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284 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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The atmosphere makes up how much of Earth? |
25%
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What is Earth's atmosphere composed of? |
78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% other gasses |
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What gases are considered greenhouse gases? |
carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and water vapor (H20) |
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What is a greenhouse gas? |
A gas that absorbs heat energy |
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What is the most prevalent greenhouse gas? |
Water vapor |
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All storms, weather fronts, and weather occur in this layer of the atmosphere |
Troposphere |
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This is the layer of atmosphere characterized by weak vertical air motion and strong horizontal air motion. There is little lifting or sinking air in this layer |
Stratosphere |
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It is bitterly cold in this layer of the atmosphere |
The meosphere |
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This is the hottest portion of the atmosphere because there are very few molecules left to block out the incoming solar radiation. The outer reaches of this layer are sometimes referred to the exosphere. |
Thermosphere |
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This layer of the atmosphere is located in the upper portion of the mesosphere and goes into the thermosphere |
Ionosphere |
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This is an area of free ions. |
The Ionosphere |
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What are free ions? |
Free ions are positively charged ions, produced as a result of solar radiation striking the atmosphere. |
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What does ultraviolet radiation do? |
Ultra violate radiation scrambles the DNA codes in human cells, and can kill the cells or, at a minimum, cause cancer. |
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How are eddies formed? |
They're formed when surface winds hit an obstruction. These are called windshear by pilots
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What are pressure belts?
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Strips of low pressure (at the equator and polar latitudes) and strips of high pressure (at the mid latitudes- approx 30 degrees north/south)
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What is the Coriolis effect?
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It's the deflection of air or water currents due to the rotation of Earth
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The rotation of the Earth causes a change (deflection( in air or water currents. What is this called?
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The Coriolis Effect
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Jet streams
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The area of very strong moving air that stays in columns.
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What do key streams mark?
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The zones where the cold polar aid and warmed air meet
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What is the ITCZ?
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Inter tropical convergence zone
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Where are the horse latitudes located?
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0 degrees and 30 degrees
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What causes turbulence?
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Turbulence is caused by surface heating and the effect of topography on winds movement.
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How are waves formed?
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They are formed by wind moving across a body of water
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What is a prevailing wind?
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The dominant direction from which the wind is blowing
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What is a sea breeze?
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During the day- land is hot and water is cool and the wind blows from the sea to the land
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What is a land breeze?
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Evening cooking of the land causing airflow from the land to the sea
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What are the Santa Ana winds?
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A specialized form of Chinook Breeze. Formed when air moves down the valleys to the coast hen a high pressure area is present. The wind is very warm and dry creating fire conditions.
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What is a haboob?
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A group of thunderstorms that don't have enough condensation to precipitate. Violent up and down drafts that pick up sand an carry it far up into the atmosphere then sand rains down thousands of miles away.
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What are urban heat islands?
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Concentrated masses of buildings and concrete and asphalt paving, the heat produced and then re-radiated by the concrete forms a rising thermal zone, often causing it to be about 10 degree or more bitter in the city.
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What is likely to happen in the fall if you live near a lake?
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It is likely to snow or rain.
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What is responsible for the formation of monsoon rains?
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The ITCZ (or inter tropical convergence zone), which controls weather in the tropics
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What is responsible for the formation of monsoon rains?
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The ITCZ (or inter tropical convergence zone), which controls weather in the tropics
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What effect does prevailing westerlies have on weather and where are they found?
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They cause storms and winds to move in a west to east pattern. They are found between 30-60 degrees north and south latitude.
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What is responsible for the formation of monsoon rains?
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The ITCZ (or inter tropical convergence zone), which controls weather in the tropics
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What effect does prevailing westerlies have on weather and where are they found?
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They cause storms and winds to move in a west to east pattern. They are found between 30-60 degrees north and south latitude.
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Weather occurs as a result of what? |
Heat transfer in the atmosphere. The source I this seat is the sun and this energy reaches earth via radiation.
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What is responsible for the formation of monsoon rains?
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The ITCZ (or inter tropical convergence zone), which controls weather in the tropics
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What effect does prevailing westerlies have on weather and where are they found?
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They cause storms and winds to move in a west to east pattern. They are found between 30-60 degrees north and south latitude.
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Weather occurs as a result of what?
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Heat transfer in the atmosphere. The source I this seat is the sun and this energy reaches earth via radiation.
