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Geography > Physical Geography > Flashcards

Physical Geography Flashcards

1
Q

Physical geography is the study of what?

A

Processes and patterns in the natural environment.

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2
Q

How far do the continents move each year?

A

A few centimeters.

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3
Q

Who first suggested that the continents were moving?

A

German climatologist and geophysicist Alfred Wegener

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4
Q

What was his theory?

A

Once all the continents were part of a super continent, caused by continental drift.

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5
Q

What is the super continent called?

A

Pangaea

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6
Q

How long ago did the super continent exist?

A

300 million years ago before breaking up.

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7
Q

What proof is there of continental drift?

A
  1. Fossils of the same creatures are found on different continents, separated by oceans.
  2. South America and Africa fit together like a puzzle.
  3. Similar mountains are found on both sides of the Atlantic.
  4. Ice sheets once covered now tropical places.
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8
Q

What is the difference between continental drift and plate tectonics?

A

Wegener said only the continents were moving. Plate tectonics says that plates consist of both Oceanic and Continental crust.

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9
Q

What is earth’s crust called?

A

The lithosphere.

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10
Q

What is the lithosphere?

A

Earth’s crust.

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11
Q

What is the lithosphere moving over?

A

The asthenosphere.

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12
Q

What is the asthenosphere?

A

A layer of hot rock within the mantle.

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13
Q

The earth can be divided into 4 layers. Name them.

A
  1. Crust
  2. Mantle
  3. Outer core
  4. Inner core
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14
Q

How many tectonic plates are there?

A

Around 20.

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15
Q

What causes the lithosphere to move?

A

Convection currents.

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16
Q

What are convection currents?

A

Heated fluid (hot rock within the earth) rises, carrying heat to the surface, only to cool, sink, and be reheated.

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17
Q

What is a divergent plate boundary?

A

Where two plates are moving away from each other.

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18
Q

What is a convergent plate boundary?

A

When plates are moving toward each other.

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19
Q

What is a transform plate boundary?

A

When plates are sliding against each other in opposite directions.

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20
Q

Which are heavier: Oceanic or continental plates?

A

Oceanic plates.

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21
Q

What is a subduction zone?

A

When a heavier plate dives under a lighter one.

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22
Q

Where do most volcanoes occur?

A

Parallel and inland to subduction zones.

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23
Q

Where do most earthquakes occur?

A

Along transversal plate boundaries and subduction zones.

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24
Q

Why do earthquakes occur?

A

When plates move along each other, they build up friction. When the are jammed, eventually something will give. The friction will be released, causing an earthquake.

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25
Q

What is it called when two plates are moving away from each other?

A

Divergent plate boundary.

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26
Q

What is it called when plates are moving towards each other?

A

Convergent plate boundary.

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27
Q

What is it called when plates move in opposite directions to one another?

A

Transform plate boundary.

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28
Q

What is it called when one plate goes under another?

A

Subduction zone.

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29
Q

What is folding?

A

The bending of earth’s crust.

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30
Q

What is faulting?

A

The cracking of earth’s crust.

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31
Q

How are mountains built?

A

Folding, faulting, and volcanic activity.

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32
Q

What are rifts and how are they caused?

A

The earth’s crust is pulled apart.

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33
Q

What is extension?

A

The pulling apart of earth’s crust.

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34
Q

Name a famous rift.

A

The Great Rift Valley in Africa.

41
Q

What are convection currents?

A

Heated fluid (hot rock within the earth) rises, carrying heat to the surface, only to cool, sink, and be reheated.

51
Q

Why can’t we travel to the center of the earth?

A
  1. Pressure

2. Heat

52
Q

Is there more water above earth’s crust or below it?

A

Below.

52
Q

As you get closer to earth’s core, what happens to gravity?

A

It becomes stronger.

53
Q

What does gravity do?

A

Prevents earth’s atmosphere from floating away.

53
Q

What happens to air as you get closer to the earth’s surface?

A

It becomes more dense.

54
Q

How thick is the lithosphere?

A

30 miles.

54
Q

How far can rivers flow in caves?

A

Hundred of miles.

55
Q

What are the remnants of ancient underground lakes, found in caves?

A

Giant crystals.

55
Q

The Alps are made of what?

A

A piece of Africa sitting on Europe.

56
Q

What is the Midatlantic Ridge?

A

A divergent plate boundary causes magma to seep up, creating a ridge.

56
Q

How far does the Midatlantic Ridge stretch?

A

From the middle of the Atlantic onto Iceland.

57
Q

What is magma?

A

Molten rock beneath earth’s crust.

57
Q

What is lava?

A

Molten rock that has reached the surface.

58
Q

Describe the conditions of Pangaea.

A

Vast swamps and rainforests, flat, well watered.

58
Q

How much oxygen was is the atmosphere around the time of Pangaea?

A

There was 60% more oxygen.

59
Q

An increase in oxygen leads to what?

A

Super sized animals.

59
Q

How far down is the deepest mine?

A

2.5 miles

60
Q

How long does it take to go down the longest mine elevators?

A

2 hours

60
Q

What is the deepest hole ever dug?

A

7.5 miles

61
Q

What kind of life is found below earth’s crust?

A

Bacteria.

61
Q

What is needed for extremifiles to survive?

A

Rock, water, and heat.

62
Q

How far down can life be found?

A

10 km.

62
Q

What started a biological revolution, and what did it allow?

A

Oxygen allowed complex life to exist.

63
Q

What makes the oceans blue?

A

Iron oxide.

63
Q

What changes solid mantle rock into lava?

A

A change in pressure.

64
Q

What is the land between the crust and the mantle called?

A

The moho.

64
Q

How heavy is mantle rock compared to granite?

A

Twice the weight of granite.

65
Q

Mantle is rich in what?

A

Heavy elements and gemstones.

65
Q

Why are gemstones found in the mantle?

A

They form under extreme pressures.

66
Q

Why is the mantle crucial for life?

A

It causes the continents on top of it to move.

66
Q

What are diamonds and how are they made?

A

Crushed carbon formed by volcanic eruptions billions of years ago.

67
Q

What are flaws in diamonds?

A

Primitive pieces of mantle.

68
Q

How do geologists measure earthquakes?

A

With seismometers..

69
Q

What do seismometers do?

A

They determine the difference between layers of the earth.

70
Q

If all earth’s water was above the crust, what would the land look like?

A

There would be no land.

71
Q

Where is the Ring of Fire?

A

It circles the Pacific Ocean.

72
Q

How large are plumes within the mantle in diameter?

A

100 miles.

73
Q

What can mantle plumes create?

A

Islands.

74
Q

What does the earth’s magnetic field do?

A

Protects life from radiation.

75
Q

What would happen to the magnetic field if the earth stopped spinning?

A

It would disappear.

76
Q

Is earth’s magnetic field getting weaker of stronger?

A

Weaker.

77
Q

Where is the earth’s magnetic field the weakest?

A

The South Atlantic Anomaly.

78
Q

What would happen if the earth’s magnetic field reversed?

A

We would lose our shield for several months.

79
Q

What is the inner core made of?

A

Solid metal.

80
Q

By how much does the inner core expand every year?

A

1 m

81
Q

How hot is the earth’s core compared to the surface of the sun?

A

It is hotter than the sun.

82
Q

How was the core created?

A

Heavy iron sunk down.

83
Q

Meteorites can tell us what? Why?

A

They can give a glimpse of earth’s core as they are rich in iron.

Geography (6 decks)

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