EAR 117 Exam #1

Half-life

Time required for half of an initial quantity of a radioactive isotope to decay

Isostasy

Mechanism by which areas of Earth’s crust rise or subside until their masses are in balance, “floating” on the mantle

Oceans and sea ice

97.26% of total water on Earth

Ice caps and glaciers

2.11% of total water on Earth

Freshwater lakes

.009% of total water on Earth

Rivers

.0001% of total water on Earth

Transpiration

Plant roots suck up water through the soil, the water goes into the plants, the water evaporates into the air, moves a lot of water from the soil into the air

Sublimation

a solid piece of water (ice or snow) does not have to melt first and can directly become water vapor, like dry ice

Argo floats

Instruments that measure temperature and salinity; can sink, drift, and float back up to send data to the satellite

Long residence time

Large reservoir, small flux

Short residence time

Small reservoir, large flux

Crust

outer layer of the Earth, light-colored, low density rock

Mantle

Second layer of the Earth, dark-color, heavy rock

Outer Core

The liquid, metallic portion of the innermost layer of the Earth

Inner Core

The solid, metallic portion of the innermost layer of the Earth

Lithosphere

A rigid surface layer consisting of crust and shallow mantle rock fused together, solid

Asthenosphere

A weak, deformable region in the mantle where the temperature and pressure conditions lead to partial melting of the rock and loss of strength

Mesosphere

A region of solid material that convects slowly, moving upward in some regions and downward in others due to temperature gradients and density differences

Oceanography

A multidisciplinary field in which geology, geophysics, chemistry, physics, meteorology, and biology are all used to understand the oceans

The Hydrologic Cycle

Movement of water among the land, oceans, and atmosphere due to vertical and horizontal transport, evaporation, and precipitation

Divergent boundary

Convergent boundary

Transform faulty boundary

Ocean-ocean convergence

Ocean-continent convergence

Continent-continent convergence

Foraminifera

Minute, one-celled animals that usually secrete calcareous shells

Diatoms

A group of photosynthetic phytoplankton with silica shells that are found in areas with suitable light, nutrients, and correct temperature

Radiolaria

A type of zooplankton that thrive in warm water and have siliceous outer shells covered with long spines

Gas Hydrates

A combination of natural gas, primarily methane, and water, which forms a solid, ice-like structure under pressure at low temperatures