Midterms Flashcards
What are the 4 branches of Science
Geology, Meteorology, Astronomy, Oceanography
What is the scientific method
the process of objectively establishing facts through testing and experimentation. The basic process involves making an observation, forming a hypothesis, making a prediction, conducting an experiment and finally analyzing the results.
Layers of the Earth
the inner core, the outer core, the mantle and the crust.
Compositional layer of earth
Core, mantle, and crust
Structural layers of the earth
lithosphere, asthenosphere, mantle outer core, and inner core
what are the 4 spheres of earth
lithosphere” (land), “hydrosphere” (water), “biosphere” (living things), and “atmosphere” (air)
what is ecology
the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
what is a topographic map
use of elevation contour lines to show the shape of the Earth’s surface.
what is the structure of an Atom
Atoms consist of an extremely small, positively charged nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons.
characteristics of minerals
Cleavage, color, streak, density, crystal, hardness, luster, specific gravity, mineral
properties of minerals
luster, specific gravity, crystal shape, streak, cleavage and fracture, magnetism
rock cycle
he sequence of processes in which rock changes from one form to another and destroys and again formed by various geological processes is called the rock cycle. All this process takes millions of years. The processes included in the rock cycle are melting, cooling, heating, weathering, erosion, heat, and pressure
form when hot, molten rock crystallizes and solidifies.
Igneous Rock
formed from pre-existing rocks or pieces of once-living organisms.
Sedimentary Rock
started out as some other type of rock, but have been substantially changed from their original igneous, sedimentary, or earlier metamorphic form.
Metamorphic
Properties of Rocks
hardness, streak, crystal, luster, color, fracture, cleavage, relative, density, magnetism
How are minerals and rocks connected?
rocks are made of minerals
Mineral Resources
iron, clay, lead, crushed stone, coal, gold, nickel
Energy resources
solar, geothermal, nuclear, wind, hydropower, coal, biomass, natural gas, oil
renewable and nonrenewable resources
renewable resource can replenish itself at the rate it is used, while a nonrenewable resource has a limited supply.
Examples:
renewable- solar energy, trees, soil, grass
non renewable- oil steel aluminum coal
Conservation/Environmentalism
The environment is something we use, so we have to conserve it and take care of it, so that others can use it in the future.
what are plate tectonics
a theory explaining the structure of the earth’s crust and many associated phenomena as resulting from the interaction of rigid lithospheric plates which move slowly over the underlying mantle.
the formation of new areas of oceanic crust, which occurs through the upwelling of magma at midocean ridges and its subsequent outward movement on either side.
sea floor spreading
mechanisms of Sea floor spreading
The seafloor spreading definition is the geologic process that occurs at the boundary between 2 plates where molten material within the earth pushes its way up, causing the plates to move away from each other. At these divergent boundaries molten material cools and hardens, creating new oceanic crust or seafloor.
folding and faulting of the crust
Folds form when the layers of rock bend around, and faults occur where rock layers actually break, and in some cases slide over each other.
a process in which a section of the earth’s crust is folded and deformed by lateral compression to form a mountain range.
orogeny
how are mountains made
two continental plates collide
what are the types of mountains
Fold, fault- block, Dome, Volcanic, Plateau
created where two or more of Earth’s tectonic plates are pushed together
fold mountain
A mountain formed by blocks of rock uplifted from normal faults.
fault block mountain
formed from hot molten material (magma) rising from the Earth’s mantle into the crust that pushes overlying sedimentary rock layers upward to form a “dome” shape
Dome Mountain
formed as a result of volcanic activities on the surface of the Earth
Volcanic mountains
what is the structure of an Earthquake?
The location below the earth’s surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter, and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the epicenter. Sometimes an earthquake has foreshocks. These are smaller earthquakes that happen in the same place as the larger earthquake that follows.
an elastic wave in the earth produced by an earthquake or other means.
seismic waves
Triangulation is a method that uses distance information determined from 3 seismic stations to uniquely locate the earthquake. On a map, circles are drawn around each seismic station. The radius of the circle are scaled to the estimated distance from the station to the earthquake.
Seismograph & Triangulation
Magnitude is a measure of earthquake size and remains unchanged with distance from the earthquake. Intensity, however, describes the degree of shaking caused by an earthquake at a given place and decreases with distance from the earthquake epicentre.
Magnitude and intensity in earthquakes
Tsunamis
giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea
Where/How do volcanoes form?
in two settings where either oceanic plate descends below another oceanic plate or an oceanic plate descends below a continental plate.
what are the types of pyroclastic material
Pyroclastic flow:dense, fast-moving flow of solidified lava pieces, volcanic ash, and hot gases. It is extremely dangerous to any living thing
Volcanic ash
Volcanic bombs:includes ash, lapilli, and lava bombs that are blown out of a volcano or form in pyroclastic flows.
Pumice:light-colored igneous rock blown into the air in a semi-liquid state. The rock cools so fast it does not have time to crystallize. Gas bubbles inside
Lapilli:material that falls out of the air during a volcanic eruption or during some meteorite impacts. Lapilli is Latin for “little stones”.
Lava
Pahoehoe: The lava is identical in both pahoehoe and aa lava flows, the difference comes from the amount of lava erupted and the speed of cooling.
How are volcanos monitored
Scientists use a wide variety of techniques to monitor volcanoes, including seismographic detection of the earthquakes and tremor that almost always precede eruptions, precise measurements of ground deformation that often accompanies the rise of magma, changes in volcanic gas emissions, and changes in gravity
what are indications of an eruption
An increase in the frequency and intensity of felt earthquakes.
Noticeable steaming or fumarolic activity and new or enlarged areas of hot ground.
Subtle swelling of the ground surface.
Small changes in heat flow.
Changes in the composition or relative abundances of fumarolic gases.
What is the difference between relative and absolute dating
Archaeologists have two main ways to tell the age of sites and artifacts. Relative dating tells how old something is in relation to other objects, but cannot provide a year or specific date of use. In contrast, absolute dating provides a specific calendar year for the occupation of a site.
learn how to
Use/describe stratigraphic principles and how they can be used to determine relative age of rock layers
How do fossils form?
For a fossil to form, sediment must cover the organism quickly. The sediment protects the remains from scavenging animals, erosion and decay. Most often, fossils include hard tissue like bones, teeth, shells and wood, since soft tissue rarely preserves. But footprints and other marks left behind can fossilize, too.
what are the types of fossils
petrified, mold, cast, carbon film fossils, trace fossils, preserved remains, impression fossils
What are ways in which time can be divided down?
eons, eras, periods, epochs and ages
How has the Earth changed over the last 4.5 billion years?
he earth has changed a great deal over its long 4.5 billion year history. It has gone from a molten ball of elements to a layered rocky planet. Following the emergence of plants, an atmosphere rich in oxygen, supporting a lush green world, has replaced Earth’s early atmosphere of methane and carbon dioxide.
he earth has changed a great deal over its long 4.5 billion year history. It has gone from a molten ball of elements to a layered rocky planet. Following the emergence of plants, an atmosphere rich in oxygen, supporting a lush green world, has replaced Earth’s early atmosphere of methane and carbon dioxide.
