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15 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Hydrosphere |
- 1 of Earth's 4 spheres - Global ocean - most prominent feature, making up 71% earth's surface and 97% of earth's water - Responsible for shaping earth landscapes |
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Atmosphere |
- Gaseous envelope that surrounds earth - Needed to fuel processes that shape earth's surface |
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Biosphere |
- Includes all life on Earth - Influences the makeup & nature of the other 3 spheres |
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Solid Earth |
- Last of Earth's 4 spheres - Includes geosphere and pedosphere |
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What is a system? |
Any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole |
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Negative Feedback |
- Maintains the status quo in a system - Net change is 0 |
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Positive Feedback |
- Enhances or drives changes |
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Open System |
Both matter and E flow into and out of the system |
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Closed System |
No matter enters or leaves the system, only E does |
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What are 2 methods in determining geologic ages? |
1. Relative dating - Dates are placed in their proper sequence or order without knowing their age in years 2. Numerical dating - Specify the actual age of an event or material in number of years |
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Catostrophism |
Theorized by James Ussher, it was the idea that sudden and often worldwide disasters shaped the earth's landscapes (17th & 18th century) |
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Uniformitarianism |
Fundamental principle of geology, it's the physical, chemical, and biological laws that operate today also operated in the past. Acceptance of earth's VERY long history and the idea that geological processes occur over very long periods of time (James Hutton late 18th century) |
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Earth Core |
Very dense (11 g/cm^3), inner part of earth structure. Comprised of iron-nickel alloy with minor amounts of oxygen, silicon, and sulfur. |
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Crust |
Thin, rocky outer skin of earth structure comprised of oceanic and continental crust. |
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Mantle |
Solid, rocky shell that comprises over 82% of earth's volume. It is 2900 km thick and consists mostly of peridotite. Density is ~3.3 g/cm^3. |
