TH. Earth Science and Climate Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key concepts from the Earth Science and Climate lecture, including climate proxies, geological processes, stratigraphy, metamorphism, and planetary science.

What are climate proxy records?

Tree ring width, oxygen isotope measurements from marine life shells, and air bubbles in ice cores.

What term refers to the amount of heat coming from the Sun to the Earth?

Insolation.

Can the Mercali scale be used to reconstruct historical earthquake intensity?

Yes.

Which type of ocean current transports more total heat around the planet?

Shallow/fast and deep/slow transport about the same amounts of heat.

Approximately what fraction of atmospheric CO2 emissions are absorbed by the oceans?

About 1/2.

What happens to fresh water flowing into an ocean basin?

It will float.

What are the parts of a hydrocarbon system?

Source, trap, reservoir, seal, timing.

How much do elements need to be concentrated to become resources?

Typically 5-10 orders of magnitude.

What is the major source of water in the active hydrological cycle?

Evaporation from ocean surfaces.

What is the epicenter of an earthquake?

The surface projection of the earthquake at depth.

What characterized the Valley and Ridge region?

Long ridges and valleys in steeply dipping sedimentary rock.

What controls the spacing of folds in rock?

Thickness of the folding layers.

How old is the Grenville Orogeny?

2.5 million years ago.

Can C-14 dating be used for materials formed at significant depths?

Yes.

What is the difference between a fault and a joint?

Faults have offset at the scale of observation, while joints do not.

What is the other major physical control on metamorphism besides temperature?

Pressure.

What is a likely protolith for marble?

Limestone.

What broadly defines metamorphism?

Changes in mineralogy and texture in response to heat and stress.

What does cross-bedding indicate?

Direction of fluid flow during deposition.

What are Rayleigh waves and Love waves?

Types of surface waves.

What influences the weathering susceptibility of igneous minerals?

The reverse of Bowen's reaction series.

What type of climate favors chemical weathering over physical weathering?

Cold and wet climates.

What kind of rock undergoes karst weathering?

Limestone.

How are fine-grained igneous rocks that cooled below the surface described?

Strong but fractured.

What is a dark, fine-grained igneous rock formed from partial melting?

Basalt.

Is dental enamel considered a mineral?

Yes.

Is ice classified as a mineral?

True.

What is a common texture term for igneous rocks with intermediate composition?

Porphyry.

What is the difference between magma and lava?

Magma contains volatiles, while lava does not.

What mineral family does diopside belong to?

Silicate.

What do shrinkage cracks in mud indicate?

Presence of swelling clays.

Is glass a mineral?

False.

Which elements are the most common cations in geology?

Magnesium, Calcium, Iron.

What is the layer within Earth's mantle that allows for plate movement?

Asthenosphere.

What are the two main sources of heat in the Earth's mantle and core?

Residual heat from planetary accretion and radioactive decay.

What elements contribute most to radioactive decay heat in Earth?

Uranium, Potassium, Thorium.

What fossil evidence supports the continental drift hypothesis?

Glossopteris.

Which mountain belts could potentially be connected if oceans closed?

Appalachians to Caledonides.

Which class of meteorites has a composition similar to the Sun's x-ray emissions?

Chondorite.

How does our Solar System relate to the galaxy?

It is a second generation solar system formed from the remains of a previous supernova.

What physical force causes the formation of nebulae and proto-planetary discs?

Gravity.