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110 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Name and define the 5 brances of earth science: |
Geology- Surface and interior (rocks)
Astronomy- Universe
Meteorology- Atmosphere
Oceanography- Oceans and floor |
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What is the protoplanet hypothosis? |
-5 bill years ago a cloud of gas and dust rotated and shrank by pull of its own gravity, or by explosion of passing star -Most material gathered in centre--> spins faster making core so hot, Hydrodgen fusion starts --> core = sun -Rest of material surrounding sun, formed whirlpools/eddies. which compacted into masses called protoplanets -Leftover material = comets, meteors, asteriods |
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What is the origin of the oceans? |
-Had no ocean at first, as protoplanet changed to planet it got hotter -3 sources of heat: compression, radioactive material, meteorite showers -When earth was hot enough,iron sank towards centre making dense core -As molten iron melted other materials, it released trapped water & gases -Molten earth materials seperated, gas & steam escaped in volc eruptions -The escaped steam condensed into water which formed the occeans |
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What is the origin of the atmosphere? |
-Had no atmosphere at first, now 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen
-Original = mostly volcano gas (+50% H2O vapour, CO2, and sulfur gasses)
-First oxygen came from breakup of H2O by sunlight in upper atmosphere
-Green plans appeared --> photosynthesis --> free oxygen |
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Describe the interior layers of the earth: |
Inner Core: Solid iron and nickel (2431 km)
Outer Core: Liquid iron and nickel (2250 km)
Mantle: Puddy like Al, Si, O (2900 km) ----Moho Boundary---- Crust: Solid rock (5-60 km) oceanic= thin/dense continental= thick/less dense
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Define Relative and Absolute time: |
Relative: -Ordering events by comparing with other events -Based on fossils, or principal of superposition
Absolute: -Actual date of event or age of a rock -Based on measuring radioactive material in a rock or direct measurement methods |
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What are the 5 principles of Relative dating? |
The principal of... Superposition: Oldest rocks on bottom, youngest on top Original Horizontality: Deposited as flat layers Cross-cutting Relationships: Cross cutting igneous rocks are younger Faunal Succession: Two different rock units together Law of Included Fragments: Fragments must be younger than host rock |
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What are the 2 methods of Absolute dating? |
1) Direct measurement-based on annual cycles ex. tree cycles, varves, coral growth cycles
2) Radiometric dating-based on the decay of radioactive elements |
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What is an index and trace fossil? |
Index: fossils of an organism that lived in a particular geologic age, used to date the rock or layer it was found in
Trace: A fossil of a footprint, trail, burrow, or other evidence of an animal instead of the animal itself.
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3 ways in which remains are preserved? |
1) Original remains - preserved in amber
2) Replaced remains - minerals replace hard material, soft parts dissapear
3) Molds & casts - shell or bone is dissolved leaving a mold, then fills with material to form a cast. |
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To be a mineral it must satisfy the 5 conditions: |
1) it must occur naturally 2) it must be a solid 3) it must have a definite chemical composition 4) is must have a crystalline structure (pattern) 5) it must be inorganic |
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What are the different mineral types? |
1) Silicates - silicon & oyxgen
2) Sulphides - sulphur & iron
3) Carbonates - carbon & oxygen + metal ions
4) Iron Oxides - iron & oxygen |
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To identify a mineral you must inspect: |
1) Colour 2) Streak 3) Lustere - metallic, vitreous, earthy/dull, waxy 4) Cleavage/Fracture 5) Hardness 6) Crystal shape 7) Acid test |
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Igneous Rocks |
-Cooling & hardening of magma or lava -Plutonic/intrusive: underground = crystals -Volcanic/extrusive: surface = made of dust&ash -Felsic: feldspar & silica-thick, light, mostly plut -Mafic: magnesium & iron-thin, dark, mostly volc -Texture:(size,shape,arrange)glass,coarse,porphy |
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Sedimentary Rocks |
-hardening & cementing (most common) -clastic(pieces), chemical(solution), organic(decay) -lithification=natural cements & pressure -stratification=arrangement of horizontal layers -cross bedding=deposited by wind or delta
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Metamorphic Rocks |
-existing rock under heat,pressure,&chemicals -foliation = alignment and parallel "layers" -regional: large area (mtn building),dense/less porous,minerals reform/new,crystalline,foliation -contact: magma intrudes rock,bakes(change), liquid&gas react w/ minerals,no foliation, < 100m |
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Weathering & Erosion |
weathering=breakup of rock, erosion=transport
-mechanical:ice/root wedge, exfoliation, wet&dry
-chemical: hydrolysis, oxidization, carbonic acid |
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What factors affect the rate of weathering?
