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Earth 201 > Ch 1: Intro to Geology > Flashcards

Ch 1: Intro to Geology Flashcards

(96 cards)

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1
Q

Abyssal plain

A

A very level area of the deep-ocean floor, usually lying at the foot of the continental rise

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2
Q

Asteroid

A

One of thousands of small planetlike bodies, ranging in size from a few hundred kilometers to less than 1 kilometer accross. Most asteroids’ orbits lie between those of Mars and Jupiter.

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3
Q

Asthenosphere

A

A subdivision of the mantle situated below the lithosphere. This zone of weak material exists below a depth of about 100 kilometers (60 miles) and in some regions extends as deep as 700 kilometers (430 miles). The rock within this zone is easily deformed.

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4
Q

Atmosphere

A

The gaseous portion of a planet, the planet’s envelope of air. One of the traditional subdivisions of Earth’s physical environment.

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5
Q

Basalt

A

A fine-grained igneous rock of mafic composition.

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6
Q

Basin

A

A circular downfolded structure.

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7
Q

Biosphere

A

The totality of Life-forms on Earth

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8
Q

Catastrophism

A

The concept that Earth was shaped by catastrophic events of a short-term nature.

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9
Q

Cementation

A

One way in which sedimentary rocs are lithified. As material precipitates from water that percolates through the sediment, open spaces are filled an particles are joined into a solid mass.

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10
Q

Climate

A

A description of aggregate weather conditions; the sum of all statistical weather information that helps describe a place or region

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11
Q

Compaction

A

A type of lithification in which the weight of overlying material compresses more deeply buried sediment. It is most important in the fine-grained sedimentary rocks such as shale.

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12
Q

Continental margin

A

The portion of the seafloor that is adjacent to the continents. It may include the continental shelf, continental slope, and continental rise.

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13
Q

Continental rise

A

The gently sloping surface at the base of the continental slope.

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14
Q

Continental shelf

A

The gently sloping submerged portion of the continental margin, extending from the shoreline to the continental slope.

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15
Q

Continental slope

A

The steep gradient that leads to the deep-ocean floor and marks the seaward edge of the continental shelf.

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16
Q

Coral reef

A

A structure formed in a warm, shallow, sunlit ocean environment that consists primarily of the calciterich remains of corals as well as the limy secretions of algae and the hard parts of many other small organisms.

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17
Q

Core

A

The innermost layer of the Earth. It is thought to be largely an iron-nickel alloy, with minor amounts of oxygen, silicon, and sulfur.

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18
Q

Craton

A

The part of the continental crust that has attained stability; that is, it has not been affected by significant tectronic activity during the Phanerozoic eon. It consists of the shield and the stable platform.

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19
Q

Crust

A

The very thin, outermost layer of the Earth.

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20
Q

Crystal

A

Any natural solid with an ordered, repetitive atomic structure.

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21
Q

Debris flow

A

A flow of soil and regolith that contains a large amount of water. Most common in semiarid mountainous regions and on the slopes of some volcanoes.

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22
Q

Deep-ocean basin

A

The portion of seafloor that lies between the continental margin and the oceanic ridge system. This region comprises almost 30 percent of Earth’s surface.

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23
Q

Deep-ocean trench (or Trench)

A

A narrow, elongated depression of the seafloor.

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24
Q

Deformation

A

General term for the processes of folding, faulting, shearing, compression, or extension of rocks as the result of various natural forces.

