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87 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Earth Science Categories |
Geology Meteorology Oceanography Astronomy Environmental Science |
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Reasons to study Earth Science |
Economic/Natural resources Predict/Protect natural disasters Influence/effect on humans |
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Scales of Space and Time |
Sun is small compared to other stars Time is relative "recent"- dinosaurs/Ice Age |
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Scientific Method |
Observe Hypothesis Text with experiments Modify/disregard |
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Hypothesis |
Tentative (or untested) explianation |
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Theory |
Well-tested and widely accepted view that the science community agrees best explains observable facts |
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Nebular Theory |
Bodies of our solar system evolved from rotating cloud of material Gas/dust collided together |
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Layers (composition) of Earth |
Crust Oceanic- thinner with higher density Continental- thicker and less dense Mantle Core |
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Mechanical Weathering |
Lithosphere Asthenosphere |
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Lithospshere |
Outermost shell of Earth (Crust/Mantle) Cold and breaks into plates |
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Asthenosphere |
2nd layer Flows when stress is applied Like silly puddy |
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Divergent Boundary |
Plates move apart Material rises up to create new surface |
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Convergent Boundary |
Plates move together Ocean-ocean- more dense side descends; volcano Ocean-continental- ocean descends b/c density; volcano Continental-continental- Collide upwards |
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Transform Boundary |
Plates slide past each other |
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Mineral |
Naturally occurring, solid, ordered molecular structure and well-defined chemical composition |
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Atomic Number |
Number of protons in nucleus Also know the element |
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Atomic Mass |
Sum of neutrons and protons |
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Isotopes |
Atoms with the same atomic number, but different mass number Carbon 12, 13, 14 |
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Ionic Bonding |
Atoms gain/lose electrons Opposites attract |
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Covalent Bonding |
Atoms share electrons Stronger than ionic bonds |
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Hardness Index Scale |
Higher will scratch lower Diamond- hard Talc- soft |
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Cleavage |
Separation/break along point of weakness Clean cut |
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Fracture |
No point of weakness Rough cut |
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Silicates |
Most important/abundant 75% of Earth's crust Feldspar- 1st most Quarts- 2nd most |
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Rock |
Naturally occurring solid mass of one or more minerals, or mineral like matter Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic |
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Rock Cycle |
Magma -> Igneous (when cooled) -> sedimentary (when weathered) -> metamorphic (when heated) -> Magma (melted) |
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Magma |
Igneous Molten in Earth |
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Lava |
Igneous Magma rising above Earth |
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Melting rocks |
Adding heat speeds up melting Adding pressure increases melting point |
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Extrusive Rocks |
Formed from lava at surface Volcanic |
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Intrusive Rocks |
Formed in crystallized depth of Earth Cools slower |
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Cooling |
Slow -> few/large crystals Fast -> small crystals Very fast -> glass |
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Igneous composition |
Felsic- continental Intermediate Mafic- oceanic |
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Felsic |
Granite- intrusive Rhyolite- extrusive |
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Intermediate |
Diorite- intrusive Andesite- extrusive |
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Mafic |
Gabbro- Intrusive Basalt- extrusive |
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Bowen's Reaction Series |
Minerals crystallize based on their melting/freezing point Crystallization, compositing of liquid portion of magma continuously changes |
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Magma Differentiation |
Separation of melt from earlier formed crystals, to form different composition |
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Assimilation |
Changing a magma's composition by the incorporation of foreign matter |
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Magma Mixing |
Two bodies of magma with different composition intruding one another |
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Sedimentary Rocks |
Most of exposed rock of Earth's surface Economic value/resources Identifies past environement |
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Lithification |
Unsolidated sediments are turned to solid sedimentary rocks Compaction Cementation |
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Compaction |
Compressed from overlying sediments Fine grain 1st |
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Cementation |
Most important Dissolves ions in water, turns into solid ad cements materials together |
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Detrital Rocks |
Transported sediments already solid Determined by particle size |
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Chemical Rocks |
Sediment that was once a solution |
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Particle Size (L to S) |
Gravel, sand, silt, clay Silt/Clay- mud |
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Small particles |
Low energy |
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Sorting |
Degree of similarity in size |
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Well Sorted |
Same size Longer time traveled Rounded Weathered |
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Poorly Sorted |
All different sizes Short time traveled Angular |
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Inorganic Sedimentary Rock |
Limestone'Biological |
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Organic Sedimentary ROck |
Coal Preserve plant material Makes Peat Swamp |
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Cross-Bedding |
Layers are inclined horizontally Wind/Water Shows flow |
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Graded Beds |
Grain size decreases upward Energy loss Vertical separation |
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Ripple marks |
Wave on bed pane wind/water Asymmetrical- stream/dune Symmetrical- back and forth |
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Sea Level Rise (B to T) |
Sandstone (shallow) Mudstone Limestone (deep) |
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Metamorphic Rock |
Crust/Upper Mantle Solid state reaction- no melting |
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Foliated Metamorphic Rock |
Planar arrangement (lined up) Grain size increases Shale all the way to Gneiss |
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Non-Foliated Metamorphic Rock |
Recrystallized Don't line up Limestone to Quartzite |
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Weathering |
Physical breakdown and chemical breakdown of rock at or near Earth's surface |
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Erosion |
Incorporation and transportation of material by a mobile agent Wind, water or ice |
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Mechanical Weathering |
Breaking rocks into smaller pieces Increases surface area for chemical weathering Frost wedging Unloading Biological activity Thermal expansion |
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Frost Wedging |
Alternate freezing and thawing of water in fractures and crack promotes disinigration |
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Unloading |
Exfoliation of intrusive igneous rock Pressure released |
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Thermal Expansion |
Temperature change causes cracks |
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Biological activity |
Plants/animal induced Roots/burrowing Side walk cracks around tree |
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Chemical Weathering |
Rocks into dissolved ions Effective in warm/moist climates (tropics) Limestone Oxidation Granite Spheroidal |
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Limestone Weathering |
Dissolved ions Caves and sinkholes |
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Oxidation |
Reactions with oxygen Rust |
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Spheroidal Weathering |
Physical changes such as rounding of corners/edges |
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Granite Weathering |
Produces very stable clay |
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Soil |
Water, air and organic matter support plant growth |
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Soil Horizons (T to B) |
O A Top soil (O and A) E B C |
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O Horizon |
Plant growth |
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A Horizon |
Organic/mineral matter |
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E Horizon |
Little organic matter Washes out into B |
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B Horizon |
Zone of accumulation |
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C Horizon |
Partially altered parent material |
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Oxisols |
Tropics Chemical Weathering Nutrients leach out |
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Running Water Erosion |
Most significant Sheet erosion Rill Gullies |
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Sheet Erosion |
Soil is moved by thin sheet of water |
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Rill |
Small channels in soil |
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Gullies |
Deeper channels |
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Chemical Deterioration |
Nutrients depleted Salinization |
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Physical Deterioration |
Soils compacted Cattle or Plows |
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Minimizing Erosion |
Contour Plowing- plow unequal elevation No Till Plowing- wait to plant next crop Wind Breaks- Trees block wind |
