Earth Science Lecture Review

Flashcards created to help students review key concepts from Earth Science lecture notes.

Primordial Atom

The initial state from which the universe began according to the Big Bang theory.

Big Bang Theory

A cosmological model that describes the universe's expansion from a singular primordial atom.

Steady-State Theory

A model proposed by Sir Fred Hoyle, Thomas Gold, and Hermann Bondi in 1948, stating that new matter is continuously created to maintain a constant average density as the universe expands.

Oscillating Universe

A hypothesis suggesting that the universe undergoes cycles of expansion and collapse.

Protoplanet Hypothesis

The theory that planets formed from a rotating disk of gas and dust around a young Sun.

Cosmic Microwave Radiation

A remnant radiation from the Big Bang, providing insights into the universe's early moments.

Lithosphere

The outermost layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding Earth, composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen, crucial for supporting life.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems, encompassing all living organisms and their interactions with the environment.

Mantle Convection

The process by which heat from the Earth's interior causes the mantle's molten rocks to circulate, driving plate tectonics.

Wilson Cycle

A theoretical cycle describing the stages of continental rifting, ocean basin development, and eventual continental collision.

Uniformitarianism

The principle that geological processes occurring today also took place in the past, shaping Earth's features.

Half-life (t1/2)

The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Geologic Hazards

Natural processes and events that pose risks to human life and property, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Natural Disaster

A hazardous event occurring over a limited time span in a defined area, causing significant impact.

Geologic Cycle

A broad term describing the interactions between tectonic, rock, hydrologic, and biogeochemical cycles.

Eustatic Sea Level

The global sea level, influenced by various climatic and geological factors.