Space Systems and Earth History Lecture Review

A set of 50 vocabulary flashcards covering space systems, Earth history, Earth systems, weather, climate, and human sustainability based on the lecture transcript.

Nuclear Fusion

Sun’s Energy Source

Sun’s Core

Where fusion occurs

Radiation

Energy from the Sun reaches Earth

Sun Lifespan

About $10 \text{ billion years}$

Light Spectra

Identify Star Composition, Motion, Distance

Red Shift

Galaxies Moving Away

Cosmic Microwave Background

Leftover radiation from Big Bang

Nucleosynthesis

The process by which stars produce elements

Kepler’s 1st Law

Elliptical Orbits

Kepler’s 2nd Law

Faster when Closer to Sun

Eccentricity

Orbit Shape

Blue Shift

Moving toward Earth

Mid-Ocean Ridge

Youngest Ocean Crust

Seafloor Spreading

Creates new ocean crust

Continental Crust

Older, Thicker, Less Dense

Oceanic Crust

Younger, Thinner, More Dense

Earth Formed

$$\sim 4.6 \text{ Billion Years Ago}$$

Radiometric Dating

Radioactive Decay

Half Life

Time for Half of Parent material to decay

Index Fossils

Short Time, Wide Area

Zircon Crystals

Oldest Earth Materials

Magnetic Reversals

Evidence of Seafloor Spreading

Main Sequence Star

Stable Fusion

Orbital Period

Revolution Time

Insolation

Incoming Solar Radiation

Earth’s Tilt

$$23.5^\circ$$

Positive Feedback

Amplifies Change

Negative Feedback

Stabilizes Change

Albedo

Reflectivity

Inner Core

Solid

Outer Core

Liquid

S-Waves

Do not travel through liquids

P-Waves

Travel through Solids and Liquids

Shadow Zone

Evidence for Earth’s Layers

Thermal Convection

Matter Cycles Due to Density Differences

High Specific Heat

Heats & Cools Slowly

Permeability

Water can pass through

Porosity

Open spaces in material

Capillarity

Water Moves Upwards in Small Spaces

Photosynthesis

Removes Carbon Dioxide

Respiration

Releases Carbon Dioxide

Weather

Short Term Atmospheric Conditions

Climate

Long Term Patterns

Cold Front

Cold Air pushes under warm / Storms

Warm Front

Warm Air Rises over Cold / Widespread Precipitation

Low Pressure

Clouds, rising air, storms

High Pressure

Clear, sinking air, dry, fair

Coriolis Effect

Deflection due to Earth’s Rotation

Close Isobars

Fast Wind

Carrying Capacity

Maximum Sustainable Population