Hydrology and Geology Review

Flashcards covering key concepts in hydrology, geology, plate tectonics, and related scientific principles.

Insolation

Energy received from the Sun that drives the hydrologic cycle.

Hydrologic Cycle Components

Includes evaporation, condensation, vapor transport, precipitation, runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration, sublimation.

Climate vs Weather

Climate refers to long-term atmospheric conditions while weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions.

Thermohaline Circulation

The main process that moves ocean water, controlled by seawater density, temperature, and salinity.

Heat Transfer Mechanisms

Conduction (by physical contact), convection (by a moving fluid), and radiation (by electromagnetic waves).

Evidence for Continental Drift

Includes puzzle piece fit of continents, identical fossils on separate continents, similar past climates, and matching mountain chains and rock types.

Convection Currents

Heat transfer in the mantle causing tectonic plate movement.

Plate Tectonics Evidence

Includes fossil evidence from continental drift, convection currents, seafloor spreading, and earthquake activity at plate boundaries.

Tectonic Plate Boundaries

Divergent (moving apart), convergent (colliding), and transform (sliding past each other) boundaries.

Earthquake Definition

A sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, with an epicenter (surface location) and focus (origin point).

Seismic Waves

Include Primary (P-wave), Secondary (S-wave), and Surface waves, each with distinct properties and behaviors.

Modified Mercalli Scale

Preferred earthquake scale due to its assessment based on perceived effects, unlike the Richter scale which measures magnitude.

Magma Types

Basaltic, andesitic, and rhyolitic; each associated with different volcanic types.

Volcano Types

Shield, cinder cone, and composite (stratovolcano) volcanoes, each with distinct shapes and magma types.

Weathering, Erosion, Deposition

Processes that describe breaking down rocks, transporting sediments, and laying down materials, respectively.

Characteristics of Minerals

Defined by five characteristics: natural occurrence, inorganic, solid, definite chemical composition, and crystalline structure.

Mineral Descriptors

Terms including streak, luster, hardness, cleavage, fracture, tenacity, and transparency, with color being the least reliable identifier.

Rock Type Identification

Ability to classify rocks based on written descriptions of their features.

Recycling Earth Materials

Process through weathering, erosion, deposition, seismic/volcanic activity, and mantle melting.

4 Big Ideas of Earth Science

Core concepts that describe major principles in Earth science, requiring examples of their applications.

Hypothesis and Research Question

Ability to formulate a hypothesis statement and research question, alongside listing potential observations.