What are 4 erosional agents? |
Rate of weathering: rock type, climate, surface area,
Erosional agents: wind, water, ice, gravity |
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What is soil called when:
-it has bedrock of its parent material
-it is formed from material deposited over bedrock by wind, rivers, and glaciers.
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- Residual soil
- Transported soil |
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What are the 3 soil horizons, and describe them: |
- A: topsoil, organic material & sand
- B: subsoil, clay & minerals
- C: rock fragments & unweathered bedrock |
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What are 4 types of mass movement? |
-Creep: slow downslope
-Talus: rocks piled up at base of a cliff
-Landslide: sudden movement of bedrock & soil
-Slump: blocks of land tilt and move downhill |
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How does running water breakdown land?
Rivers carry rock material in 3 ways: |
- breaks up bedrock, or removes loose materials
- solution, suspension, saltation / bed load |
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3 stages of a river valley: |
1) Youth: V-valley,waterfalls/rapids,straight,white
2) Mature: bends,open/wider,flat bottomed
3) Old: wide,heavy deposition,deltas,low energy
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How, and what does a glacier form? |
-Snow accumulates in field or basin -Compresses and recrystalizes into neve or firn
-Valley / Alpine, or Continental |
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Glacier movement depends on: |
-Slope -Size -Rock surface -Temperature
faster at surface and centre, than base and sides due to friction |
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Erosional features of glaciers: |
-Striations: scratches on rocks and bedrock -Roches Moutonnees: glacial eroded bedrock -Cirque: semicircle basin at head of valley -Arete: sharp divide that seperates 2 cirques -Horn: pyramid shaped peak, 3 or more cirques -Kettels: circular hollow in outwash plain, where buried ice melts |
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What are the 2 types of drift, and the depositional features of glaciers? |
1) Till: unsorted materials in bottom of glacier -Drumlins: canoe shaped hill by advancing glacier -Erratics: piece of rock different from the others -Moraines: accumulation of glacial till 2) Outwash: sedi infront, by meltwater streams -Esker: ridge by meltwater tunnels filled with rock -OW Plain: sorted,deposit of sediment by stream Kame: small hill by meltwater sedi (glacial zit) |
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Define deflation and loess: |
-Deflation: the removal of loose rock particles by wind
-Loess: the deposition of angular silt sized particles carried by wind |
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What 3 factors affect the shape of a sand dune? |
1) Sand available
2) Wind strength
3) Vegetation present |
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What are the 4 different types of sand dunes? |
-Barchans: strong steady wind, limited sand, crescent shaped, ends face downwind -Transverse: abundant sand, long sand ridge right angle to the wind -Parabolic: form around blowouts (holes), open ends face upwind -Longitudinal: moderate sand,straight ridge parallel to general wind direction, shift direction |
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How are swash and backwash related to longshore drift / longshore current? |
Swash is the water and sand going up the beach at an angle, and coming back straight is called backwash. This continuous motion carries sand across the beach in a zig zag pattern called longshore drift. The water that is affected by this, creates a current called longshore current. |
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Erosional and depositional features of waves? |
-Erosional: cliffs, arches, caves, and stacks.
