Earth Science Regents Review Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for Earth Science Regents review.

Observations

Using the senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) to gather information.

Inferences

Interpretations or conclusions based on observations.

Density

The mass per unit volume of a substance.

Dynamic Equilibrium

Changes are occurring, but are balanced, so overall conditions stay the same.

Oblate Spheroid

The true shape of the Earth.

Latitude

Lines that run east to west and measure distance north or south of the Equator.

Longitude

Lines that run north to south and measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Atmosphere

Gases surrounding the Earth.

Hydrosphere

All the water on Earth.

Lithosphere

The solid, rocky part of the Earth.

Isolines

Lines connecting points of equal value on a map (e.g., isotherms, isobars, contour lines).

Geocentric

Earth centered

Heliocentric

Sun centered

Coriolis Effect

The apparent deflection of moving objects (like air currents) due to the Earth's rotation.

Summer Solstice

June 21 - 16 hours of daylight - sun rises north of due east - sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, 23 1/2 degrees north latitude.

Winter Solstice

December 21 - 8 hours of daylight - sun rises south of due east, sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn, 23 1/2 degrees south latitude.

Equinoxes

March 21 (vernal) and September 23 (autumnal) - 12 hours of daylight - sun rises due east - sun is directly overhead at the equator.

Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion, increases with velocity.

Potential Energy

Stored energy, increases with height.

Conduction

Energy transferred from molecule to molecule by collisions.

Convection

Energy transferred by moving molecules due to density differences.

Radiation

Energy transferred by waves, needs no medium.

Specific Heat

Energy needed to raise 1 gram of a substance 1 degree Celsius.

Condensation

Water vapor turning into liquid water.

Relative Humidity

Percent saturation of air with water vapor.

Dew Point

Temperature at which air becomes saturated.

Condensation Nuclei

Surfaces on which condensation can occur.

Precipitation

Any form of water that falls from the atmosphere.

Weathering

Breakdown of rock.

Sorting

Separation of particles during deposition.

Intrusive

Igneous rocks cooled below surface, cooled slowly = large crystals.

Extrusive

Igneous rocks cooled above surface, cooled quickly = small (or no) crystals.

Metamorphic Rocks

Changed from heat and pressure

Fault

Zone of weakness in crust

Focus

Point of origin of an earthquake

Epicenter

Point above focus on surface of earth

Seismic waves

Energy from earthquake is released in Seismic waves

p-waves

Faster than s-waves - travel through solids, liquids, and gasses

s-waves

Slower - travel only through solids

Moho

Base of crust where density suddenly changes

Geosynclines

Areas where crust appears to sink under weight of sediment

Isostasy

Earth's crust in equilibrium

Original Horizontality

Rock strata are deposited in horizontal layers.(tilting, folding happen afterwards)

Principle of Superposition

Profiles are built from the bottom up. (bottom = older)

Unconformity

Buried erosional surface.

Radioactive decay

Breakdown of isotope into a more stable element

Half life

Time period in which one half of the remaining amount of isotope decays

Landscape characteristics

topography = relief

Diastrophism

folding, faulting