
Q
whatever is inputted in to the system will either be used as storage or will be outputted
A
budgets
13
Q
inputs are larger than outputs and storage increases
A
positive budget
14
Q
outputs are larger than inputs and storage decreases
A
negative budget
15
Q
inputs are equal to outputs and storage is constant
A
balanced budget (equilibrium)
16
Q
a fixed balance that is rarely changing
A
static equilibrium
17
Q
a balance that is constantly changing
A
dynamic equilibrium
18
Q
systems response to a change in conditions or inputs that acts to influence the initial change
A
feedbacks
19
Q
system responses that result in positive increases
A
positive feedbacks
20
Q
system responses that act to reduce environmental conditions and helps the system maintain and preserve itself
A
negative feedbacks
21
Q
parallels that use the equator as reference
A
latitude
22
Q
meridians that use Greenwich as a reference
A
longitude
23
Q
the innermost portion of the earth
A
core
24
Q
the part of the earth that is very hot, under a lot of pressure and contains solid iron
A
inner core
25
the part of the earth that is hot, liquid iron
outer core
26
the middle portion of the earth
mantle
27
the plastic layer of the mantle
asthenosphere
28
the ridge layer of the mantle
uppermost mantle
29
the outermost portion of the earth
crust
30
the mantle and crust make up the ____
lithosphere
31
a type of rock formed from cooling magma; broken down by weathering processes
igneous rock
32
a type of rock formed by lithification and sediments
sedimentary rock
33
a rock that is formed by a molecular change due to intense heat and pressure
metaphoric rock
34
large scale movements of the earth's crust
isostasy
35
the last supercontinent
pangea
36
plate boundaries that move away from each other
divergent boundaries
37
what do divergent boundaries result in?
sea floor spreading zone
38
plate boundaries that move toward one another
convergent boundaries
39
plate boundaries where the plates slide past each other
transform boundaries
40
what do transform boundaries result in
subduction zone
41
areas where volcanic activity is abundant
hot spot
42
a gentle eruption created by magic magma that produces flood basalts and shield volcanoes
effusive eruption
43
a powerful eruption created by felsic magma that produces calderas and neuss ardente
explosive eruption
44
occurs near plate boundaries and is a shaking of the earth's crust
earthquakes
45
the idea that when forces act on a rock, the pressure builds
Elastic Rebound Theory
46
place in the ground where seismic waves are released
focal point
47
center location of any major disaster
epicenter
48
a scale that measures how much energy is released during an earthquake
richter scale
49
another name for the richter scale
moment magnitude scale
50
a force that results in pulling apart
tension
51
what force causes faulting
tension
52
a force that results in squeezing
compression
53
what force causes folding
comression
54
forces that act in opposite directions and cause horizontal bending in rocks
shear
55
a crack in a rock
joint
56
a particular type of joint
fault
57
faults that are created by tensional forces
normal fault
58
faults that are created by compressional forces
reverse/thrust fault
59
faults created by shear forces
strike-slip fault
60
mountain formation that occurs along collisional plate boundaries
orogenesis
61
the formation of volcanoes in the ocean is what type of orogenesis?
oceanic-oceanic
62
what is an example of oceanic-oceanic orogensis?
japan
63
the formation of mountains along the edge of a continent is what type of orogenesis?
oceanic-continental
64
what is an example of oceanic-continental orogenesis?
andes mountains
65
the formation of mountains when 2 low density plates crash into one another is what type of orogenesis?
continent-continent
66
what is an example of continent-continent orogenesis?
