Intro, Art, Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce Canyon Flashcards
Geology
Greek
Geo= earth
logia= study of
Geology Scientific Method
-Used to find answers to questions, gathering data
-Data is obtained through observations and/or experiments, which can be repeated and verified by others
-the best answer is known as a theory
Why study national parks?
-Dependent on Earth’s resources to function as a society
-Society can function
-How to manage resources
-to build safe and sustainable structures
Art and the National Park System
-America’s greatest achievements
-Paintings, drawings, and photographs captured the beauties of the landscape
-Mid 19th century Americans wanted to learn more. Scientific Expeditions from west came back with documentation
-Geologic wonders became a pivotal resource in introducing the beauty of the scenery to an eager public
-Preserving these regions became to rise
Earth’s system
Contains the Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and Geosphere
atmosphere
envelope of gas that surrounds the planet
Hydrosphere
including oceans, surface water on land, and ground
-Water covers about 70% of the surface. 98% resides in the ocean, land covers 30% of the surface
Biosphere
aggregate of all living organisms, as well as the portion of the Earth in which they exist
Geosphere
the solid Earth, from the surface to the center
Earth’s Atmosphere
Troposphere, Tropopause, Stratosphere, Stratopause, Mesosphere, Mesopause, Thermosphere
Earth’s crust
Least dense. Most outer layer
Earth’s Mantle
Dense. Middle layer
Earth’s Core
Most Dense. Most inner layer
Lithosphere
The __________ is composed of two
components: the crust and the upper mantle.
Asthenosphere
the upper layer of the earth’s mantle, below the lithosphere, in which there is relatively low resistance to plastic flow and convection is thought to occur.
Plate Tectonic Theory
Study of dynamic creation, movement, and destruction processes of plate
Plate Tectonic
is the unifying theory of
geology. The theory was the linkage to two ideas: Continental Drift and Sea Floor Spreading.
Continental Drift Theory
The theory of ___________ _____ Theory is most associated with the scientist Alfred Wegener. In the early 20th century, Wegener published a paper explaining his theory that the continental landmasses were “drifting” across the Earth, sometimes plowing through oceans and into each other
Sea Floor Spreading Theory
_________ __________ occurs at divergent plate boundaries. As tectonic plates slowly move away from each other, heat from the mantle’s convection currents makes the crust more plastic and less dense. The less-dense material rises, often forming a mountain or elevated area of the seafloor. Eventually, the crust cracks.
plate boundaries
Defined by the areas of concentrated
seismic and volcanic activities, rifts, faults, and mountain ridges
divergent plates
plates move away
from each other
Convergent plates
plates move
toward each other
Transform Plates
plates move sideways
past each other
Mid-Ocean Ridge
Ocean floor is created at a rate of 1.7 cm/yr.
* Youngest crust is always at the ridge.
* A fracture zone borders the ridge.
* The mid-ocean ridge is much shallower than the deeper abyssal plains.
Volcanic Island Arc
When subduction involves
two oceanic plates, the
________ ______ ___ forms on
the overriding plate
