Chapter 2

Question 1

Rock Cycle

Answer 1

relationship between rock types and their formation processes demonstrates constant change in the crust and at surface over time, aka tectonic cycle.

Rock cycle changes can lead to major temperature changes (Ex: volcanic eruption).

Question 2

Rock Types

Answer 2

Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic

Question 3

Formation of igneous rock

Answer 3

Magma cools and crystallizes to form igneous rock

Question 4

Formation of Sedimentary rocks

Answer 4

can be weathered, eroded, deposited and lithified to form sedimentary rock

Question 5

Formation of Metamorphic rock

Answer 5

buried and subjected to greater pressure and temperature, recrystallizing the rock into a metamorphic rock

Question 6

Physical Weathering

Answer 6

(the actual break-down of materials) wedging (frost/ice; root; salt); abrasion, remove confining stress.

Can occur within the Earth (ex: beneath volcano), or at the surface (ex: crystallization).

Question 7

Chemical Weathering

Answer 7

dissolution, oxidation, hydrolysis. Gases can be a component to the weathering of rocks.

Question 8

Effect of Rock cycle and weathering

Answer 8

rock cycle and weather cycles can both have detrimental effects on society, humans, and Earth. Human intervention can worsen it, or relieve the negative effects of the cycles.

Question 9

Water Cycle

Answer 9

• The Water Cycle describes the movement of water through different environments across the planet.
• liquid, solid, gas (water vapor) are the three states of water.
• Energy exchanges as changing states. Usually, heat energy is involved with transferring energy when water changes states. Oceans (97.2%) and ice caps/glaciers (2.15%) consist of the greatest % of Earth’s water supply, as compared to other water supply sources (ex: the least amount is held in rivers/streams).

Question 10

Carbon Cycle

Answer 10

• sugar and oxygen are released into atmosphere by plants (autotrophs) through the process of photosynthesis. Plants absorb carbon dioxide, or carbon, and water.
• the accumulation of (CO2) gas (greenhouse) emissions lead to excess heat energy.
• The sedimentary rock limestone is an important reservoir of the carbon cycle, incorporating carbonate molecules during deposition and storing them for long periods of time.

Question 11

Fast Carbon cycle

Answer 11

Years to centuries

Question 12

Slow Carbon Cycle

Answer 12

operates through rock/tectonic systems. Millions of years. Emissions of CO2 (and other emissions) which form sedimentary rocks.

Question 13

Nitrogoen Cycle

Answer 13

atmosphere has Nitrogen,
makes its way into the soil,
interacts/bonds with bacteria in the soil,
good for growing plants and useful to animals.

Question 14

Phosphorus Cycle

Answer 14

phosphate mining and uplifting of phosphate sediment (concentrated amounts for mining in Idaho/Wyoming) (fertilizers have nitrogen and phosphorous).

Weathering/erosion breaks apart minerals (phosphate (appetite/turquoise)) within rocks.

Phosphorous nourishes soil, and plants, and makes its way back into the soil, or water (marine environment; ex: ocean, lake, etc.) and helps marine life/organisms.

Question 15

Sulfur Cycle

Answer 15

consists of the mineral sulfur (sulfate minerals, like pyrite).

This cycle often occurs near volcanos (mountain ranges), where sulfur is released into the environment (ocean, rivers), soil (sulfate), and atmosphere/fossil fuels (gas form, sulfide).

sulfur reacts with water vapor in the atmosphere. Forms H2SO4. Not an issue with a natural sulfur contribution. The average global surface ocean pH is 8 (neutral, but more basic than acidic).

The water cycle can carry sulfur throughout the environment. Sulfur can be manually added to soil to help fertilize plants. Gypsum and pyrite can be found in coal deposits due to this process. Human interaction (extraction/burning of fossil fuels) is partly responsible for the sulfur cycle.

Question 16

Chemosynthesis

Answer 16

biological nutrient production using inorganic compounds. Occurs where sunlight can’t reach, particularly around volcanos at mid-ocean ridges/ oceanic crust. Ex: H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide)

Question 17

Precipitation

Answer 17

During the water cycle, water droplets, or precipitation occurs from formed rain clouds. The water droplets fall to the surface of the Earth from the rain clouds, essentially clouds filled with moisture and water

Question 18

Surface Runoff

Answer 18

• When precipitation occurs, and it falls to the surface, it creates surface runoff. Many factors such as elevation affect surface runoff, but usually it’s excess water that makes its way to the ocean. It can be very beneficial for plants, soil, and vegetation. Surface runoff can clean the surface of pesticides, or transport nutrients to other places. Also, surface runoff helps limit excess nutrients like the Algal Blooms in Lake Erie.

Question 19

Infiltration

Answer 19

• When precipitation or surface runoff brings water to the ground or surface, the water makes its’ way into the soil or ground. Infiltration is beneficial for the soil, plants, and animals. Sometimes, the water can have nutrients from surface runoff, or the soil or plants are dehydrated, either way, infiltration helps plants grow, and the soil is hydrated.

Question 20

Groundwater Flow

Answer 20

• Since the ground on the surface is relatively weak, and consists of cracks and spaces, groundwater flow often happens. Moreover, groundwater flow occurs beneath the surface, below the soil, plants, and rocks, where water from precipitation and infiltration is stored. As shown in the lecture’s diagram, groundwater flow is the water being stored beneath the surface, gradually making its way to the ocean. Presumably, groundwater flow is making its’ way to the closest surface water source, such as a river, or ocean.

Question 21

Evaporation from Vegetation, Land, and Ocean

Answer 21

• As described in class, the water cycle and the states of water (gas, solid, liquid) occurs with energy being transferred, usually heat energy. Evaporation occurs when water in the liquid state is being converted to a gas (water vapor). Usually, water on the surface of vegetation, land, and the ocean is heated by the sun. The surface water in these locations absorb the heat and become fog, or are just simply evaporated to form clouds. Cloud formation is the direct cause of evaporation. As more evaporation occurs, the clouds become rain clouds, and the water cycle is repeated.