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23 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
comparative planetology
The study of planets by comparing the characteristics of different examples.
seismic waves
A mechanical vibration that travels through Earth; usually caused by an earth-quake.
mantle
The layer of dense rock and metal oxides that lies between the molten core and Earth’s surface; also, similar layers in other planets.
Plastic
A material with the properties of a solid but capable of fl owing under pressure.
Plate Tectonics
The constant destruction and renewal of Earth’s surface by the motion of sections of crust.
midocean rise
One of the undersea mountain ranges that push up from the seafloor in the center of the oceans.
Basalt
Dark, igneous rock characteristic of solidified lava.
primeval atmosphere
Earth’s first air, composed of gases from the solar nebula.
secondary atmosphere
The gases outgassed from a planet’s interior; rich in carbon dioxide.
ozone layer
In Earth’s atmosphere, a layer of oxygen ions ( O3) lying 15 to 30 km high that pro-tects the surface by absorbing ultraviolet radiation.
terminator
The dividing line between day-light and darkness on a planet or moon.
Limb
The edge of the apparent disk of a body, as in “ the limb of the moon.”
relative age
The age of a geological feature referred to other features. For example, relative ages reveal that the lunar maria are younger than the highlands.
absolute age
An age determined in years, as from radioactive dating ( see also relative age).
anorthosite
Rock of aluminum and calcium silicates found in the lunar highlands.
regolith
A soil made up of crushed rock fragments.
ray
Ejecta from a meteorite impact, forming white streamers radiating from some lunar craters.
subsolar point
The point on a planet that is directly below the sun.
composite volcano
A volcano built up of layers of lava flows and ash falls. These are steep sided and typically associated with subduction zones.
shield volcano
Wide, low profile volcanic cone produced by highly liquid lava.
Coronae
On Venus, large, round geologi-cal faults in the crust caused by the intrusion of magma below the crust.
outflow channel
Geological feature on Mars that appears to have been caused by sudden fl ooding.
valley network
Dry drainage channels re-sembling streambeds found on Mars.