Earth Science Regents Review Vocab Flashcards
(186 cards)
1
Q
Adiabatic Change
A
the change in temperature of a gas by expansion or compression.
2
Q
Air Mass
A
A large area in the atmosphere in which the temperature and moisture conditions are similar.
3
Q
angle of insolation
A
the angle at which the sun’s rays strike the Earth’s surface.
4
Q
anticline
A
a series of folded rock layers that bend upward near the center
5
Q
apparent diameter
A
the size that an object appears to an observer.
6
Q
asthenosphere
A
a region of the upper mantle between 100 and 350 kilometers in depth that behaves like a fluid.
7
Q
atmosphere
A
the envelope of air that encircles Earth. It has been divided into zones based largely on temperature differences.
8
Q
barometer
A
am instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure.
9
Q
barometric pressure
A
the amount of force exerted by the air per square inch or centimeter at a particular location.
10
Q
bedrock
A
the layer nearest Earth’s surface, lying directly below any soil layers.
11
Q
Big Bang Theory
A
the idea that the universe started out with all of its matter in a small volume and expanded outward in all directions.
12
Q
bioclastic
A
a sedimentary rock consisting of fragmental or broken remains of organisms.
13
Q
boiling point
A
the temperature at which a liquid changed into vapor.
14
Q
capillarity
A
the rising of water against gravity, as when water rises above the water table in soil because of the attraction between the water and the soil.
15
Q
cementation
A
the process by which sediments are bonded together by material dissolved in water when the water evaporates
16
Q
chemical weathering
A
weathering that occurs because of the chemical reaction between material dissolved in water and local rock material
17
Q
cleavage
A
the splitting of mineral in a distinctive directions caused by the arrangement of atoms in a mineral
18
Q
climate
A
the average weather conditions, in terms of temperature and moisture, of an area over a long period of time.
19
Q
clouds
A
masses of water droplets suspended in the air, they form when air is cooled and moisture condenses.
20
Q
Cold Front
A
the boundary between two air masses of different temperatures, the point where the colder air Mass moves under and pushes up the warmer air Mass.
21
Q
Compaction
A
the process that results when buried sediments are subjected to pressure, which packs them together. Together with cementation, this process causes sediments to be converted to rock.
22
Q
condensation
A
the process whereby, when moisture in the atmosphere is cooled, it changes from a vapor to a liquid.
23
Q
conduction
A
the method of heat transfer in solids in which faster moving molecules strike other molecules, causing them to speed up.
24
Q
contact metamorphism
A
changes in rock that result from the extreme heat produced by contact with magma or lava.
25
continental air mass
an air mass that forms over land and therefore is relatively dry.
26
continental glacier
a large sheet of ice that covered much of a continent during a period of Earth's past
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contour interval
the differences in elevation between contour lines on a contour or topographic map
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contour line
a line on a topographic map that connects points having the same elevation
29
convection
the method of energy transfer in fluids in which the fluid expands when it is heated and rises, when the fluid cools, it contracts and sinks
30
convection cell
the circular pattern of movement in a fluid caused by the rising and sinking of the fluid due to the differences in density caused by differences in temperature.
31
convergent boundary
places where edges of adjacent plates are colliding.
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core
the innermost zone of Earth's interior. A solid inner core is surrounded by a molten outer core.
33
Coriolis effect
an apparent force, due to the rotation of the Earth, that deflects winds toward the right in the the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
34
Correlation
the matching of rock layers at different locations, based on composition, thickness, and in some cases fossil content, for the purpose of establishing that they represent the same rock layer.
35
cosmic background radiation
a remnant of radiation left over from the original Big Bang that fills the universe
36
Crust
the outermost solid layer of Earth, extending across the continents and under the oceans. It is thicker under the continents than under the oceans.
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density
the mass per unit volume of a substance
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deposition
the process by which material carried by erosion settles out when the velocity it's carried at slows down.
39
dew
moisture that condenses at Earth's surface when moist air touches a cool area
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dew point temperature
the temperature at which the air becomes saturated and excess moisture begins to condense
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dike
a rock layer that forms when molten rock material flows through breaks in rock layers and then cools and hardens
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discharge
the total volume of water flowing in a river or stream per unit of time.
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divergent boundary
places where edges of adjacent plates are spreading apart
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Doppler effect
the shift in wavelength of a spectrum line from its normal position due to relative motion between the source and the observer
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duration of insolation
the number of hours that the sun's rays strike Earth's surface over a 24-hour period, hours of daylight.