himalayas
67
a large stable block of earth's crust, forming the nucleus of a continent
craton
68
a fault-bounded area or region with a distinctive stratigraphy structure, and history
terrane
69
difference in elevation of 2 areas
relief
70
what are the 3 topographic regions
mountains; hills and low tablelands; plains
71
areas with relief of more than 600 meters
mountains
72
flattish topography with some elevation and relief less than 600 meters but greater than 100 meters
hills and low tablelands
73
areas where total relief is less than 100 meters
plains
74
refers to a wide range of different processes that break down earth materials over time
weathering
75
weathering processes taht involve mechanical forces
physical weathering
76
weathering processes that involve processes that attack materials at the molecular level
chemical weathering
77
what are the 5 controls of weathering
rock characteristics; climate; hydrology; topography; vegetation
78
what are 3 examples of physical weathering processes
root wedging; crystallization; frost action (freeze thaw)
79
when water gets into the cracks of rocks, and then freezes, cracking the rock
frost action (freeze thaw)
80
the formation of crystals in the crack of rocks
crystallization
81
when roots of trees grow out of the crevices of rocks
root wedging
82
what are 3 examples of chemical weathering processes
oxidation; hydrolysis; carbonization
83
what chemical process results in rust?
oxidation
84
what chemical process strips hydrogen molecules from a substance
hydrolysis
85
an inclined or curved surface that represents the boundary of the land
slope
86
the force that holds a particle down
gravity
87
the force acting opposite to a moving object
friction
88
the force that holds particles together
cohesion
89
the maximum critical steepness of a slope is known as _____
equilibrium
90
the equilibrium of a slope is also known as the ____
angle of repose
91
what are the 3 uses for water?
cohesion between particles; lubricant to reduce friction; buoyancy
92
the zone where inputs are created; the top of the slope
waxing slope
93
zone of accumulation (debris slope)
waning slopes
94
steepest portion of the slope
free face
95
what is the fastest type of mass movement and does not require any water?
avalanches and rock falls
96
what is a relatively fast type of mass movement with lots of water
flows
97
a type of mass movement where water carries mud
mudflow
98
a type of mass movement where water carries bigger material such as rocks along with mud
debris flows
99
a type of mass movement that can be either fast or slow
slide
100
a type of mass movement when a big piece of hill detaches itself from the hill and moves as a unit
landslide
101
an extremely slow type of mass movement resulting in the slow movement of the upper layers of the soil downhill
creeps
102
what are the 4 processes involved in the hydrologic cycle
evaporation; advection; precipitation; runoff
103
occurs when groundwater is taken faster than it is replaces; water table drops down
grounwater mining
104
occurs when pore spaces fill with air when the water table drops down and the pressure compresses the air, resulting in a collapse
aquifer collapse
105
landfills and septic systems can leak and flow into water systems resulting in ____
pollution
106
the movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers
saltwater intrusion
107
a land area that supplies water to a particular river system
drainage basin
108
a drainage pattern that resembles a tree or root system and is found in many different systems in life (most energy efficient)
dendritic
109
a drainage patter where all tributaries are relatively parallel to one another and flow in the same direction
parallel
110
a drainage pattern where the tributaries flow away from a central point and occurs in areas with a high central elevation
radial
111
drainage patter where tributaries flow in one direction but for a 90 degree angle with the river
trellis
112
a drainage pattern that has no logic to it and occurs in places that were recently disturbed
deranged
113
type of channel where water flows year round
perennial
114
type of channel where water flows seasonally
intermittent
115
type of channel where water very rarely flows; arid regions; can remain dry for years
ephermeral
116
volume of water moving past a point per unit in time
discharge
117
what is the equation for discharge
Q = v * w * d
118
wearing down of particles
erosion
119
moving of soil / particles
translocation
120
mode of sediment transport when particles are deposited somewhere
deposition
121
total amount of sediment a river can move
capacity
122
size of sediment that a river can move
competence
123
material dissolved in water results in a _____
solution
124
type of mode of sediment transport that carries somewhat larger materials
suspension
125
