Academic Earth/Space Science - Final Vocab Assessment

Timlin, Block

Meteorology

Study of the atmosphere and weather

Oceanography

Study of the oceans

Astronomy

study of the stars and space

paleontology

study of past life forms

core

innermost layer of earth

mantle

middle layer of the earth

crust

the outermost layer of the earth

geology

study of the physical earth

carbonates

mineral group that contains carbon, oxygen, and a metal.

sulfides/sulfates

mineral group containing the element sulfur

native element

type of mineral that contains only one type of element

streak

the color of a mineral’s powder

igneous rock

Rocks that form from lava or magma

sedimentary rock

a type of rock that forms from compaction and cementation

granitic

a type of igenous rock, light in color and rich in silica

basaltic

a type of igneous rock, dark in color and poor in silica

fossil fuel

the name given to coal, oil, or natural gas when used as energy.

ore

a type of mineral that contains a useful metal

chemical weathering

breaking down of rock that involves a chemical change

physical weathering

the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces without chemical change

regolith

generic term for weathered rock

soil horizon

a zone of soil with similar rock, mineral, organics, and water composition

soil profile

a vertical section that shows all soil horizons within a given area

pedalfer

a soil type found in forested areas, rich in aluminum and iron

focus

point from where the earthquake originates

epicenter

the point located directly above focus, on the Earth’s surface

Seismic Wave

produced by an earthquake and carries energy in all directions

fault

a break in the earth where plate movement has occurred

liquefaction

the process by which soil is shaken and turned into mud

seismic gap

period of time in which no fault movement or earthquakes have occurred

lithosphere

the rocky part of Earth’s crust

Asthenosphere

the weak sphere of the Earth, in the upper mantle, where convection currents are located.

divergent

a type of boundary formed when plates move apart

convergent

a type of boundary formed where plates move together

shield

large stable portions of most continents, billions of years old

prokaryote

cells that lack a nucleus

eukaryote

cells with a nucleus

uniformitarianism

the idea that these processes that shaped the Earth in the past will continue to do so

unconformity

in geologic terms, a break in the rock record

correlation

the matching of rocks of similar ages and types over great distances

solstice

the longest or shortest day of the year

equinox

a day of the year which all locations on Earth receive 12 hours of light and darkness

conduction

heat transfer that takes place during contact

convection

a type of heat transfer that occurs in fluids such as water

radiation

heat transfer that requires no medium

condensation

water vapor turning from a gas to a liquid

sublimation

the changing of ice to water vapor without becoming a liquid

deposition

the changing of water vapor to ice without becoming a liquid

front

a boundary where two air masses meet

inversion

a warming of temperature with height in the troposphere