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What is the air just above earths surface heated by?
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Conduction and the air touched the sun warmed surface.
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In general, warm air moves towards ________ and cooler air flows towards __________
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The poles, the equator
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If it's a high pressure system, is the aid rising of sinking?
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Sinking
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If it's a high pressure system, is the aid rising of sinking?
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Sinking
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What does an isobar show?
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Pressure
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If it's a high pressure system, is the aid rising of sinking?
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Sinking
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What does an isobar show?
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Pressure
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What does an isotherm show?
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Temperature
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If it's a high pressure system, is the aid rising of sinking?
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Sinking
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What does an isobar show?
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Pressure
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What does an isotherm show?
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Temperature
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What does an isodrosotherm show?
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Dew point
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If it's a high pressure system, is the aid rising of sinking?
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Sinking
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What does an isobar show?
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Pressure
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What does an isotherm show?
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Temperature
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What does an isodrosotherm show?
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Dew point
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What does the top right number show?
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The atmospheric pressure reduced to mean sea level in millibars to the nearest tenth with the leading 9 or 10 omitted.
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What does the number on the far left mean?
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Visibility in miles
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aa |
aa
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If it's a high pressure system, is the aid rising of sinking?
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Sinking
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What does the far right number and symbol on the second row mean?
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This number and symbol tells how much the pressure has changed (in tented if millibars) in the past three hours.
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What does the bottom left symbol represent?
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These lines indicate wind direction and speed rounded to the nearest 5 knots. The lowest kind, extending from the sky cover plot, points in the direction that the wind is blowing from. Each long barb presses ends 10 kt with short barbs representing 5k.
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What is the number next to wind direction and speed for?
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It is the few point temperature.
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What does the top right number show?
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The atmospheric pressure reduced to mean sea level in millibars to the nearest tenth with the leading 9 or 10 omitted.
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In general, what must ocean temperature be at minimum for a hurricane to form?
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At least 80 degrees at the surface with a high humidity for a hurricane to form
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Where do hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean generally form to?
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The west of Africa and are carried to southeast North America by prevailing ocean winds.
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Recall note able hurricanes
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1. Florida keys: 1935 a cat 5 hurricane, biggest of 20th century. Winds from 150-200 mph and barometric pressure of 892 mb
2. Hurricane Camille: Florida and South Carolina- 1969 cat 5 with bar pressure of 990 mb. Killed 390 3. Hurricane Andrew- 1992: cat 4/5 fastest moving storm ever recorded. Moved at 20 mph sustained winds of 220 mph. Winds not storm surge that caused damage |
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What do El Niño events result in?
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Warmer and wetter than normal, jet stream stays farther south, more storms in FL in winters. While it replenishes the aquifer and help prevent droughts can also cause flooding
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What does La Niña events result in?
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Colder an dryer weather than usual and can be associated with droughts.
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What are the two main surface currents that flow along the coastlines of the US?
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Gulf Stream and California current
Gulf Stream brings warm water from the equator to the northern parts of the Atlantic Ocean. The Gulf Stream brings warmth to northwestern Europe. The California current does the opposite |
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What does an isobar show?
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Pressure
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Are low latitude regions warmer or cooler than high latitude regions?
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Warmer
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If an areas prevailing winds are from the sea to land, how will that effect the weather on land?
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Those winds will carry a significant amount of moisture resulting in a rainy climate
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How do periods of increased volcanic activity affect climate change?
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Increased volcanic activity leads to the emission of aerosols and carbon dioxide. This may cause short term cooling.
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What is the mass of the sun?
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2x10 to the 30th power
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What is the mass and composition of mercury?
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3.3x10 to the 23rd power
It has a solid, rocky, interior mantle and iron core . It is dry, hot, almost airless, extremely hot by day, extremely cold at night. Craters, no moons. |
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What is the composition known of Venus?
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Solid with an iron/nickel core. Has mountains, canyons, valleys, extreme heat, thick clouds of sulfuric acid, no moons
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What are the composition and characteristics of mars?
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Solid, basalt, andesite, iron, nickel, sulfur, peridotite
Has mountains, valleys, polar ice, reddish, dust, volcanoes, craters, possibility of life, two moons |
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What is the composition and characteristics of Jupiter?
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Gaseous, mostly hydrogen and helium, possible small rocky core.
