EVS 124 midterm

Earth System

Comprises the atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (water), geosphere (land), and biosphere (living organisms).

Cascading Effects

Changes in one Earth system component can trigger widespread impacts across multiple systems.

Continental Shelf vs. Shoreline

Continental shelves are stable, submerged extensions of continents, while shorelines are dynamic boundaries between land and sea.

Fracture Zone

Linear topographic features on the ocean floor, identified on bathymetric maps as irregular ridges and valleys.

Newest Oceanic Crust

Found at mid-ocean ridges, where new crust is formed from upwelling magma.

Seafloor Spreading Rate

Calculated by dividing the distance from a point on the ocean crust to the mid-ocean ridge by its age.

Magnetic Stripes

Patterns formed by the alignment of magnetic minerals in solidifying magma at mid-ocean ridges, indicating Earth's magnetic field history.

Epicenter Determination

Using the difference in arrival times between P-waves and S-waves to pinpoint an earthquake’s location.

Latitude

Angular distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees.

Longitude

Angular distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured in degrees.

Tropics

Regions between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn where the sun can be directly overhead.

Polar Regions

Areas in the Arctic and Antarctic that experience extreme variations in sunlight throughout the year.

Kinetic Theory of Gases

Relates the average kinetic energy of gas molecules to temperature, used to calculate the speed of air molecules.

Tropopause

The layer in the atmosphere where temperature stops decreasing with height and may begin to increase.

Wind Speed Trends

Wind speeds generally increase with altitude, being slower at the surface due to friction.

Inversion

A condition where temperature increases with altitude in the atmosphere, identified on temperature profiles.

Bathymetric Map

A map that uses contour lines or color gradients to represent ocean depth.

Historical Seismicity Overlay

Provides historical data of earthquakes, including their magnitude and locations.

ShakeMap Intensity vs. Magnitude

Magnitude quantifies energy released, while intensity assesses shaking and damage at specific locations.

Seafloor Spreading

The process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and gradually moves away from the ridge.

Subduction Zone

An area where one tectonic plate moves under another, often leading to earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Earthquake Magnitude Scale

A logarithmic scale that quantifies the energy released by an earthquake, commonly measured using the Richter or Moment Magnitude scales.

P-Waves

Primary waves that are compressional waves traveling fastest through the Earth's layers and can move through solids and liquids.

S-Waves

Secondary waves that are shear waves and can only travel through solids, arriving after P-waves in seismic events.

Atmospheric Composition

The mixture of gases in the atmosphere, primarily composed of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%).

Greenhouse Gases

Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect.

Tectonic Plates

Large slabs of Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries, causing earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain-building.

Continental Drift Theory

The hypothesis that continents have moved over geological time to their current locations.

Plate Tectonics

The scientific theory that describes the large-scale movement of Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates.