Untitled Flashcard Set

Convergent Boundary

Plates move toward each other, leading to subduction and volcano formation.

Divergent Boundary

Plates move away from each other, forming mid-ocean ridges and new crust.

Transform Boundary

Plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes.

Subduction

The process where one tectonic plate moves under another, often leading to volcanoes.

Youngest Rocks

Rocks located at the mid-ocean ridge where new crust forms.

Magnetic Polarity

The orientation of Earth's magnetic field, which can be normal or reversed.

P-waves

Primary seismic waves that can travel through solids and liquids.

S-waves

Secondary seismic waves that can only travel through solids.

Asthenosphere

A partially molten layer of the Earth that allows for plastic flow and slows seismic waves.

Mineral Hardness

A measurement of a mineral's resistance to scratching; it is considered the most reliable property for identification.

Igneous Rocks

Rocks formed from cooled magma, classified into intrusive (slow cooling) and extrusive (fast cooling).

Bowen’s Reaction Series

A sequence showing the order of mineral formation as magma cools, with high-temperature minerals forming first.

Greenhouse Effect

The process where gases like CO2 trap heat in the atmosphere, affecting the Earth’s climate.

Positive Feedback Loop

A process where an initial change causes further changes that amplify the original effect.

mT Air Mass

Warm, humid air mass originating from oceans (Gulf of Mexico).

cP Air Mass

Cold, dry air mass originating from land (Canada).

Cold Front

A fast-moving front leading to heavy rain and storms.

Warm Front

A slow-moving front causing light, steady rain.

Porosity

The amount of empty space in a material, indicating its ability to hold water.

Permeability

The ease with which water can flow through a material.

Ideal Drainage Materials

Gravel and sand that have high permeability, allowing for better drainage.

Groundwater Flow

The movement of water through soil and rock layers, influenced by permeability.