46
earthquake
the large-scale and rapid motion of rock layers that occurs when pressure is released
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electromagnetic spectrum
The range of wavelengths of energy released by the Sun. A small range of wavelengths represents visible light.
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elevation
the height above sea level
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ellipse
a curve that has two centers, or foci. The sum of the distance between either focus and any point is a constant. The shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun is an ellipse with the sun as either focus.
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epicenter
the location on Earth's surface directly above the point of origin or focus of an earthquake.
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equator
an imaginary circle around Earth lying halfway between the poles and dividing the Earth's surface into the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.
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equinox
the two times a year when the sun is directly overhead at the equator at noon. March 21 and September 23, the number of hours of day and night are equally about 12.
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erosion
the process by which weathered rock material is carried away by agents such as running water, ice, wind, and gravity.
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evaporation
process by which water is converted from a liquid to a vapor
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evapotranspiration
the combined process of evaporation and transpiration, representing the method by which water vapor returns to the atmosphere.
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fault
movement within rock layers where pressure has caused the layers to break. The layers on one side of the break move up, while the opposite layers move down.
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felsic
igneous rocks composed of minerals with high content of aluminum. These rocks tend to be lighter in color than others.
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focus
the point of origin within Earth's crust or mantle of an earthquake.
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foliated
metamorphic rock texture characterized by thin, leaf like layers caused by the flattening of mineral grains under heat and pressure.
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formation
a sequence of rock layers that cover a large area and were formed over a period of time.
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fossil
the preserved remains or traces of an animal or plant that lived in the past.
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fossil record
groups of fossils found in a rock layer that are used to interpret how and when the rock layer was formed and what the environment was like at that time.
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Foucault Pendulum
a freely swinging Pendulum whose path appears to change direction relative to Earth's surface in a predictable manner due to Earth's rotation.
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fracture
a term used to describe the irregular way in which some minerals break
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freezing point
the temperature at which a liquid changes to a solid
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front
the boundary between two different air masses
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frost
moisture that condenses directly from a vapor to a solid when moist air touches a cold surface. When the air temperature is below freezing, frost forms instead of dew.
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galaxy
a system consisting of hundred of billions of stars
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gradient
the slope of the land or of a river or stream
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greenhouse effect
process by which longer wavelength radiation emitted from Earth's surface is absorbed by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing a rise in air temperature.
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half-life
amount of times it takes for half the mass of radioactive substance to decay
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high-pressure center
a location on a weather map where winds blow outward, in a clockwise direction, away from the center. This occures because the air pressure is lower at the center than over the surrounding area.
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humidity
amount of moisture in air
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hydrosphere
the outer zone of Earth, which consists of oceans and seas.
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hypothesis
the attempt to explain a scientific phenomenon on the basis of observations and other relevant information
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igneous
referring to rocks that form when molten rock material cools and solidifies.
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impermeable
referring to rocks that form when molten rock material cools and solidifies.
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index fossil
a fossil that is found over widespread areas and that formed from an organism that existed from a relatively short geological period of time.
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inference
an interpretation or explanation of a natural phenomenon based on obervations
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infiltration
the process by which water at Earth's surface penetrates and filters down through porous soil and rock layers.
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insolation
radiation reaching Earth's surface from the sun. This term is a contraction of "incoming solar radiation."
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intrusion
forcible entry of solidified molten rock material between rock layers or into breaks within a rock layer.
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isobar
a line on a weather map that connects points having the same air or barometric pressure.
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land breeze
a wind blowing from over the land to over a lake or ocean. It occurs when water temperatures are warmer than land.
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landscape region
a grouping of landscapes with similar reliefs, stream patterns, and soil associations
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latent heat of fusion
the amount of energy required to convert one gram of ice at 0*C to water at 0*C
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latent heat of vaporization
the amount of energy required to convert one gram of water at 100*C to vapor at 100*C
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latitude
imaginary circles around Earth parallel to the equator and between the North and South Poles
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lava
molten rock material that reaches Earth's surface through volcanoes.
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light-year
the distance light travels in one year; roughly 9.5 trillion kilometers, or 6 million miles
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lithosphere
the solid outer portion of Earth
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longitude
imaginary circles around Earth that pass through the North and South poles
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low-pressure center
location on a weather map where winds blow inward, in a counter clockwise direction, into a center. This occurs because the air pressure is lower at the center than in the surrounding area.