It is cloud covered, had a giant red spot, cold at too of clouds, extremely high pressure Lower down. Has 3 thin rings and 60 moons |
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Describe Saturn
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Gaseous, hydrogen and helium, solid inner core if iron and rocky metal, outer core of ammonia, methane and water. It is cloud covered, cold at too of clouds with a possible internal heat source. It has rings composed of ice particles. At least 60 moons
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Describe Neptune
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Had and liquid, hydrogen and methane. Possible rocky core.
Tilted orbit, pale blue green clouds, very cold in atmosphere, very hot in ocean and core. Has rings and at least 20 moons. |
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What does an isotherm show?
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Temperature
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Describe Neptune
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It is made of gas an liquid, hydrogen, helium, methane, water, silicates, rock and ice core.
It has a thick cloud later, blue in color, rings, at least 13 moons |
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Describe comets
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They originate in the kuiper belt
They are ice chunks, frozen gases, rock and dust |
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Describe asteroids
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They are rocky fragments that revolve around the sun. Can impact other planets
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Describe meteors
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Bits of rocky material falling through earths atmosphere. They are heated and glow because of friction of air.
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What is the difference between meteoroids, meteors and meteorites?
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Meteoroids- in space
Meteors- in earths atmosphere Meteorites- pieces that reach Earths surface |
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Describe the four inner planets
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Terrestrial planets
Similar to density to earth Referred to as the rocky planets Relatively small in size Spin slowly on their axis Few, if any moons Asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars |
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Describe the outer planets
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Gas giants or Jovian planets
Very large Primarily composed of gas Less dense than earth Rotate rapidly on their axis Many moons |
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What is a quasars maximum distance?
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One light year in diameter
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What is a barred galaxy?
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Straight center core of stArs joined together by two or more relatively straight arms
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What are the two closest galaxies to earth?
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The large and small magellanjc cloud, about 170k light years away
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What does an isodrosotherm show?
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Dew point
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What is the minimum temperature required for the fusion of hydrogen?
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5 million degrees
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What is a young star composed mostly of?
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Hydrogen
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What does the H-R diagram show?
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The relationship between a stars color, temp, and mass
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What is seasonal change on earth caused by?
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Earths axis tilt
Different parts of the globe are tilted toward the sun at different parts of the year |
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What is the name of the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and what day does it normally fall on?
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Summer solstice- June 21
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What Is the shortest day in the northern hemisphere?
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Winter solstice- December 21
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What day marks the beginning of spring?
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Vernal equinox- March 21
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What day marks the beginning of autumn?
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Autumnal equinox- sept 21
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What causes the period ride and fall of the liquid bodies on earth?
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Directly- the moon
To a lesser extent- the sun |
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What are spring tides?
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Pronounced types of tides during the new and full moon.
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What does the top right number show?
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The atmospheric pressure reduced to mean sea level in millibars to the nearest tenth with the leading 9 or 10 omitted.
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What causes spring tides?
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This happens when the gravitational effects of both the sun and moon join together during a new moon and full moon phase.
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What are neap tides?
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During the first and third quarters of the moon phased the suns effect is negligible and consequently the tides are lower
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What is an eclipse?
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A phenomenon that occurs when a stellar body is shadowed by another and as a result is rendered invisible
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What is a lunar eclipse?
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When the shadow of Earth darkens the moon. The moon is in earths shadow.
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What is a solar eclipse?
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The moon is between the sun and earth, earth is in moons shadow
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What kind of eclipse is a partial eclipse?
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Annular: the darkest park of the shadow (the umbra) doesn't touch earth
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What kind of eclipse is a full eclipse?
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Total: the darkest part I the shadow (the umbra) does touch earth
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What is an umbra?
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The central region of the shadow caused by an eclipse. Not light hits here. Generally associated with total eclipses
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What is a penumbra?
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The lighter, outer edges of the shadow caused by an eclipse. Some light hits this region, generally associated with a partial or annular eclipse
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What does the number on the far left mean?
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Visibility in miles
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Why does precession occur?
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The gravitational forces of the sun and moon pull on earths equatorial bulge, causing the earth to wobble.
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On what part of the sun would you see sunspots?
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The photosphere
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On what area of the sun would you see solar flares and solar prominences?
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The chromosphere
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Why is the chromosphere red in color?
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Hydrogen gas caused this portion to be red
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How do scientists measure distance outside the solar system?
