The EARTH Flashcards
study of the Earth
Geology
5 main studied things in geology
- Both interior and exterior surface
- Rocks (and other materials)
- Processes that formed the minerals (in rocks)
- Water flowing over and underneath the surface
- Changes that has happened and will happen in items mentioned above
- Serves the art and science of engineering through description of the structures and attributes of the rocks connected with engineering works.
- Also aims to identify and evaluate natural hazards that may affect the success of an engineering project.
Engineering Geology
Reasons to study Earth
- home, care
- resources
- evolution
- minimize risk of hazards
- changes
- how humans altered the environment
age of the Earth
4.57B yrs. old
how was the Earth’s age estimated
Radiometric dating
developed catastrophism
Georges Cuvier
earth was shaped through catastrophes
gaps in fossil records (mass extinction events)
Catastrophism
basis of uniformitarianism
James Hutton, supported by Charles Lyell
slow processes shaped the Earth over a long period of time
same actions in the past are the same with events happening now
Uniformitarianism
chemical layers of earth
crust
mantle
core
mechanical layers of earth
lithosphere
asthenosphere
mesosphere
outer core
inner core
the way temperature increase as one goes deeper into the Earth
geothermal gradient
As heat tends to transfer from an area of higher temperature to an area of lower temperature, the heat travels from the inside and towards the surface of the Earth.
convection cells
upward
New Lithosphere forms (ocean ridges)
Plates diverge (move apart)
