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GEO 101 > introduction to geology (1) > Flashcards

introduction to geology (1) Flashcards

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1
Q

Geology

A

The science that examines Earth, its form and composition and the changes that it has undergone and is undergoing

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2
Q

Physical Geology

A

A major division of geology that examines the materials of Earth and seeks to understand the processes and forces acting beneath and upon Earth’s surface

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3
Q

Historical Geology

A

A major division of geology that deals with the origin of Earth and its development through time. Usually involves the study of fossils and their sequence in rock beds.

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4
Q

List three different geological hazards.

A

Earthquakes
Volcanoes
Landslides

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5
Q

Aside from geologic hazards, describe another important connection between people and geology.

A

Geologic resources, we use a lot of resources

People influence geologic processes

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6
Q

Describe Aristotle’s influence on geology.

A

Aristotle presented nebulous ideas, but he was authoritative and his ideas were prominent until the renaissance

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7
Q

Catastrophism

A

The concept that Earth was shaped by catastrophic events of a short-term nature
(James Ussher)

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8
Q

Uniformitarianism

A

The concept that the processes that have shaped Earth in the geologic past are essentially the same as those operating today

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9
Q

Who published Theory of the Earth?

A

James Hutton

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10
Q

What is the age of the Earth?

A

4.6 billion years

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11
Q

Which eon, era, period and epoch do we live in?

A

Phanerozoic
Cenozoic
Quaternary
Holocene

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12
Q

Hypothesis

A

A tentative explanation that is then tested to determine if it is valid

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13
Q

Theory

A

A well-tested and widely accepted view that explains certain observable facts

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14
Q

Scientific Method

A

The process by which researchers raise questions, gather data, and formulate and test scientific hypothesis

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15
Q

Hydrosphere

A

Water portion of the planet

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16
Q

Atmosphere

A

Earth’s gaseous envelope

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17
Q

Geosphere

A

Solid earth

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18
Q

Biosphere

A

Totality of all plant and animal life on Earth

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19
Q

Soil

A

the thin veneer of material at Earth’s surface that supports the growth of plants, may be thought of as part of all four spheres

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20
Q

Earth System Science

A

An interdisciplinary study that seeks to examine Earth as a system composed of numerous interacting parts or subsystems

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21
Q

System

A

A group of interacting or interdependent parts that form a complex whole

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22
Q

How much of Earth’s surface do oceans cover?

A

71%

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23
Q

What percentage of Earth’s water supply do oceans represent?

A

96%

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24
Q

List 3 examples of systems.

A

Car
Economy
Planet

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25
Q

What are the two sources of energy for the Earth system?

A

Energy released from radioactive decay

Sun

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26
Q

When is it thought that the Big Bang occurred?

A

13.7 billion years ago

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27
Q

Nebular Theory

A

A model for the origin of the solar system that supposes a rotating nebula of dust and gases that contracted to form the Sun and planets

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28
Q

Solar Nebula

A

The cloud of interstellar gas and/or dust from which the bodies of our solar system formed

29
Q

Describe the steps in the formation of Earth’s layered structure

A

Heavy elements (iron) sunk and less massive elements rose (oxygen)

30
Q

List the inner planets

A

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

31
Q

List the outer planets

A

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

32
Q

What are the differences of the inner and outer planets?

A

Inner, rocky planets are small and dense

Outer, gas planets are large and gaseous

33
Q

Explain why density and buoyancy were important in the development of Earth’s layered structure.

A

Density allowed layers to sink or rise

34
Q

Crust

A

The very thin, outermost layer of Earth

35
Q

Mantle

A

The solid rocky shell that extends from the base of the crust to a depth of 2900 kilometers

36
Q

What percent of Earth’s volume is the mantle?

A

82%

37
Q

Lithosphere

A

The rigid outer layer of Earth, including the crust and upper mantle

38
Q

Asthenosphere

A

A subdivision of the mantle situated below the lithosphere. This zone of weak material exists below a depth of about 100 km and in some regions extends as deep as 700 km. The rock within this zone is easily deformed.