-Depositional: sambors, spits, lagoons, and barrier islands. |
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Structure of the earth |
Lithosphere: crust & upper mantle (tect plates) | Asthenosphere: partially melted (cause plate movement) |
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Plate movement |
- 2 cm annually
- caused by convection currents evidence: -dinosaur & plant fossils -EQ and volcanoes outline plates -magnetic striping -spreading centres |
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3 types of plate boundaries |
Diverge: "separating" - rift valleys, EQ, volc (mid ocean ridge) Transform: "sliding" - faults, EQ (NA plate & Pacific plate) Converge: collision - EQ, volc, mtn's- (Himillayan Mtn's) subduction - trenches, EQ volc- (Mt. Baker) |
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Craton |
Ancient continental core |
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3 types of seismic waves |
P-Wave: push/pull, fast, all materials S-Wave: side to side, slow, solids L-Wave: ripples, slowest, surface |
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Difference between focus and epicentre? |
Focus: origin of energy release (underground) Epicentre: above focus, on surface |
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Lava terms: Tephra Pahoehoe Aa Aa |
Tephra: Fragments of lava (ash, blocks, bombs) Pahoehoe: Mafic, ropy, fluid Aa Aa: Mafic, blocky, rough lava |
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Where do volcanoes occur? |
Rifts (diverging): pillow lava, columnar jointing Subduction boundaries: explosive, thick, gassy, tephra rich Hot spots: middle plate, smooth/fluid eruption, volc chain |
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What are the 3 types of volcanoes? (Include a feature for each) |
1) Shield- fluid basalt lava, broad base 2) Cinder Cone- ejected lava frags, steep sides 3) Strato/Composite- lava and ash alternate |
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Igneous intrusions / Plutons |
Dikes: vertical, cut across Sills: horizontal, parallel Laccolith: dome shaped, chubby sill Batholith: large mass, core of mtn ranges Volcanic Neck: magma filling extinct volc vent |
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What is the lower atmosphere made of? |
Mostly Nitrogen and Oxygen |
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What are atmosphere layers based on? |
Composition & temperature |
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What is ozone? |
when UV rays hit Oxygen, protects us from harmful UV rays |
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What are the 4 layers of the Atmosphere? |
Thermosphere ^mesopause Mesosphere ^stratopause Stratosphere ^tropopause Troposphere |
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What is radiation from the sun called? |
Insolation (incoming solar radiation) |
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What are the 4 ways the suns energy moves in the atmosphere? |
-Radiation (waves) -Conduction (contact) -Convection (circular currents) -Advection (transfer warm and cold air) |
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What is the greenhouse effect? |
Trapping of the suns energy by gasses in atmosphere (co2 & h2o vapour) |
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What are causes of increased greenhouse gas? |
-Burning of fossil fuels (co2) -CFC's nitrous oxide from industry -Methane from cows and gas |
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What are the 3 main types of clouds: |
Cirrus: thin, layered, high Stratus: low, layered Cumulus: thick, puffy |
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What is a cloud called according to height? |
Ciro: high (7,000-13,000) Alto: middle (2,000-7,000) Strato: low (500-2,000) |
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What is air pressure measured in? |
Millibars |
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Why does air pressure change? |
Changes in temperature, and humidity |
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What is wind? |
Air moving from high pressure to low pressure, resulted from uneven heating |
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Difference between land and ocean breeze? |
Land- comes from land (day) Ocean- comes from ocean (night) |
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What are the 5 oceans? |
-Pacific -Atlantic -Indian -Arctic -Southern/Antarctic |
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Define salinity: |
Measure of dissolved solids in sea water. Average salinity is 35%o (parts per thousand) |
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Where does salinity increase and decrease? |
Increase- evaporation (Mediterranean sea, freezing polar ice) Decrease- fresh water enters into the ocean |
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What are the three main elements are in sea water? |
-Chlorine (NaCl = salt) -Sodium -Magnesium |
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What 2 regions are the ocean floor divided into? |
Continental margins shelves, slopes, rises, peaks Ocean basins valleys, plains, volcanoes |
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What is a turbidity current? |
Underwater landslide |
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What 7 things are currents caused by? |
-Wind -Water -Salt -Density -Coastlines -Moon -Spin of earth |
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Why are currents important? |
They move: Water, minerals, solar energy, gasses, and life |
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What is the pattern of currents to and from Equator? |
Flowing from Equator = usually warm Flowing to Equator = usually cold |
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Surface currents depend on: |
-Wind -Earths Spin (Coriolis effect) -Continent shape (go around = slower) |
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Deep water currents depend on: |
-Water temp (warm rises, cool falls) -Density current (cold, dense h2o on sea floor) -Water salinity |
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What is upwelling? |
When cold nutrient-rich h2o moves to surface |
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Difference between ore mineral, and gangue? |
