Earth sci midterm

1. Density is

how close or compact the molecules are

2. **As temperature increases

molecules spread out (volume increases) and density decreases (inverse)

3. **As pressure increases

molecules move closer together and density increases (direct)

4. The same objects have the

same density NO MATTER WHAT SIZE

5. \** Latitude lines run

horizontal, but measure north - south of Equator (latitude \= flatitude)

6. **Longitude lines run

up and down, but measure east - west of Prime meridian

7. The altitude of Polaris equals

the north latitude of the observer (Use ESRT for cities in NYS)

8. Time zones are separated by

15 degrees of longitude, which equals 1 hour per time zone

9. Going to the west (California) time gets

earlier

10. Going east time gets

later (London)

11. The closer the isolines are

the steeper the gradient

12. To get the highest possible elevation

subtract one from the next possible contour line

13. Tick marks mean

depressions; the first tick marked line is the same elevation as the one before it

14. How do you know which way water flows on a topographic map?

downhill; opposite the bends ("V") in contour lines (they point upstream)

15. The mineral and rock that react to acid are

calcite and limestone (cave formation from acid rain)

16. The physical properties of minerals depends upon

the internal arrangement and bonding of atoms

17. Rocks are classified on the basis of

their origin (how they formed)

18. Rocks are identified by their

texture

19. **Igneous rocks form by

Large crystals

Small crystals

Texture

- Vesicular means

the crystallization of molten magma or lava

slow cooling (Intrusive)

fast cooling (Extrusive)

glassy, fine, and coarse (intergrown crystals)

gas pockets

20. **Sedimentary rocks

Texture

form from sediments by compaction & cementation, evaporation, and organic remains

clastic (pieces of other rocks)

Fossils!!!

21. **Metamorphic rocks form from

Texture

Key words are

other rocks by the heat and pressure (recrystallization)

foliated or banded

foliation, re-crystallize, and distorted structure

22. As particle size decreases

surface area increases and the rate of weathering increases

23. Moist and warm climates favor

chemical weathering

24. Moist and cold climates favor

physical weathering

25. Streams valleys are

V-shaped

26. Stream velocity depends on

gradient (steepness or slope) and volume (amount) of water

27. The outside of a meander bend is

fast and eroded (elbow)

28. The inside of a meander bend is

slow and deposits (dent)

29. Evidence of gravity erosion is

unsorted and angular (sharp) rocks at base of cliff

30. Glacial landscapes show

U-shaped valleys, erratics (large boulders), kettle lakes, & scratched bedrock

31. Water and wind deposits are

sorted by size and layered

32. Gravity and glacial deposits are

unsorted and not layered

33. The particles that settle out first are

larger, most dense, and roundest

34. When a river enters the ocean

it slows down, deposits and is called a delta (horizontal sorting)

35. Plate tectonics is caused by

convection currents in the upper mantle (asthenosphere)

36. Most earthquakes and volcanoes are located

at or near plate tectonic boundaries

37. The farther you go from the center of a ridge

the older the rocks get

38. To get the exact location you need

three seismographs

39. Ocean crust is

high density, young age, thin, made of basalt (mafic)

40. Continental crust is

low density, old age, and thick (think Mt. Everest) made of granite (felsic)

41. We know the outer core is liquid because

S waves can't go through it

42. **The 3 types of plate boundaries are

divergent (moving away at mid ocean ridges),

convergent (coming together) and

transform (sliding, San Andreas Fault)

43. P waves

faster than S- waves, travels through solids and liquids

44. S waves

slower, S-motion, solids only (all start with S)

45. In undisturbed strata, the bottom layer is

older (law of superposition)

46. Contact metamorphism occurs when

molten rock partially melts the rock around it (use ESRT to get meta. rock)

47. If an intrusion has no Contact Metamorphism (CM) on top (bald) it is

older, if it has C.M. on top it is / younger

48. Index fossils are

found over a wide area and existed for a short period of time

49. An unconformity is a

buried erosional surface that represents a gap in geologic time

50. Any faults, folds, intrusions that disrupts another layer is

always younger than the rock layer

51. Plateaus are classified by

high elevations and horizontal bedrock

52. The half-life of a radioactive isotope

cannot be changed No Matter What! Radioactive elements decay forever!

53. When calculating half using a T or T.O.M. chart remember to

add half life on the time (left) side and divide (÷) by 2 on the mass (right) side

54. Carbon 14 is used to date

RECENT organic remains (thousands of years ago)

55. Uranium 238 is used to date

old rocks (billions of years ago)

56. The difference between the forms of electromagnetic radiation is

wavelength

57. Dark and rough objects

absorb light ex. dark soil or a forest

58. Light and smooth objects

reflect light ex. ice and snow

59. Good absorbers of light are

good radiators (black heats up and cools down quickly)

60. Water has a high specific heat because

it heats up and cools down slowly (moderates marine climates)

61. Infiltration occurs when the land is

permeable, unsaturated, low slope, not frozen.

62. Runoff occurs when the land is

impermeable, saturated, steep slope, frozen ground.

63. Porosity is the

percent of empty space in soil

64. Porosity does NOT depend on

particle size

65. Permeability is

how fast water flows through soil

66. As particle size increases, permeability

increases (directly related)

67. Capillarity is the

upward movement of water into small spaces

68. As particle size increases, capillary action

decreases (inversely related)

69. A barometer measures

air pressure

70. An anemometer measures

wind speed

71. A wind vane measures

wind direction

72. Wind is named for

the direction it comes from

73. Wind is caused by

differences in air pressure High to Low

74. Isobars close together indicate

a fast wind speed \--- far apart, calm winds

75. The weather in a high is

happy, nice, cool and dry (sunny no precipitation) (a rising barometer)

76. The weather in a low is

lousy, bad, warm and wet (cloudy and precipitation) (a falling barometer)

77. **The circulation around a low pressure system is

LICC, where air rises (Low, Inward, CounterClockwise)

78. **The circulation around a high pressure system is

HOC, where air sinks (High, Outward, Clockwise)

79. Coriolis effect

winds and ocean currents deflected to the right in Northern Hemisphere due to Earth's rotation

80. Sling psychrometer has a wet and dry bulb to measure

dew point and relative humidity

81. The closer air temperature is to the dew point

the greater the chance of precipitation

82. Dewpoint temperature is the

temperature at which the air is saturated (filled) with water

83. Relative humidity is the

percent of water in the air