The Lithosphere + The Hydrosphere Flashcards
What is the lithosphere? (layers of the lithosphere)
The outer “shell” or crust of our planets exterior. It consists of everything we can stand on such as mountains, mud, clay, rocks etc.
Define Continental Drift
Alfred Wegener presented the theory of continental drift which was that all continents were in perpetual movement
The 4 plate boundaries and the destructions associated with each
Transformation- Found in the San Andres Fault line and causes large earthquakes
Collision- 2 continents crashing together and builds mountains (India colliding with Asia and is creating the Himalayas)
Subduction- When the oceanic plate is going under the continental plate. 3 disasters occur here; Megathrust earthquakes, tsunamis and sometimes volcanoes
Divergent- 2 plates moving away from each other (aka sea floor spreading
Convection currents and Tuzo Wilson
Tuzo Wilson developed the theory of plate tectonics. This theory corrects Wegeners theory and stated that that the plates under the continents are moving and that there are 20 large ones.
The three types of rocks ( + subcategories and characteristics)
Sedimentary
Clastic- formed from the accumulation of stones cemented together (composed of large angular fragments)
Biogenic- Formed from once living organisms (fossils, shells etc)
Chemical- Crystalline structure (clear or white)
Metamorphic
Foliated- Layered or banded (has “stripes”)
Non-foliated- Crystals not aligned (no layers)
Igneous
Intrusive- Formed inside and has large crystals
Extrusive- Cools on surface and has no crystallization (pumice, obsidian etc)
The 3 types of volcanoes
Shield- When water gets into the vent, it explodes otherwise they have low activity.
Strato- Periodic and effusive eruptions (craziest because produces pyroclastic flows)
Cinder- Lava is highly charged with gas bubbles and erupts from a vent pressure
Super volcanoes ( compare and contrast between regular volcanoes)
- Super volcanoes occur when magma in the mantle rises into the crust but can’t break through so the presure builds up until it is unable to contain the pressure.
- This can occur at hotspots
- Measure 8 or above on the volcanic explosivity index.
Earthquakes- 3 ways they occur
Tectonic Plates- Self explanatory
Volcanic- Induced by the injection or withdraw of magma
Explosion- Occurs when enormous amounts of nuclear energy is released during underground nuclear explosions
Earthquakes- Where they occur in the world
- No part of the earths surface is safe from earthquakes (obviously some places experience more than others)
- 80% happen around the pacific ring of fire
4 Pieces of proof Alfred Wegener proposed
- Fossil evidence on coast of south America and Africa
- The puzzle piece effect
- Mountain range that starts in Canada and finish in Scandinavia
- Glacier evidence in places that are very hot today (India)
The water cycle
- Precipitation
- Snow melt/ runoff
- Surface runoff
- Ground water
- Ground water- aquafers flow
- Plant uptake
- Evaporation
- Transpiration
- Condensation
- Transportation to clouds which makes precipitation
Geomorphic cycle: What are the 3 stages and some features of each?
There are 3 river system: Young, mature and old.
Young: Higher level and always eroding. Features: v shaped valleys, water falls, rapids, gorges, braided streams
Mature: Very eroded (grand cannon). Features: meanders, river cliffs, slip off slopes, floodplains etc
Old: So eroded it’s flat. Features: levees, deltas, point and sand bars, oxbow lakes, prominent meanders, larger floodplains etc
Avalanches: Slab VS sluff
Sluff: Not to bad. Loose snow that originates at a single point on a slope and gathers fresh powder snow as it descends down the mountain.
Slab Avalanches: Most dangerous. Occurs when a cohesive layer of snow slides down a slope.
