Unit 1- Topology and Introduction to Geology

This is a review of old vocabulary that we have done before, and will be a helpful tool to assist you with preparing for your Midterm exam and Final Exam!

Contour Lines

The intervals that are found on a map that reflect the elevation of the land. Close lines indicate sharp and sudden changes, where as spaced out lines represent gradual transitions such as a gentle hill.

Contour Interval

This is the change in elevation between two contour lines, these intervals are consistent on a map.

Latitude

geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the Earth's surface, measured in degrees. The measure of 0 is known as the equator!

Longitude

geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface, also measured in degrees, with the prime meridian at 0 degrees.

Tropic of Cancer

The northernmost latitude where the sun can be directly overhead, occurring at approximately 23.5 degrees north during the summer solstice.

Tropic of Capricorn

a circle of latitude located at 23.5 degrees south of the equator, marking the southernmost point at which the sun can be directly overhead.

Equator

The imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, situated at 0 degrees latitude.

Prime Meridian

The line of 0 degrees longitude that divides the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, serving as the reference point for time zones.

Time Zone

A region of the Earth that has the same standard time, typically defined by its offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). They are separated by longitudes, generally 15 degrees apart. NYS is situated in the Eastern Zone.

Outer Core

The layer of the Earth's interior that lies below the mantle and above the inner core, composed of molten iron and nickel, playing a crucial role in generating the Earth's magnetic field.

Inner Core

The innermost layer of the Earth, located below the outer core, composed of solid iron and nickel, and subject to immense pressure and temperature.

Aesthenosphere

The semi-fluid layer of the Earth's mantle located below the lithosphere, responsible for the movement of tectonic plates. It behaves like a viscous fluid over geological timescales.

Oceanic Crust

The outermost layer of the Earth's lithosphere, primarily composed of basalt and forms the ocean floor. It is thinner than continental crust and denser, playing a key role in plate tectonics.

Continental Crust

The thick, buoyant layer of the Earth's lithosphere that makes up the continents, primarily composed of granite rock. It is less dense than oceanic crust and significantly thicker.

Pangea

The supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, comprising all major landmasses and eventually breaking apart to form the current continents.

Plate Tectonics

The scientific theory explaining the movement of the Earth's lithospheric plates, which causes seismic activity, the formation of mountains, and oceanic trench development.

Convergence

The process where two tectonic plates move towards each other, often leading to one plate being forced beneath another, resulting in subduction zones, mountain formation, and earthquakes.

Divergence

The process by which tectonic plates move away from each other, leading to the formation of new oceanic crust and mid-ocean ridges.

Transform

The process where two tectonic plates slide past one another horizontally, which can lead to the formation of faults and earthquakes.

Oceanic Trench

A deep, narrow depression in the ocean floor formed at convergent plate boundaries where one tectonic plate is subducted beneath another, often associated with volcanic activity.

Mid-Ocean Ridge

A continuous mountain range located on the ocean floor, formed by tectonic plates diverging and creating new oceanic crust.

Earthquake

A sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that causes seismic waves, often resulting from tectonic plate movements.

Degrees and Minutes

Units of angular measurement used in navigation and geography, where a degree is subdivided into 60 minutes. They help specify precise locations on the Earth's surface.

San Andreas Fault

A major fault line located in California where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate slide past each other, often associated with significant seismic activity.

Ring of Fire

An area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean characterized by a high frequency of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, resulting from tectonic plate boundaries.

Mariana’s Trench

The deepest part of the world's oceans, located in the western Pacific Ocean, it reaches depths of over 36,000 feet and is formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Mariana Plate.

Hot Spots

volcanically active areas in the Earth's crust where magma rises to the surface, independent of tectonic plate boundaries.