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Via parsec
1 parsec= 3.26 light years |
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How many AU is one light year?
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63,000
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How does the energy of an x Ray photon compare to the energy of a photon of visible light?
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X Ray photon= 1000 times greater
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What is the objective on a telescope?
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The primary focus mirror in a reflector telescope. It is usually curved
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What does the middle symbol on the second row show?
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It represents the amount of total cloud coverage reported in eight
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What does the number on the far left second row mean?
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Visibility in miles
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Next to the visibility in miles on the second row, what does the symbol mean?
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It's one of 95 symbols that represent what the weather currently is or has ended with in the last hour.
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What does the middle symbol on the second row represent?
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The amount of totAl cloud coverage reported in eighths.
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If it's a high pressure system, is the aid rising of sinking?
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Sinking
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What is the number next to wind direction and speed for?
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It is the few point temperature.
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Where do hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean generally form to?
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The west of Africa and are carried to southeast North America by prevailing ocean winds.
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What does La Niña events result in?
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Colder an dryer weather than usual and can be associated with droughts.
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What are the two main surface currents that flow along the coastlines of the US?
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Gulf Stream and California current
Gulf Stream brings warm water from the equator to the northern parts of the Atlantic Ocean. The Gulf Stream brings warmth to northwestern Europe. The California current does the opposite |
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What does an isobar show?
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Pressure
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Are low latitude regions warmer or cooler than high latitude regions?
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Warmer
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If an areas prevailing winds are from the sea to land, how will that effect the weather on land?
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Those winds will carry a significant amount of moisture resulting in a rainy climate
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How do periods of increased volcanic activity affect climate change?
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Increased volcanic activity leads to the emission of aerosols and carbon dioxide. This may cause short term cooling.
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What is the mass of the sun?
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2x10 to the 30th power
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What is the mass and composition of mercury?
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3.3x10 to the 23rd power
It has a solid, rocky, interior mantle and iron core . It is dry, hot, almost airless, extremely hot by day, extremely cold at night. Craters, no moons. |
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What is the composition known of Venus?
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Solid with an iron/nickel core. Has mountains, canyons, valleys, extreme heat, thick clouds of sulfuric acid, no moons
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What are the composition and characteristics of mars?
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Solid, basalt, andesite, iron, nickel, sulfur, peridotite
Has mountains, valleys, polar ice, reddish, dust, volcanoes, craters, possibility of life, two moons |
|
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What is the composition and characteristics of Jupiter?
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Gaseous, mostly hydrogen and helium, possible small rocky core.
It is cloud covered, had a giant red spot, cold at too of clouds, extremely high pressure Lower down. Has 3 thin rings and 60 moons |
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Describe Saturn
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Gaseous, hydrogen and helium, solid inner core if iron and rocky metal, outer core of ammonia, methane and water. It is cloud covered, cold at too of clouds with a possible internal heat source. It has rings composed of ice particles. At least 60 moons
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What does an isotherm show?
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Temperature
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Describe Neptune
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It is made of gas an liquid, hydrogen, helium, methane, water, silicates, rock and ice core.
It has a thick cloud later, blue in color, rings, at least 13 moons |
|
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|
Describe comets
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They originate in the kuiper belt
They are ice chunks, frozen gases, rock and dust |
|
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Describe asteroids
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They are rocky fragments that revolve around the sun. Can impact other planets
|
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Describe meteors
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Bits of rocky material falling through earths atmosphere. They are heated and glow because of friction of air.
|
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What is the difference between meteoroids, meteors and meteorites?
|
Meteoroids- in space
Meteors- in earths atmosphere Meteorites- pieces that reach Earths surface |
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Describe the four inner planets
|
Terrestrial planets
Similar to density to earth Referred to as the rocky planets Relatively small in size Spin slowly on their axis Few, if any moons Asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars |
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Describe the outer planets
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Gas giants or Jovian planets
Very large Primarily composed of gas Less dense than earth Rotate rapidly on their axis Many moons |
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What is a barred galaxy?
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Straight center core of stArs joined together by two or more relatively straight arms
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What are the two closest galaxies to earth?
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The large and small magellanjc cloud, about 170k light years away
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What does an isodrosotherm show?
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Dew point
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What is a young star composed mostly of?
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Hydrogen
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|
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What does the H-R diagram show?
