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64 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Paleoclimatology |
The study of earth's past climates is the science of paleoclimatology. |
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Proxy method |
Scientists use proxy methods instead of direct measurement to learn about past climates! Climate proxy is a piece of information from the natural environment that can be used to reconstruct climates that extend back further than our present instrumentation allows. |
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Dendrochronology |
Is the method that use to date of tree rings and it is a study of past climate using tree rings is dendroclimatology |
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Solar cycle |
It is 24th solar cycle since 1755 when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. |
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Sunspots |
Sunspots varies over an 11 years solar cycle, when sunspot abundance is high, solar activity and output increase and when it is low the opposite is happening. |
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Milankovitch cycle |
The study of the earth's orbit around the sun and its rotation on its axis and its tilt and that is related to climate pattern and change. Eccentricity Tilt Precession |
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Eccentricity |
Earth's elliptical orbit about the sun, known as orbital eccentricity and is not constant - it is the quality of being eccentric. |
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Tilt changes |
Earth's axial tilt - obliquity!! From 21.5 to 24.5 |
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Pangea |
Was a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic area! It formed 300 million years ago and began to break apart after about 20 million years. |
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Geologic time |
Is a summary timeline of all earth history. Scale breaks up to the last 6.4 billion years into eons, eras, period and epochs. |
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Isostasy |
Is the state of gravitational equilibrium between earth's crust and mantle. |
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Isostatic rebound |
Is the rise of land masses that were depressed by the huge weight of ice sheet during the last glacial period. |
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Igneous rock |
Is one that solidifies and crystallizes from a molten state!! From magma !! |
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Sedimentary rock |
Involves lithification processes of cementation, compaction and hardening of sediments. |
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Plate tectonics |
A theory that explains the structure of earth's crust and many associated phenomena as resulting from the interaction of rigid lithospheric plates that moves slowly over the underlying mantle. |
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Continental drift |
The crust must be a shell that can break and shift by the movement of fluid below. |
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Subduction |
Side of plate diving or dragged beneath another into the mantle. |
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Plate boundaries |
The boundaries where plates meet clearly are dynamic places although slow moving within human time frames/ |
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Hot spot |
Site provides geothermal power!! Small area with a relatively hot temperature in comparison to its surrounding. |
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Earth's hyposmetry |
See level Curve of the earth's surface area and elevation as related to mean see level |
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Continental shields |
Is region where a craton is exposed at the surface. |
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Asthenoaphere |
The upper layer of the earth's mantle , below the lithosphere!! |
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Lithosphere |
The rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle |
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Terranes |
Small slow crustal pieces migrating and become attached to plates called Terranes!! |
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Terranes |
Small slow crustal pieces migrating and become attached to plates called Terranes!! |
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Folding |
Convergent plates boundaries intensely compress rocks, deforming them in a process known folding |
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Terranes |
Small slow crustal pieces migrating and become attached to plates called Terranes!! |
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Folding |
Convergent plates boundaries intensely compress rocks, deforming them in a process known folding |
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Anticline |
Along the ridge of fold, layer slope downward away from the axis/ |
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Terranes |
Small slow crustal pieces migrating and become attached to plates called Terranes!! |
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Folding |
Convergent plates boundaries intensely compress rocks, deforming them in a process known folding |
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Anticline |
Along the ridge of fold, layer slope downward away from the axis/ |
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Syncline |
In the trough of a fold, layers slope downward toward the axis |
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Terranes |
Small slow crustal pieces migrating and become attached to plates called Terranes!! |
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Folding |
Convergent plates boundaries intensely compress rocks, deforming them in a process known folding |
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Anticline |
Along the ridge of fold, layer slope downward away from the axis/ |
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Syncline |
In the trough of a fold, layers slope downward toward the axis |
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Faulting |
Rocks on either side of the fracture displace relative to the other side . |
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Terranes |
Small slow crustal pieces migrating and become attached to plates called Terranes!! |
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Folding |
Convergent plates boundaries intensely compress rocks, deforming them in a process known folding |
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Anticline |
Along the ridge of fold, layer slope downward away from the axis/ |
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Syncline |
In the trough of a fold, layers slope downward toward the axis |
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Faulting |
Rocks on either side of the fracture displace relative to the other side . |
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Orogenesis |
Means the birth of mountains Orogeny is a mountain building episode occurring over million of years. |
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Earthquake |
Sharp released of energy at moment of fracture. |
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Earthquake |
Sharp released of energy at moment of fracture. |
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Epicenter |
The area directly below focus! |
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Earthquake |
Sharp released of energy at moment of fracture. |
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Epicenter |
The area directly below focus! |
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Focus or hypocenter |
Subsurface area where seismic waves are initiated |
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Shock waves |
Radiate outward through crust from epicenter!! |
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Foreshock |
A quake that precedes the main shock |
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Aftershock |
A quake that occurs after main shock. |
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P- waves |
Primary waves, fastest moving and expansion and contraction. |
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P- waves |
Primary waves, fastest moving and expansion and contraction. |
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S-waves |
Secondary- slow move Side to side and up and down motion. |
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Seismographs |
An instrument that measure and records details of earthquakes such as force and duration. |
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Volcano |
Mountain/ hill where magma is able to emerge from beneath surface as lava. |
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Cinder cone |
Small cone, shaped hill less than 240 m high and truncated top. Small and short eruption |
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Caldera |
Large basin shaped depression, volcanic mountain collapses inward after eruption. May fill with rain water and eruption are rare. |
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Effusive eruptions |
Gghh |
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Effusive eruptions |
Gghh |
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Shield volcano |
Large and flat volcano Lava accumulates on surface |
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Effusive eruptions |
Outpouring of lava onto the ground |