mode of sediment transport where the material maintains some degree of contact with the bed
bedload
126
type of bedload where the material bounces along
saltation
127
type of bedload where the material rolls along the bed
traction
128
determines how much energy a river system has
longitudinal profile
129
when a river's ability to carry sediment is equal to the supply of sediment
graded stream
130
triangular shaped landform where velocity drops at the mouth
delta
131
example of delta with river inputs
mississippi delta
132
example of delta with waves
sao francisco
133
example of delta with tides
fly river
134
3 requirements for effective aeolian processes
small sediment size; little to no vegetation; arid conditions
135
wearing away of materials
abrasion
136
flat-sided stones
ventifacts
137
tear-drop shaped landforms
yardangs
138
2 examples of abrasion
ventifacts; yardangs
139
the removal of fine grain materials
deflation
140
depressions created from wind blowing across a surface
blowouts
141
2 examples of deflation
desert pavement; blowouts
142
dunes move ____ during dune migration
downwind
143
the gentler slope of a dune
stoss slope
144
the downwind and steep slope of a dune
lee slope (slipface)
145
crescent shaped due with horns pointing downwind; forms in areas with small sediment supply
barchans
146
straight crested ridges formed perpendicular to the wind in areas with a larger sediment supply and unidirectional wind
transverse ridges
147
linear dune with a crest parallel to the bidirectional winds
longitudinal dune
148
a dune created with a star shape; large sediment supply; multidirectional wind
star dune
149
what are the 2 dune controls
sediment supply; wind direction
150
the dynamic portion of the coastal zone that involves transporting sediment
littoral zone
151
the part of the littoral zone that begins at water depth where waves are just starting to stir up sediments
newar shore
152
part of the littoral zone where wave crash
surf zone
153
part of the littoral zone where water rushes up the beach when a wave crashes
swash zone
154
part of the littoral zoen that is exposed to air at low tide and covered with water at high tide
foreshore
155
part of the littoral zone that is the dry portion of the beach; sandy
backshore
156
the change in elevation of sea level that occurs along a coastline in response to gravitational forces
tides
157
tides that range from 0-2 meters in depth
microtidal
158
tides that range from 2-4 meters in depth
mesotidal
159
tides that are greater than 4 meters
macrotidal
160
tide that results in the maximum tidal range
spring tide
161
tide that results in the minimum tidal range
neap tide
162
highest point on a wave
crest
163
lowest point on a wave
trough
164
the difference in elevation between a crest and trough
wave height
165
the distance between 2 successive wave crests or troughs
wavelength
166
a combination of wave heigh and wave length
wave steepness
167
the amount of time it takes for a wave to travel one wavelength
period
168
3 factors of wave generation
wind speed; duration; fetch
169
changes that waves have in shallow water
shoaling
170
during shoaling, wavelength ____
decreases
171
during shoaling, wave height ____
increase
172
during shoaling, wave steepness ____
increase rapidly
173
during shoaling, wave period ____
remains constant
174
the bending of a wave crest when different portions are moving at different speeds
wave refraction
175
when waves approach the shore at an angle
longshore currents
176
this is generated by a force that disturbs an area in the ocean over a long period of time
tsunamis
177
created by underwater earthquakes
tsunamis
178
narrow ridges of sand that run along a coast
barrier islands
179
this type of protection reduces wave energy and sediment transport
hard protection
180
this type of protection mimics natural processes
soft protection
181
area covered by ice or partially covered by ice
cryosphere
182
inputs of global temperature
solar energy
183
outputs of solar energy
longwave energy
184
true or false: global temperature used to be colder than what they are now
false
185
what does global temperature depend on?
greenhouse gases
186
a geological time period that encompasses the most recent 2.6 million years
quaternary
187
what is the quaternary period divided into?
holocene and pleistocene
188
what is the current interglacial period known as>
holocene
189
what is another name for the holocene?
age of man
190
a time of warming and possibly caused by climate changes
medieval warming
191
a period of time when there were colder winters than those of the 20th century
little ice age
192
what time period is made up of glacial and interglacial periods?
pleistocene
193
the cyclical movement related to earth's orbit around the sun
Milankovitch cycles
194
what affects the amount of heat on the earth's surface and influences climate patterns?