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luminosity
total amount of energy radiated by a star in 1 second
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lunar eclipse
phenomenon that occurs when Earth passes between the moon and the sun, causing light from the sun to be blocked from reaching the surface of the moon.
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luster
type of shine exhibited by a mineral, based on the way its surface reflects light. (metallic, glassy, or dull)
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mafic
referring to igneous rocks composed of minerals with a high content magnesium and iron. They tend to be darker in color than other rocks.
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magma
molten rock material beneath the Earth's surface
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magnetic north (pole)
the point near the geographic North pole toward which the needle on a compass points.
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mantle
the zone within Earth that lies between the crust and outer core.
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maritime air mass
an air mass that forms over water and therefore has a relatively high moisture content.
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mass
the measure of the amount of matter contained in a sample.
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meander
a curve in a river or stream
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meridian
a line of longitude measured in degrees. The prime meridian (0*) passes through Green which, England.
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metamorphic
referring to rocks that form when existing rocks are subjected to enough heat and pressure to cause partial melting of the minerals present.
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meter
the standard unit of length in the metric system
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mid-ocean ridge
a chain of undersea mountains running through the center of an ocean
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milibar
a unit of air pressure in the atmosphere
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mineral
a naturally occurring substance that is always made of the same elements in a fixed proportion
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modified mercalli scale
a system that measures the strength of an earthquake based upon precipitation of motion by human observers and damage to structures built by humans.
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moho
the boundary between the dense rock of the mantle and the less dense rock of the crust.
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moraine
a large deposit formed when glaciers melt and leave behind the material it was carrying
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mountain
any part of earth's crust that project at least 300 m above the surrounding land, steep sides, limited summit area
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observation
a description of what is perceived by the senses. It can often be made more accurate by using instruments.
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occluded front
a weather front that forms when a cold front moves in behind a warm front, lifting the warm front off the ground
116
orbit
the path followed by one object as it revolves around another; for example, the orbit of Earth around the sun
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outgassing
the release of gases and water vapor from molten rocks, leading to the formation of Earth's atmosphere and oceans.
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permeability
the ability of water to penetrate through a material.
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physical weathering
the breakdown of rocks due to physical changes
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plain
a flat area at low elevation
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plateau
a large, flat region elevated more than 150-300 m above the surrounding land or above sea level.
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polar air mass
an air mass that forms over the polar regions and therefore contains relatively cold air
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pollution
a condition of the air, water, or land in which there is a surplus of materials presents that may be harmful to living things.
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porosity
the percentage of open space in a soil sample.
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precipitation
all forms of moisture that reach the Earth's surface from the atmosphere, including snow, hail, rain and sleet.
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prevailing westerlies
the wind belt stretching across the United States in which the general direction of wind movement is from southwest to northeast
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p-wave
primary wave, the compression type of wave emitted by an earthquake that travels through both liquids and solids
127
radiation
the method of energy transfer by which energy from the Sun reaches the Earth
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radioactive dating
the use of radioactive isotope to determine the age of a fossil or rock layer. This technique is possible because each radioactive isotope decays at a unique and fixed rate.
129
radioactive isotope
an unstable form of an element that breaks down by radioactive decay. carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon that breaks down by emitting electrons to form nitrogen-14
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radioactive decay
the process by which a radioactive element breaks down to emit particles and radiation that form a new element
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rain gauge
an instrument used to collect atmospheric precipitation so that the amount of rainfall can be measured.
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residual soil
soil that is formed by the weathering of local rock material
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regional metamorphism
changes in rock over and extensive area that occur due to the pressure and high temperatures associated with either deep burial or movement of Earth's crust
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relative humidity
the percentage of moisture present in the air as compared to the maximum amount of moisture in the air can hold at the prevailing temperature.
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Richter scale
a scale with a range of 1 to 10 that indicates the magnitude of an earthquake
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rock
naturally occurring materials that are composed of one or more minerals
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rock cycle
the process by which each of the three rock types can be converted into each other type.
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runoff
excess precipitation reaching Earth's surface that flows into rivers and streams because the soil is saturated
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salinity
a measure of the amount of salt dissolved in water.
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sea breeze
a wind blowing from over a lake or ocean to over land. It occurs when the water temperature is cooler than the land temperature.