39
Q

Transition Zone

A

The lowest portion of the upper mantle

40
Q

Lower Mantle

A

The part of the mantle that extends from the core-mantle boundary to a depth of 660 km

41
Q

D” Layer

A

The boundary layer between the rocky mantle and the hot liquid iron outer core will be examined in

42
Q

Core

A

The innermost layer of Earth. It is thought to be largely an iron-nickel alloy, with minor amounts of oxygen, silicon, and sulfur

43
Q

Outer Core

A

A layer beneath the mantle about 2270 km thick, which has the properties of a liquid

44
Q

Inner Core

A

The solid innermost layer of Earth, about 1216 kilometers in radius

45
Q

What generates Earth’s magnetic field?

A

The movement of metallic iron within the outer core

46
Q

Why is the inner core solid?

A

The immense pressures that exist in the center of the planet (despite the higher temperature)

47
Q

Minerals

A

Chemical compounds (or sometimes single elements) that each have their own composition and physical properties

48
Q

Rock Cycle

A

A model that illustrates the origin of the three basic types and the interrelatedness of Earth materials and processes

49
Q

Igneous Rock

A

Rock formed from the crystallization of magma

50
Q

Sediment

A

Unconsolidated particles created by the weathering and erosion of rock by chemical precipitation from solution in water, or from the secretions of organisms, and transported by water, wind, or glaciers

51
Q

Sedimentary Rock

A

Rock formed from the weathered products of preexisting rocks that have been transported, deposited, and lithified

52
Q

Metamorphic Rock

A

Rock formed by the alteration of preexisting rock deep within Earth (but still in the solid state) by heat, pressure, and/or chemically active fluids

53
Q

List two rock characteristics that are used to determine the processes that created a rock.

A

Composition and texture

54
Q

What are the two principal divisions of Earth’s surface?

A

Ocean basins and continents

55
Q

Ocean Basin

A

A deep submarine region that lies beyond the continental margins

56
Q

Continents

A

A large, continuous area of land that includes the adjacent continental shelf and islands that are structurally connected to the mainland

57
Q

The _____ _____ that comprise the oceanic crust average only _ km thick and have an average density of about ___ g/cm3.

A

basaltic rocks
7
3.0

58
Q

The continents average about __ km thick and are composed of ____ ____ that have a density of about ___ g/cm3.

A

35
granitic rocks
2.7

59
Q

Continental Margin

A

The portion of the seafloor that is adjacent to the continents. It may include the continental shelf, continental slope, and the continental rise

60
Q

Continental Shelf

A

The gently sloping submerged portion of the continental margin, extending from the shoreline to the continental slope

61
Q

Continental Slope

A

The steep gradient that leads to the deep-ocean floor and marks the seaward edge of the continental shelf

62
Q

Continental Rise

A

The gently sloping surface at the base of the continental slope

63
Q

Deep-Ocean Basins

A

The portion of seafloor that lies between the continental margin and the oceanic ridge system. This region comprises almost 30% of Earth’s surface

64
Q

Abyssal Plain

A

A very level area of the deep-ocean floor, usually lying at the foot of the continental rise

65
Q

Deep-Ocean Trench

A

A narrow, elongated depression of the seafloor

66
Q

Seamount

A

An isolated volcanic peak that rises at least 1000 meters above the deep-ocean floor

67
Q

Mid-Ocean Ridge

A

A continuous mountainous ridge on the floor of all the major ocean basins and varying in width from 500 to 5000 km. The rift at the crests of these ridges represent divergent plate boundaries.

68
Q

Mountain Belt

A

A geographic area of roughly parallel and geologically connected mountain ranges developed as a result of plate tectonics

69
Q

Craton

A

The part of the continental crust that has attained stability; that is, it has not been affected by significant tectonic activity during the Phanerozoic eon. It consists of the shield and the stable platform

GEO 101 (19 decks)

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