milankovitch cycles
195
what are the 3 types of milakovitch cycles
eccentricity; obliquity; precession
196
a type of milakovitch cycle where earth's orbit is an ellipse and a complete cycle takes around 100000 years
eccentricity
197
a type of milankovitch cycle that deals with the axial tilt of the earth and takes 41,000 years to complete
obliquity
198
a type of Milankovitch cycle where earth's axis wobbles like a top and is caused by tidal forces; takes 26000 years to complete
precession
199
glaciers make up __% of the earth's land surface
11
200
what type of glaciers are found in coastal regions with high moisture?
humid-maritime glaciers
201
what type of glaciers are found in continental interior areas with dry atmospheric conditions
dry-continental glaciers
202
where is snow deposited when forming glaciers
accumulation zone
203
what is the snow that has not yet been compressed into ice that accumulates to form glaciers called?
firn
204
where seasonal melt and transportation of seasonal ice occurs
ablation zone
205
the lower limit of any year's permanent snowfall that separates the zone of accumulation and ablation
snowline
206
when ice melts more quicly than snowfall can accumulate
glacial retreat
207
when snow adds more to a glacier than melting and sublimation remove; total volume of the glacier increases
glacier advance
208
occurs when the rate of accumulation equals the rate of sublimation
stagnant glacier
209
permanent deformation due to pressure and the primary way glaciers move
plastic flow
210
when glaciers break instead of flow and occurs in cracks and crevasses of a glacier
brittle flow
211
the act of a glacier sliding over the bed due to meltwater under ice acting as a lubricant
basal slip
212
glacial movement is generally _____
slow
213
rapid movement common in stagnant or receding glaciers
glacial surges
214
the mechanical rubbing of ground rock with glacial rock material along the underside of a glacier
abrasion
215
ground rocks attack to the base of a glacier as it slides across the landscape and the rocks are removed from the bedrock
plucking
216
a huge depression at the valley head created from glaciers plucking rocks from the head of a valley
cirque
217
a pyramid shaped peak with jagged edges
horns
218
a serrated ridge created as a result of erosion of the interfluve
arete
219
a cirque lake created after glaciers melt away
tarn
220
a glacial lake connected by a single stream
paternoster lake
221
occurs when tributary valleys are left hanging at higher elevation above the valley floor; results in spectacular waterfalls
hanging valleys
222
occurs when ice erodes away valley sides and the v-shape valley changes
u-shaped valley
223
the furthest position reached by the glacier
terminal moraine
224
the position where a glacier was stagnant for a period of time
recessional moraine
225
parallel ridges of debris deposited along the sides of a glacier
lateral moraine
226
ridges formed in the middle of 2 glaciers; occurs when glaciers merge
medial moraine
227
formed from glacial sediments deposited by meltwater outwash at the terminus of the glacier
outwash plain
228
material that is deposited directly by the glacier
till
229
sediment laid down by glacial meltwater
stratified drift
230
flat plain of glacial till formed by an ice sheet detaching from the main body of the glacier
till plain
231
lakes formed from meltwater
esker
232
created when a chunk of ice gets left behind and outwash gets deposited around it
kettle lake
233
small, irregularly shaped hills created from sediment deposits
kames
234
teardrop shaped landforms formed of till and ice flows over them
drumlin
235
erosional features carved into outcrops of rock and are created as glaciers flow over them
roche moutonee
236
what does roche moutonee mean?
rock sheep
237
permanently frozen ground
permafrost
238
continuous permafrost occurs at ____ altitudes
higher
239
discontinuous permafrost occurs at ____ altitudes
lower
240
the top later of soil that melts away yearly
active layer
241
occasional areas of unfrozen ground in the continuous permafrost zone
talik
242
the mixing of soil as a result of freeze thaw; creates patterned ground
cryturbation
243
crack in permafrost where water trickles down and overtime freezes and creates a wadge of ice
ice wedge
244
formed by large blocks of ice in the ground that attracts water
pingo