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The relationship between a stars color, temp, and mass
|
|
|
|
What is seasonal change on earth caused by?
|
Earths axis tilt
Different parts of the globe are tilted toward the sun at different parts of the year |
|
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What is the name of the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and what day does it normally fall on?
|
Summer solstice- June 21
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What Is the shortest day in the northern hemisphere?
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Winter solstice- December 21
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What day marks the beginning of spring?
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Vernal equinox- March 21
|
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What day marks the beginning of autumn?
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Autumnal equinox- sept 21
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What are spring tides?
|
Pronounced types of tides during the new and full moon.
|
|
|
|
What causes spring tides?
|
This happens when the gravitational effects of both the sun and moon join together during a new moon and full moon phase.
|
|
|
|
What are neap tides?
|
During the first and third quarters of the moon phased the suns effect is negligible and consequently the tides are lower
|
|
|
|
What is an eclipse?
|
A phenomenon that occurs when a stellar body is shadowed by another and as a result is rendered invisible
|
|
|
|
What is a lunar eclipse?
|
When the shadow of Earth darkens the moon. The moon is in earths shadow.
|
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What is a solar eclipse?
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The moon is between the sun and earth, earth is in moons shadow
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What kind of eclipse is a partial eclipse?
|
Annular: the darkest park of the shadow (the umbra) doesn't touch earth
|
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|
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What kind of eclipse is a full eclipse?
|
Total: the darkest part I the shadow (the umbra) does touch earth
|
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What is an umbra?
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The central region of the shadow caused by an eclipse. Not light hits here. Generally associated with total eclipses
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What is a penumbra?
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The lighter, outer edges of the shadow caused by an eclipse. Some light hits this region, generally associated with a partial or annular eclipse
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What is precession?
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It is the change in the orientation of earths rotational axis
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Why does precession occur?
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The gravitational forces of the sun and moon pull on earths equatorial bulge, causing the earth to wobble.
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On what part of the sun would you see sunspots?
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The photosphere
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On what area of the sun would you see solar flares and solar prominences?
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The chromosphere
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Why is the chromosphere red in color?
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Hydrogen gas caused this portion to be red
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How many AU is one light year?
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63,000
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What is the objective on a telescope?
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The primary focus mirror in a reflector telescope. It is usually curved
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What is Edwin Hubble known for?
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Proving the theory of an expanding universe
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What is nitrogen fixation?
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Nitrogen fixation is the conversion if nitrogen in it's gaseous form (by bacteria) to a form useable by plants.
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What is nitrogen uptake?
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Occurs when plants absorb nitrogen from the soul
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What is nitrogen mineralization?
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It is the process by which organic nitrogen from decaying plant and animal matter is converted to ammonia and ammonium
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What is nitrification?
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Bacteria transforms ammonia to nitrite and nitrate which can be taken up by plants.
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What is denitrification?
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It turns oxidized forms of nitrogen into dinitrigen and nitrous oxide gas
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What should you keep in all rooms in which chemicals are handled or stored?
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A bucket of 90% sand and 10% vermiculite or kitty litter (dried bentonite particles)
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Who should weAr safety goggles and aprons in the lab ?
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ALL students and teachers
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What kind of detectors should you have in all labs and storerooms?
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Smoke, carbon monoxide, and heat detectors
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What is special about the Hubble space telescope?
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It is in space ad therefore isn't affected by atmospheric constraints and had a much clearer, higher resolution image of stellar objects.
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What is a control?
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Something the results of an experiment are compared against.
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What are the benefits of a radio telescope?
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It is less expensive to build a radio telescope. They can operate 24 hours a day and be bully just about anywhere on Earth, they old. Up a new window to space exploration
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What is radio interferometry?
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A method of amplifying weak radio waves by assembling a series of small radio telescopes all pointed at the same point in the sky
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What is an electromagnetic spectrum?
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The ordered pattern produced when light or other electromagnetic radiation is split I to it's wave length components
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What is continuous spectrum?
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Light from a glowing source. The source must be a very dense solid r liquid
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What is absorption spectrum?
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A continuous colored spectrum interrupted by dark lines. The source must be behind a later of cool thin gas (like our sun)
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What is an emission spectrum?
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A continuous, dark spectrum interrupted by lines of color. The lines appear to be slices in the continuous spectrum. The source must be a very hot low density gas.
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What is the main process involved in the nitrogen cycle?