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25
Density
A property of matter defined as mass per unit volume.
26
Drift
See Glacial drift.
27
Earth system science
An interdisciplinary study that seeks to examine Earth as a system composed of numerous interacting parts or subsystems.
28
Element
A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical or physical means.
29
Eon
The largest time unit on the geologic time scale, next in order of magnitude above era.
30
Epoch
A unit of the geologic time scale that is a subdivision of a period.
31
Era
A major division on the geologic time scale; eras are divided into shorter units called periods.
32
External process
A process such as weathering, mass wasting, or erosion that is powered by the Sun and contributes to the transformation of solid rock into sediment.
33
Fault
A break in a rock mass along with movement has occurred.
34
Focus (earthquake)
The zone within Earth where rock displacement produces an earthquake.
35
Fracture zone
A linear zone of irregular topography on the deep-ocean floor that follows transform faults and their inactive extensions.
36
Geology
The science that examine Earth, its form and composition, and the changes that it has undergone and is undergoing.
37
Geologic time
The span of time since the formation of Earth, about 4.6 billion years.
38
Geologic time scale
The division of earth history into blocks of time-eons, eras, periods, and epochs. The time scale was created using relative dating principles.
39
Geosphere
The solid earth; one of Earth's four basic spheres.
40
Glacier
A thick mass of ice originating on land from the compaction and recrystallization of snow that shows evidence of past or present flow.
41
Glass (volcanic)
Natural glass that is produced when molten lava cools too rapidly to permit recrystallization. Volcanic glass is solid composed of unordered atoms.
42
Granite
An abundant, coarse-grained igneous rock composed of about 10-20% quartz and 50% potassium feldspar. Granite is used as a building material.
43
Groundwater
Water in the zone of saturation.
44
Historical geology
A major division of geology that deals with the origin of Earth and its development through time. Usually involves the study of fossils and their sequence in rock beds.
45
Hydrosphere
The water portion of our planet; one of the traditional subdivisions of Earth's physical environment.
46
Hypothesis
A tentative explanation that is then tested to determine if it is valid.
47
Igneous rock
Rock formed from the crystallization of magma.
48
Inner core
The solid innermost layer of Earth, about 1216 kilometers (754 miles) in radius.
49
Inner planets
The innermost planets of our solar system, which include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Also known as the terrestrial planets because of their Earth-like internal structure and composition.
50
Interface
A common boundary where different parts of a system interact.
51
Island arc
See Volcanic island arc.
52
Lava
Magma that reaches Earth's surface.
53
Lithosphere
The rigid outer layer of Earth, including the crust and upper mantle.
54
Lower mantle
See Mesosphere.
55
Magma
A body of molten rock found at depth, including any dissolved gases and crystals.
56
Magnitude (earthquake)
An estimate of the total amount of energy released during an earthquake, based on seismic records.
57
Mantle
One of Earth's compositional layers. The solid rocky shell that extends from the base of the crust to a depth of 2900 kilometers (1800 miles).
58
Melt
The liquid portion of magma excluding the solid crystals.
59
Metamorphism
The changes in mineral composition and texture of a rock subjected to high temperatures and pressures within Earth.
60
Metamorphic rock
Rock formed by the alteration of preexisting rock deep within Earth (but still in the solid state) by heat, pressure, and/or chemically active fluids.
61
Mineral
A naturally occurring, inorganic crystalline material with a unique chemical structure.
62
Mountain belt
A geographic area of roughly parallel and geologically connected mountain ranges developed as a result of plate tectonics.
63
Nebular theory
A model for the origin of the solar system that supposes a rotating nebula of dust and gases that contracted to form the Sun and planets.
64
Ocean basin
A deep submarine region that lies beyond the continental margins.
65
Oceanic ridge
See Mid-ocean ridge
66
Outer core
A layer beneath the mantle about 2270 kilometers (1410 miles) thick, which has the properties of a liquid.
67
Outer planets
The outermost planets of our solar system, which include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They are also known as the Jovian planets.
68
Peridotite
An igneous rock of ultramafic composition thought to be abundant in the upper mantle.
69
Period
A basic unit of the geologic time scale that is a subdivision of an era. Periods may be divided into smaller units called epochs.
70
Physical geology
A major division of geology that examines the materials of Earth and seeks to understand the processes and forces acting beneath and upon Earth's surface.
71
Planetesimal
A solid celestial body that accumulated during the first stages of planetary formation. Planetesimals aggregated into increasingly larger bodies, ultimately forming the planets.
72
Radioactivity
See Radioactive decay
73
Rock
A consolidated mixture of minerals.
74
Rock cycle
A model that illustrates the origin of the three basic rock types and the interrelatedness of Earth materials and processes.
75
SaUnity
The proportion of dissolved salts to pure water, usually expressed in parts per thousand (0/00).
76
Scientific method
The process by which researchers raise questions, gather data, and formulate and test scientific hypotheses.
77
Seamount
An isolated volcanic peak that rises at least 1000 meters (3300 feet) above deep-ocean floor.
78
Sedimentary rock
Rock formed from the weathered products of preexisting rocks that have been transported, deposited and lithified.
79
Shield
A large, relatively flat expanse of ancient igneous and metamorphic rocks within the craton.
80
Shoreline
The line that marks the contact between land and sea. It migrates up ad down as the tide rises and falls.
81
Soil
A combination of mineral and organic matter, water, and air; the portion of the regolith that supports plant growth.
82
Solar nebula
The cloud of interstellar gas and/or dust from which the bodies of our solar system formed.
83
Spring
A flow of groundwater that emerges naturally at the ground surface.
84
Stable platform
That part of a carton that is mantled by relatively undeformed sedimentary rocks and underlain by a basement complex of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
85
System
A group of interacting or interdependent parts that form a complex whole.
86
Texture
The size, shape and distribution of the particles that collectively constitute a rock.
87
Theory
A well-tested and widely accepted view that explains certain observable facts.
88
Transition zone
The lowest portion of the upper mantle.
89
Troposphere
The lowermost layer of the atmosphere. It is generally characterized by a decrease in temperature with height.
90
Tsunami
The Japanese word for a seismic sea wave.
91
Uniformitarianism
The concept that processes that have shaped Earth in the geologic past are essentially the same as those operating today.
92
Upper mantle
The top portion of the mantle extending from the Moho to a depth of about 660 km and comprising the lithospheric mantle, asthenosphere, and the transition zone.
93
Volcanic
Pertaining to the activities, structures, or rock types of a volcano.
94
Volcanic island
A seamount that has grown large enough to rise above sea level.
95
Volcanic Island arc
A chain of volcanic islands generally located in a few hundred kilometers from a trench where there is active subduction of one oceanic plate beneath another.
96
Weather
The state of atmosphere at any given time.

Earth 201 (9 decks)

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