Earth Science and Geothermal Energy Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards reviewing Earth's composition, layers, heat transfer mechanisms, seismic waves, and geothermal concepts.

Density

The mass per unit volume of a given substance, represented by the formula $d = \frac{m}{v}$.

Geothermal Energy

The thermal energy extracted from the Earth's lithosphere.

Mantle Upwelling

The upward movement of rock within the Earth's mantle.

Mantle Downwelling

The downward movement of mantle material that can indirectly affect temperatures around the world.

Convection in the Outer Core

The movement of liquid metal within the Earth's outer core that causes Earth's magnetic field.

P Waves

Compression waves emitted during seismic events that travel through both liquids and solids.

Seismographs

Instruments used by scientists to record the different types of waves that travel through Earth's rock.

Three Main Heat Transfer Mechanisms

The three primary processes by which Earth transfers heat to cool itself: conduction, radiation, and convection.

Three Main Layers of the Earth

The structural division of Earth consisting of the crust, mantle, and core.

Inner Core

The innermost, hottest layer of the Earth, composed of solid metal.

Outer Core

The Earth layer composed of liquid metal.

Seismic Wave Speed Heat Relation

The determination of seismic wave speed relative to Earth's internal heat by looking at the inverse of the temperature.

Seismic Tomograms

Data collection visualizations used to measure and analyze the speed of seismic waves in the mantle.

S-Wave Shadow Distance

The location at $145\text{ degrees}$ away where seismographs do not record S-waves.