Earth Science Mid-Term

Front 1

List and Describe the 4 Areas/Fields that make up the Earth Sciences:

Back 1

Geology-Study of the Earth
Physical Geology-rocks, minerals,processes (earthquakes,erosion, volcanation)
Historical Geology-Earth’s past, fossisls, layers of rock
Oceanography-Study of the oceans and seafloor mapping
Meteorology-Study of weather, climate, atmosphere
Astronomy-Study of the planets, stars, universe

Front 2

4 spheres that make up the earth system:

Back 2

Biosphere- Life Sphere
Biodiversity, ecofunctions, food, creates atmosphere
Atmosphere-Air/Gas Sphere
Supplies O2 and CO2, protection from UV, and traps heat
Lithosphere-Rock sphere
Divided into:
Crust
Mantle
Core
Hydrosphere-Water sphere
Oceans, Lakes, Streams, Rivers, Canals, presipitation, glaciers, ground water, clouds

Front 3

Nebular Hypothesis:

Back 3

Formation of our solar system from a nebula-swirling cloud of gas and dust in space
Gravity causes it to contract and accrete
Materials come together to form stars, planets, moons, steroids, etc
Most of the matter (99%) ends up in our sun
Hydrogen and helium
The remaining (1%) planets, moons, etc

Front 4

Identify and label layers of Earth's Interior:

Back 4

Lithosphere-cool,rigid shell made of crust/upper mantle, tectonic plates are made of this layer
Asthenosphere-softer-layer, close to melting point, plastic texture, so it flows
Crust- Oceanic: Heavier, denser, basallic rocks (dark)
Continental: Lighter, granitic rocks (light-colored)
Mantle-Composed of peridotle, similar to stony meteorites, outer core capable of flow
Outer Core-Liquid Iron-Nickel Alloy layer, generates magnetic field
Inner Core-Iron-Nickel alloy solid due to pressure

Front 5

Differences between Geocentric (along with those astronomers who followed) and Heliocentric (") models of the universe:

Back 5

Geocentric: Earth-Centered Universe
Ptolemy
Aristotle
Heliocentric: Sun-Centered Universe
Copernicus
Aristaruans
Galileo
Kepler
Newton