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introduction to geology (1) Flashcards

1
Q

Geology

A

The science that examines Earth, its form and composition and the changes that it has undergone and is undergoing

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2
Q

Physical Geology

A

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

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3
Q

Historical Geology

A

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.

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4
Q

List three different geological hazards.

A

Earthquakes
Volcanoes
Landslides

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5
Q

Aside from geologic hazards, describe another important connection between people and geology.

A

Geologic resources, we use a lot of resources

People influence geologic processes

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6
Q

Describe Aristotle’s influence on geology.

A

Aristotle presented nebulous ideas, but he was authoritative and his ideas were prominent until the renaissance

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7
Q

Catastrophism

A

The concept that Earth was shaped by catastrophic events of a short-term nature
(James Ussher)

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8
Q

Uniformitarianism

A

The concept that the processes that have shaped Earth in the geologic past are essentially the same as those operating today

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9
Q

Who published Theory of the Earth?

A

James Hutton

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10
Q

What is the age of the Earth?

A

4.6 billion years

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11
Q

Which eon, era, period and epoch do we live in?

A

Phanerozoic
Cenozoic
Quaternary
Holocene

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12
Q

Hypothesis

A

A tentative explanation that is then tested to determine if it is valid

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13
Q

Theory

A

A well-tested and widely accepted view that explains certain observable facts

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14
Q

Scientific Method

A

The process by which researchers raise questions, gather data, and formulate and test scientific hypothesis

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15
Q

Hydrosphere

A

Water portion of the planet

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16
Q

Atmosphere

A

Earth’s gaseous envelope

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17
Q

Geosphere

A

Solid earth

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18
Q

Biosphere

A

Totality of all plant and animal life on Earth

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19
Q

Soil

A

the thin veneer of material at Earth’s surface that supports the growth of plants, may be thought of as part of all four spheres

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20
Q

Earth System Science

A

An interdisciplinary study that seeks to examine Earth as a system composed of numerous interacting parts or subsystems

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21
Q

System

A

A group of interacting or interdependent parts that form a complex whole

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22
Q

How much of Earth’s surface do oceans cover?

A

71%

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23
Q

What percentage of Earth’s water supply do oceans represent?

A

96%

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24
Q

List 3 examples of systems.

A

Car
Economy
Planet

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25
What are the two sources of energy for the Earth system?
Energy released from radioactive decay | Sun
26
When is it thought that the Big Bang occurred?
13.7 billion years ago
27
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
28
Solar Nebula
The cloud of interstellar gas and/or dust from which the bodies of our solar system formed
29
Describe the steps in the formation of Earth's layered structure
Heavy elements (iron) sunk and less massive elements rose (oxygen)
30
List the inner planets
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
31
List the outer planets
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
32
What are the differences of the inner and outer planets?
Inner, rocky planets are small and dense | Outer, gas planets are large and gaseous
33
Explain why density and buoyancy were important in the development of Earth's layered structure.
Density allowed layers to sink or rise
34
Crust
The very thin, outermost layer of Earth
35
Mantle
The solid rocky shell that extends from the base of the crust to a depth of 2900 kilometers
36
What percent of Earth's volume is the mantle?
82%
37
Lithosphere
The rigid outer layer of Earth, including the crust and upper mantle
38
Asthenosphere
A subdivision of the mantle situated below the lithosphere. This zone of weak material exists below a depth of about 100 km and in some regions extends as deep as 700 km. The rock within this zone is easily deformed.
39
Transition Zone
The lowest portion of the upper mantle
40
Lower Mantle
The part of the mantle that extends from the core-mantle boundary to a depth of 660 km
41
D" Layer
The boundary layer between the rocky mantle and the hot liquid iron outer core will be examined in
42
Core
The innermost layer of Earth. It is thought to be largely an iron-nickel alloy, with minor amounts of oxygen, silicon, and sulfur
43
Outer Core
A layer beneath the mantle about 2270 km thick, which has the properties of a liquid
44
Inner Core
The solid innermost layer of Earth, about 1216 kilometers in radius
45
What generates Earth's magnetic field?
The movement of metallic iron within the outer core
46
Why is the inner core solid?
The immense pressures that exist in the center of the planet (despite the higher temperature)
47
Minerals
Chemical compounds (or sometimes single elements) that each have their own composition and physical properties
48
Rock Cycle
A model that illustrates the origin of the three basic types and the interrelatedness of Earth materials and processes
49
Igneous Rock
Rock formed from the crystallization of magma
50
Sediment
Unconsolidated particles created by the weathering and erosion of rock by chemical precipitation from solution in water, or from the secretions of organisms, and transported by water, wind, or glaciers
51
Sedimentary Rock
Rock formed from the weathered products of preexisting rocks that have been transported, deposited, and lithified
52
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
53
List two rock characteristics that are used to determine the processes that created a rock.
Composition and texture
54
What are the two principal divisions of Earth's surface?
Ocean basins and continents
55
Ocean Basin
A deep submarine region that lies beyond the continental margins
56
Continents
A large, continuous area of land that includes the adjacent continental shelf and islands that are structurally connected to the mainland
57
The _____ _____ that comprise the oceanic crust average only _ km thick and have an average density of about ___ g/cm3.
basaltic rocks 7 3.0
58
The continents average about __ km thick and are composed of ____ ____ that have a density of about ___ g/cm3.
35 granitic rocks 2.7
59
Continental Margin
The portion of the seafloor that is adjacent to the continents. It may include the continental shelf, continental slope, and the continental rise
60
Continental Shelf
The gently sloping submerged portion of the continental margin, extending from the shoreline to the continental slope
61
Continental Slope
The steep gradient that leads to the deep-ocean floor and marks the seaward edge of the continental shelf
62
Continental Rise
The gently sloping surface at the base of the continental slope
63
Deep-Ocean Basins
The portion of seafloor that lies between the continental margin and the oceanic ridge system. This region comprises almost 30% of Earth's surface
64
Abyssal Plain
A very level area of the deep-ocean floor, usually lying at the foot of the continental rise
65
Deep-Ocean Trench
A narrow, elongated depression of the seafloor
66
Seamount
An isolated volcanic peak that rises at least 1000 meters above the deep-ocean floor
67
Mid-Ocean Ridge
A continuous mountainous ridge on the floor of all the major ocean basins and varying in width from 500 to 5000 km. The rift at the crests of these ridges represent divergent plate boundaries.
68
Mountain Belt
A geographic area of roughly parallel and geologically connected mountain ranges developed as a result of plate tectonics
69
Craton
The part of the continental crust that has attained stability; that is, it has not been affected by significant tectonic activity during the Phanerozoic eon. It consists of the shield and the stable platform

GEO 101 (19 decks)

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