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Nitrogen fixation, nitrogen uptake, nitrogen mineralization, nitrification, and denitrification.
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What is a constant?
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The things that are the same in all experiments
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What is an independent variable?
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The things that can change
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What is a dependent variable?
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The factor that will be measured in the experiment |
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How many times must you repeat the experiment at minimum?
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At least twice
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How do scientists model phenomena within earth and outer space?
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Via computers
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What are mass spectrometers?
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Machines that sort atoms according to weight, can be used to date rocks and fossils of analyze ancient climates. |
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What are scanning electron microscopes used for?
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They help determine the surface structure of a sample as well as reveal it's composition
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What are tiltmeters useful for?
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Monitoring changes in ground structure in seismically or volcanically active areas
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What is x-Ray diffraction?
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It's used to determine the crystalline structure, chemical composition, and physical properties of a sample geologic material
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What is the temperature like in the lithosphere? |
It's close to the surface so both temp and pressure are relatively low. |
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Where do most earthquakes originate in?
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The lithosphere |
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What is the lithosphere?
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In Greek, rock layer.
Made up of the crust and uppermost parts of the mantle. Cool, rigid, brittle materials |
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What is the temperature like in the lithosphere?
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It's close to the surface so both temp and pressure are relatively low.
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Where do most earthquakes originate in?
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The lithosphere
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What is the asthenosphere?
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The semi plastic molten rock material right below the lithosphere
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What is the tradition zone when discussing the composition of the Earth?
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Characterized by a sudden increase in density, and marks the change from the weaker asthenosphere to the rigid lower mantle
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What is the mesosphere?
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The lower mantle that's hard, rigid and brittle
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What is the crust of the earth?
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It is earths hard, rocky outer shell.
Oceanic is thin and dense and made of basalt Continental is thicker and less dense . Made of a variety of rock types |
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What is MOHs scale of hardness?
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1. Talc
2. Gypsum 3. Calcite 4. Fluorite 5. Apatite 6. Orthoclase 7. Quartz 8. Topaz 9. Corundum 10 diamond |
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Describe the scratch test
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Soft: able to scratch with fingernail
Hard: able to scratch glass with the mineral |
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What is specific gravity?
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The ratio of the minerals weight to water
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Describe color of a mineral
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Color of the mineral in solid form
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What is streak?
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The color of the mineral in powdered form
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What is luster?
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A second identifying property tat is the surface appearance of the mineral
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What is fluorescence?
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Minerals glowing under a black light. For example, lapis lazuli
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What mineral will fix wen diluted HCI is dropped Into it?
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Any with calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
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What are striations?
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Distinctive marks in the surface of the mineral. For example, feldspar is heavily striated
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How are igneous rocks formed?
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From a melt which is created by extreme pressure and temperature deep below the surface of earth
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What is mantle?
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Thick layer of hot, solid rock
Comprises about 2/3 the mass of earth |
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What is magma?
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Melted rock below ground
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What is lava
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Melted rock above ground
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Describe igneous rock
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May have little layering and abundance I black white grey or pink minerals. Some may look like solidified lava. Example, granite
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What is the change that causes metamorphic rock caused by?
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Hear and/or pressure
Example- granite (igneous) can become gneiss |
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How is metamorphic rock classified?
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By texture (appearance), they ate either foliated or non foliated
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Describe foliated rock
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Banded (striped appearance) to the naked eye
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Give three examples of foliated rock
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Gneiss, schist, slate
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Describe gneiss
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Foliated rock with very obvious striped banding
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Describe schist
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Foliated rock with flaky appearance (like glitter stuck to the rock)
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Describe slate
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Foliated with edges that appear peel able at cleavage.
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What is the core?
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The center of earth with iron nickel alloy.
Outer is liquid Inner is solid |
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Give an example of two non foliated rocks
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Quartzite and marble
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What are clastic sedimentary rocks formed by?
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Composed of lithified sediments which have undergone compaction/dessification or celebration
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What is extrusive rock?
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Igneous rock that cool on or near earths surface
Characterized by a phantic or glassy texture |
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What is porphyritic rock?
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Large mineral crystals with an aphantic or glassy ground mass
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What does contact metamorphism require?
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The presence of a nearby magma chamber. Those closet the heat source the more metamorphosis takes place. Key ingredient is temperature
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What is seismic refraction?
