Earth Science Lecture Notes Review

Flashcards based on lecture notes about the Earth's composition, weathering, erosion, soil types, tectonic plates, and geological events.

What are the four main parts of the Earth?

Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core

Which elements affect weathering and erosion the most?

Water and Wind

What is weathering?

The breakdown of rocks, minerals, and soil through contact with environmental factors.

What is deposition?

The build-up of rocks, minerals, and soils after it has been eroded.

What are Igneous Rocks?

Rocks formed when molten rock from the mantle reaches the surface through heat and pressure applied to different rocks.

What are Sedimentary Rocks?

Rocks formed when rocks break apart from weathering and erosion; over time the layers meld together from pressure.

What are Metamorphic Rocks?

Rocks formed through heat and pressure applied to different rocks.

What is Clay?

Smallest particles, retains moisture, prone to cracking, little space between particles.

What is erosion?

The movement of rock, minerals, and soils after they have been broken down by weathering.

What is Silt?

Medium particles, holds moisture but drains, ideal base for plants, prone to weathering.

What is Sand?

Largest particles, space between particles, cannot hold water, low in nutrients.

What is Convergent Plate Movement?

The type of plate movement where one moves underneath the other.

What is Loam?

A mix of sand, silt, clay, and humus; the best type of soil for growing plants.

What is Transform Plate Movement?

The type of plate movement where plates move against each other in opposite directions.

What is Compost?

The process of breaking down organic matter into nutrient-rich humus.

What is Divergent Plate Movement?

The type of plate movement where plates move away from each other.

What is an Earthquake?

When tectonic plates move in the shaking.

What are the main types of erosion?

Biological Erosion, Aeolian Erosion, Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion (glacial, cut bank, coastal, sea stack)

How can you enrich soil?

Add nutrients like compost, nitrogen, and phosphorus; Add worms.

What is a Volcano?

A mountain with a crater or vent where gas, rock fragments, ash, and lava erupt from below the surface.

What process do scientists use to date rocks?

Carbon Dating and Radiometric Dating

What was the original continent known as?

Pangea

What is a Tsunami?

A long tall series of sea waves caused by displacement of water from disturbances underwater.

What area has the most volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis?

The Ring of Fire surrounds the Pacific Ocean