136
sea floor spreading
the concept that portions of the ocean floor are moving away from a central ridge because new material moving upward at the ridge is pushing the old material outward.
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sedimentary
referring to rocks that form by the compaction and cementation of sediments
137
seismograph
an instrument used to measure the disturbances caused by an earthquake
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sill
a rock layer that forms when molten rock material forces its way between existing rock layers and then cools and solidifies.
137
solar system
the Sun and the various objects that orbit it, including the planets and their moons, comets, and asteroids
138
sling psychrometer
an instrument used to determine relative humidity
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solar eclipse
the phenomenon that occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, causing light from the Sun to be blocked from reaching the surface of Earth.
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solstice
one of the two times a year, about June 22 and December 22, when the Sun is directly overhead and 23.5* north and south latitude. The solstices represent the longest and shortest days of the year.
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specific heat
the relative amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of material by one degree Celsius.
142
spectrum
the band of colors formed when a beam of white light is passed through a prism; each wavelength of light in the beam is refracted at a slightly different angle, causing the light to be arrayed in order of its constituent wavelengths
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stationary front
a front that forms when the opposing warm and cold air masses are of equal energy
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station model
a pattern of symbols on a weather map that is used to describe local weather conditions such as temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and cloud cover.
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stratosphere
the layer of the atmosphere directly above the troposphere.
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streak
a more accurate method of identifying the color of a mineral by rubbing it against a plate, causing powder to form.
147
stream load
the total amount of material carried by a stream, including material that is carried in solution or suspension or is pushed along the bottom.
148
subduction
the sliding of a denser ocean plate beneath a less dense continental plate resulting in the melting of the ocean plate as it plunges into the hot mantle.
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subsoil
the layer of soil just below the topsoil. It does not contain the organic matter found in the topsoil and has not been as extensively weathered.
150
s-wave
shear wave, the transverse type of wave emitted by an earthquake that travels through solids but is absorbed by liquids.
151
terminal moraine
the material deposited by the melt water of a glacier at the point of its farthest advance.
151
syncline
a series of folded rock layers that dips downward near the center.
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texture
the grain size of a rock. A course texture represents large grains; a fine texture represents small grains.
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till
the material found in a glacial moraine and usually representing a wide range of particle size.
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theory
an explanation for scientific observations. A theory is formed from a hypothesis when there is substantial evidence to support it.
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time zone
a region in which the same time is used throughout, instead of the local time at each place within it.
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topographic map
a map of an area with contour lines to show the elevations at all locations,as well as other geologic features such as rivers, streams, and mountain peaks.
156
topsoil
the uppermost layer of soil. It contains the most highly weathered rock fragments, as well as organic remains.
157
transform boundary
places where edges of plates are sliding laterally past each other.
158
transpiration
the process by which plants release moisture to the atmosphere.
159
trench
a large valley on the ocean floor.
159
transported soils
soils formed from weathered rock material that have been carried from other locations and deposited.
160
tropical air mass
an air mass that has formed over the tropics and therefore contains relatively warm air.
161
tropic of cancer
the line of latitude at 23.5* North, which represents the farthest north that the noon sun can be overhead.
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tropic of capricorn
the line of latitude at 23.5* South, which represents the farthest south that the noon sun can be overhead.
162
troposphere
the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth's surface. All weather phenomena occur within this zone.
163
unconformity
a gap in a sequence of rock layers, resulting either from the removal of layers by erosion or failure of layers to form for long periods.
164
uniformitarianism
the principle that the geologic processes acting today are the same as those that occurred in the past.
165
valley glacier
a glacier that forms in a valley between mountain peaks.
166
vesicular
rock texture characterized by cavities formed by gas bubbles escaping from a lava as it cools and solidifies.
167
volcano
a mountain formed when lava erupts from beneath the surface and then cools and solidifies.
168
warm front
the boundary between two air masses of different temperatures; the point where the warmer air mass moves over the colder air mass and pushes it backward.
169
water cycle
the cyclic process during which water leaves Earth's surface by evaporation and transpiration to enter the atmosphere. It returns to the surface as precipitation.
170
watershed
the area drained by a stream and its tributaries.
171
water table
the upper boundary of saturated rock or soil beneath Earth's surface.
172
weathering
the process in nature by which rock materials are broken down into smaller pieces to form sand, soil, and so on.
173
wind belts
zones around earth in which the winds blow in the same general direction.
