Earth Cycles 20 Questions

System

What is a combination of interacting components that form a complex whole?

Sun

What ultimately powers the systems of Earth’s surface?

4.6 billion years ago

When do scientists estimate that Earth was formed?

0.64

What is the percent of liquid freshwater to Earth’s total water?

97.5

What percent of the Earth’s water do the oceans contain?

lithosphere

What is the rigid outer part of Earth, including the crust and the uppermost mantle called?

Uniformitarianism

What is it called when the geologic processes operating today also worked in the past?

tectonic plates

What are composed of cool, rigid rock that rides on a plastic mantle layer?

feedback mechanism

What occurs when a small initial perturbation affects another component of the system, which amplifies the original effect?

true

All of Earth’s sphere continuously exchange matter and energy.

Gradualism

What is it called when geologic change occurs over long periods of time by a sequence of almost imperceptible events?

threshold effect

Imagine that a system has been perturbed at a constant rate for a long time, but the system has barely charged. Suddenly, a small additional perturbation causes a large change in the system. What is this an example of?

hydrosphere

Which system contains all of Earth’s water?

biosphere

Which system is the zone inhabited by life?

significant

The consequence of the vastness of geologic time is that events that occurs slowly become what?

sun

What is the fundamental source of energy that drives Earth’s surface systems the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere?

crust, mantle, core

The geosphere consists of which three major layers?

Uniformitarianism

What is a principe stating that the geologic processes operating today also operated in the past?

Catastrophism

What is a principle that states that occasional huge catastrophes alter the course of Earth history?