Ore: valuable, extracted from host rock Gangue: Host rock without ore mineral |
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Difference between mineral reserves and resources? |
Reserve: amount known, worth mining Resource: total amount in the area |
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With what, and where are diamonds found? |
Aero magnetics, drilling & till analysis (indicators- garnet, olivine) Kimberlite pipes (volcanoes) found in cratons |
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What element are diamonds made from, and what are the sources? |
Carbon - Organic origin (plants & animals) - Mantle |
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The 4 C's that determine quality of a diamond |
- Cut - Colour - Clarity - Carat |
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Big Bang |
13.7 bill yrs: super nova type explosion, expanding gasses --> galaxies |
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What 2 elements are the most common in our universe? |
Hydrogen and Helium (hydrogen fusion) |
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Define nebulae and galaxy |
Nebulae: cloud of gas and dust, between stars Galaxy: pattern, mills of stars, planets, dust, asteriods |
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Define ellipse law |
orbit of a planet, oval, where sun is 1 focus |
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Define equal area law |
Planet revolves around sun so a line from planet to sun sweeps over equal areas in equal times |
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Define harmonic law |
Ratio of square of revolution, is equal to ratio of cubes of average distance from sun |
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Define perihelion and aphelion |
Perihelion: planet is closest to sun in orbit Aphelion: planet is furthest from sun in orbit |
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2 features of the moon: |
- Maria (flat land seas) - Impact craters |
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Gravity on moon is... |
1/6 the objects weight |
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5 layers of the sun |
Core: where H fusion occurs Photosphere: surface, rising & cooling gasmottled, sun-spots, prominences Chromosphere: red, lower atmos, low density Corona: outer atmos, "rays" Sun Spots: darker, cooler, magnetic storms |
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Define protostar |
When a nebulae cloud begins to glow (beginning of a star) |
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Define nova, supernova & neutron star |
Nova: flare of activity from white dwarf star Supernova: massive supernova Neutron star: remaining dense core of a supernova |
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What do solar flares cause? |
Aurora Borealis (northern lights) |
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Define diffuse & dark nebulas |
Diffuse: visible from light from near star (light) Dark: distant from star, shadow (dark) |
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Define red giant |
-Large -Red -Cooler -Occurs when loses stability |
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Define white dwarf |
- Fuel is used up - Collapsed (atoms squeeze) - Dense - Faint |
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Define super giants |
-High mass star that runs out of fuel -Expands -100x more luminous & large than red giant |
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Define cephied |
pulsing object |
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Define Quasar |
-largest known object -most luminous -radiates light & radio waves at high freq |
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What is 1 astronomical unit? |
150 million km the distance between earth and the sun |
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What is 1 light year? |
9.5 trillion km distance that light travels in one year |
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What 4 factors cause a stars colour |
- Temperature - Composition - Magnitude - Luminosity |
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What elements connect to a stars colour? |
Green = Barium Red = Strontium Blue = Copper |
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Define absolute magnitude |
the actual amount of light given off, at a standard distance |
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Define apparent magnitude |
the brightness as it appears to us on earth |
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Define luminosity |
the actual brightness depends on size and temperature |
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Define Hertz-Sprung Russell Diagram |
Compares a stars temperature to luminosity |
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What 4 types of stars exist? |
- Main sequence - Red giants - Super giants - Dwarf stars |
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Define comet |
icy, orbits sun trail faces away from sun (solar wind) |
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Define asteroids |
large, solid, rock like, irregular asteroid belt = between Mars & Jupiter |
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Define meteroids |
small, rock/ice comes from asteroids, moons, comets, etc. |
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The 3 types of meteriods |
meteriod- space meteror- atmosphere meterite- earth stone, iron, stoney-iron |
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Terrestrial Inner planets Earth-like |
mercury, Venus, earth, Mars first created rocky core, small, few/no moons short revolution, slow rotation |
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Jovian Outer planets Jupiter like Gas giants |
Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,Neptune large, gas/ice/dust large rings, many moons long revolution, fast rotation |
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Define trans-neptunian objects |
outside Neptune's orbit: Pluto found in Kuiper belt |
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Define Oort cloud |
furthest reaches of sun's gravity |
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What are the 5 time periods? |
Archean - Protezoic - Paleozoic - Mesozoic - Cenozic |
