Geology and Earth Science Terms

These flashcards cover important vocabulary terms related to geology and earth sciences, providing definitions for each term.

absolute age

Exact age of a rock or fossil.

alluvial fan

Fan-shaped sediment deposit.

atmosphere

Air layers around Earth.

biosphere

Living things' zone on Earth.

caldera

Large volcanic crater.

chemical weathering

Rock breakdown by chemicals.

cinder cone

Small, simple volcano.

continental drift

Movement of continents.

continental shelf

Underwater edge of a continent.

convection

Heat transfer by fluid movement.

convergent boundary

Plates moving together.

cryosphere

Frozen water on Earth.

delta

Sediment landform at river mouth.

deposition

Sediment settling out.

desert

Dry, little rain area.

desertification

Land turning into desert.

divergent boundary

Plates moving apart.

earthquake

Shaking from plate movement.

epicenter

Surface point above earthquake focus.

erosion

Wearing away of rocks.

experiment

Test to check an idea.

fault

Crack in Earth's crust with movement.

geosphere

Solid Earth.

glacier

Large slow-moving ice.

hydrosphere

All Earth's water.

hypothesis

Educated guess.

igneous rock

Rock from cooled magma/lava.

magma

Molten rock underground.

mechanical weathering

Physical rock breaking.

mesa

Flat-topped hill.

metamorphic rock

Rock changed by heat/pressure.

mid-ocean ridge

Underwater mountain range.

mineral

Natural solid with set chemistry.

orogeny

Mountain building process.

plate tectonics

Theory of plate movement.

porosity

Space in rocks for fluids.

pyroclastic flow

Hot volcanic gas and debris.

radiometric dating

Dating using radioactive decay.

relative age

Age compared to other rocks.

rock cycle

Continuous rock changes.

scientific law

Describes natural facts.

scientific theory

Well-tested explanation.

seafloor spreading

New ocean crust forms.

sedimentary rock

Rock from compacted sediments.

seismic wave

Energy from earthquakes.

shield volcano

Broad, gentle volcano.

soil

Mix of minerals and organic matter.

transform boundary

Plates sliding past each other.

weathering

Rock breaking at surface.

Atoll

Ring shaped coral island around a lagoon.