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Relies on sound waves that change direction and a geologic boundary and travel among it before returning to the surface. Helps us explore the crust at shallower depths
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What is the key to identifying minerals?
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Crystalline structure
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What is polymorphism and what is an example?
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Two minerals with identical chemical composition but entirely different crystalline structures
Example diamonds and graphite are exact same chemical composition but graphite is flat sheets and the crystalline structure of diamonds is complex |
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What is crystal habit?
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The shape of the mineral
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What is cleavage?
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How the mineral breaks under pressure.
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What is Micas cleavage?
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Resistant to breaking but peels easily.
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What arête two most common cementing agents?
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Silica and calcium carbonate
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Describe silica
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Very hard (7 on MOHs scale), forms a rock that is difficult to break
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Describe calcium carbonate
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Less resistant to weathering, it's easily dissolved
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Where are calcium carbonate formations found?
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In caves in the form of stalagmites and stalactites
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Where do stalagmites form?
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On the ground |
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What is the plate tectonic theory?
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That earths surface is composed of lithospheric plates that float stop the asthenosphere and are in constant motjin |
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Describe Alfred wegeners continental drift theory.
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Suggested the continents fit together forming a giant super continent he later called Pangea.
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What evidence is there for the tectonic theory?
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Shape of the continents
Paleomagnetism Age of the rock Climatology Evidence of identical rock units Topographic evidence Fossil evidence Sea turtle migration |
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What is paleomagnetism?
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As igneous rock cools, iron minerals within the rock aligns like a compass to the magnetic pole
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What kind of environment does coal need to be in to form?
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Hot and humid climate
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What are plate boundaries?
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The points at which the edges of the tectonic plates touch
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What are the three types of plate boundaries?
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Divergent, convergent, and transform
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What is a divergent boundary?
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It's a spreading center where two or more plates are moving away from each other
Generally occur in the oceanic crust |
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What kind of boundaries from the mid ocean ridge system?
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Divergent
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What will happen when two oceanic plates collide?
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One plate will slide beneath the other. This is called subduction.
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What is subduction?
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When two oceanic plates collide?
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What happens when an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate?
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The oceanic plate is subducted because of it's higher density. This process forms a deep trench and melts the descending ocean plate.
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Give an example of a volcanic island at formed at an oceanic subduction zone.
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Japan
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What is an example of a continental-continental boundary?
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The massive Himalayas
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What is a transform boundary?
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When plates slide horizontally past one another
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When plates
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Where are the majority of transform faults found? |
Along the mid ocean ridge system where ridge segments are offset
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Give an example of a Transform fault
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The San Andreas fault |
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When does volcanic activity take place?
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Whenever magma reaches the surface of the earth |
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Where do most volcanic activity takes place? |
Near plate boundaries or spreading but can also occur at hot spots
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Describe a shield volcano.
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Forms when magma is silica poor. Broadest and tallest sections are normally under water
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Describe the eruptions of shield volcanos.
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Lots of lava, little ash
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Describe a composite volcano.
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Aka stratovolcano.
Form from lava eruptions with pyro clastic explosions. These are composed of layers of lava alternating with layers of pyro clastic deposits |
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Where are composite volcanoes common?
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Along the ring of fire where active subduction is occurring
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Describe a cinder come volcano |
Forms a thick silica rich magma that doesn't easily flow. Local concentrations of gas in the magma causes the eruptions that build cinder cone volcanoes |
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What is the most common type of volcano and how is it formed?
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Cinder cone, one eruptive event
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What is a lahar?
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Volcanic mudflows
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In an earthquake, where is the place rock materials suddenly move along?
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Rupture or fault
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The point deep underground where the rock breaks in an earthquake is called....
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The focus
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The point on the surface directly above the focus is called the...
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Epicenter
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What is a p wave?
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Moves the fastest and arrives at seismic recording stations first. Can move through both solid and liquid and therefore can travel directly through earth
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What are s waves?
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Slower and can't travel through liquids. Movement in S waves travel up and down
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What is chemical weathering?
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Occurs when a chemical or mineralogical change occurs so that it no longer looks at that mineral
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What is pressure release (exfoliation)?
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Rock expands when compressive forces are removed and bits of the rock break off during expansion. For example, half dome in Yosemite national park
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What is a key factor in mechanical weathering?
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Climate |
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What is thermal expansion and contraction?
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Minerals in a rock expand of contract due to a change in weather
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