Earth Science Exam 2026

frost action

water getting into the crack of a rock and freezing causing it to expand and split

ex: potholes and cracks in roads

Exfoliation Dome

layers of rock peel off the main body of rock

ex:

Oxidation

when oxygen from the air combines with iron minerals of a rock

ex: rust

carbonation

when water combines with carbon dioxide in the air forming carbonic acid

ex: caves are formed from this

how does surface area affect how fast rocks weather

the more surface area a rock has, the more there is to weather away

infiltration

water soaking into rocks or soil

transpiration

plants absorbing water from the soil, water moves from roots to the leaves

run-off

the excess water running over the surface into bodies of water

porosity

the amount of space the rock or soil has

permiability

the measure or how easy liquid can flow through the object

sinkhole

forms from the removal or surface materials into an underlying open space

sinking stream

surface water becomes groundwater by sinking into the ground

stalactite vs slagmite

stalactite is on the top of caves

stalagmite is on the bottom

zone of accumulation vs zone of ablation

accumulation: where snow is being added

ablation: snow melting

Till

sediments deposoted by glaciers: clay, sand, rocks

moraine

till left behind in different areas by glaciers

ex:

lateral moraine: sides of valley

medial: middle

end: front or back

erratic

large rock deposited by a glacier

ex: a bouldar in the middle of a valley with nothing around it was dropped by a glacier

Arête

sharp ridges sepurating glacier valleys

alluvial fan

water flowing through canyon and the debris that is collecting being deposited at the mouth of the canyon forming a cone shape

sonar and its formula

what they use to see how deep the oceans floor is

formula: Time x 1500/2

what was the first vessel to study the ocean in late 1800’s

the challanger

passive margin vs active margin

passive: stable, wide, trailing edge

active: moving/active, leaning edge

atmosphere layers and facts

troposphere: where we live and weather occurs

stratosphere: ozone layer/ protects us from UV

mesosphere: coldest layer

thermosphere: northern lights occur here

exosphere: very very thin air

air pressure

the force of the airs weight, decreases with altirude

if it falls: storm is coming

rising air: weather is going to improve

jet streams

high speed winds in the uper atmosphere that change the weather patterns

weather vs cliamte

weather: short term and over a small region

climate: long term and over a larger region