EEPS 100 - Module 2: The Lithosphere Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the Earth's interior layers, compositional vs mechanical structures, plate tectonics, biogeochemical cycles, rock cycle, and soil horizons from EEPS 100 Module 2.

Goldilocks Zone

The habitable region around a star where physical requirements for life are met, including a suitable temperature range, liquid water, an atmosphere, energy sources, and key elements such as CHNOPS.

Ionization

The process by which an atom or particle gains or loses electrons, resulting in a charged particle known as an ion.

Chemical bonding

The joining of two or more atoms together, the strength of which is measured by how much energy is required to break it.

Compound

A molecule that contains more than one element in its structure.

Polar molecule

A molecule, such as water, that has an unequal sharing of electrons, resulting in a balance of charges where one side is slightly positive and the other slightly negative.

Organic molecules

Molecules containing carbon ($\text{C}$) atoms bonded to hydrogen ($\text{H}$) and other atoms, required for life, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Energy

The capacity to do work.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

A physical law stating that entropy (disorder) of an isolated system must increase or stay the same; ecosystems avoid entropy by functioning as open systems that constantly exchange energy and matter with their surroundings.

Continental Drift

The theory proposed by Alfred Wegener stating that the fit of continental coastlines, along with matching geology, fossils, and mountain belts, indicated past connections between continents.

Inge Lehmann

The seismologist who discovered that Earth has a solid inner core and a liquid outer core based on observations of seismic shadow zones.

Inner core

A solid, high-density layer at Earth's center with a radius of approximately $1200\,\text{km}$, composed of over $95\%$ iron ($\text{Fe}$) and around $4\%$ Nitrogen, possessing the highest density and temperature.

Outer core

A high-density, liquid, hot layer of Earth surrounding the inner core that is approximately $2250\,\text{km}$ thick.

Mantle

Earth's layer beneath the crust, approximately $2900\,\text{km}$ thick, composed of oxygen ($\text{O}$), silicon ($\text{Si}$), iron ($\text{Fe}$), and magnesium ($\text{Mg}$), which flows like plastic when heated near the outer core.

Crust

The outermost compositional layer of Earth, ranging from $5\text{--}100\,\text{km}$ ($3\text{--}62\,\text{mi}$) thick, which has the lowest density and is cold.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer mechanical layer of Earth comprised of the crust and upper mantle, which is thicker under continents ($10\text{--}200\,\text{km}$) and thinner under oceans.

Asthenosphere

The soft mechanical layer below the lithosphere that can flow over long time periods, whose convective flow provides the energy that moves the lithosphere.

Earth's magnetic field

A protective shield created by the flow of electrons in molten metal spinning around Earth's solid iron-nickel inner core, protecting the planet from radiation from the sun and space.

Divergent boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates move away from each other, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Convergent boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates move toward each other, such as the Himalayan mountain range.

Transform boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide horizontally past each other, such as the San Andreas Fault.

Interior of the Earth

The structural layout of Earth's interior detailing the inner solid core, outer core, lower mantle, upper mantle, oceanic crust, and continental crust.

Compositional and Mechanical Layers of Earth

Earth's structural classification divided compositionally into crust, mantle, and core, and mechanically into lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer core, and inner core.

Rock cycle

The continuous geological process involving weathering, erosion and transport, deposition, burial, deformation and metamorphism, uplift, melting, and solidification.

Weathering

A key process in the rock cycle that breaks down rock materials and makes chemical elements available to other parts of the Earth system.

Biogeochemical cycle

A cycle in which matter moves through the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

Pool and Flux

In biogeochemical cycling, a pool is a part of an ecosystem where matter resides, while flux is the rate at which matter moves between pools.

Igneous rocks

Rocks formed through crystallization from magma or lava.

Sedimentary rocks

Rocks formed from sediments that are deposited, buried, and cemented together via lithification.

Metamorphic rocks

Rocks that have undergone structural or mineralogical changes due to heat and pressure.

Mineral

A naturally occurring solid with a defined internal arrangement of atoms that serves as the natural building block of rocks.

Calorie

The unit representing the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of $1\,\text{g}$ of water by $1\,^{\circ}\text{C}$.

Gyres

Circular current patterns found in major oceans.

Zone of leaching (E horizon)

The soil layer where dissolved or suspended materials are carried downward by water.

Zone of accumulation (B horizon)

The soil layer where iron, aluminum, and clay leached down from the E horizon accumulate, containing soluble minerals like calcite in drier climates.

Soil Profile

The vertical succession of soil horizons, including O (organic matter), A (organic matter mixed with rock/mineral fragments), E (zone of leaching), B (zone of accumulation), C (weathered parent material), and Bedrock.