Earth Space Science Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering Earth's spheres, tides, space properties, plate tectonics, scientific inquiry, the rock cycle, and atmospheric layers based on the lecture notes.

Winter

The season occurring when a hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun.

NY hami

The hemisphere that experiences opposite seasons relative to other regions based on Earth's tilt.

Tides

Coastal phenomena occurring as 2 high tides and 2 low tides per day.

Spring Tides

Tides with a lager range that occur when the alignment is $180^{\circ}$.

Neap Tides

Tides with a small tidal range that occur when the alignment is $90^{\circ}$.

Cryosphere

The part of the Earth containing frozen water, such as glaciers, ice burgs, and snow.

Atmosphere

The layer of gasses around the Earth.

Biosphere

All the living things on Earth.

Geosphere

The solid layer of the Earth.

Hydrosphere

All the water on Earth.

Ocean Currents

Water movements where a cool climate is associated with a cool current and a warm climate with a warm current.

Light yr

A unit of distance used between galaxies and stars.

AU

A unit of distance used for measurements all-in solar system.

Absolute brightness/magnitude

A measure of how bright a star actually is.

Apparent magnitude

A measure of how bright a star appears from earth.

Red Supergiants

A category of stars that are characterized as bright and cold.

White Dwarfs

A category of stars that are characterized as hot and dim.

Blue stars

The hottest category of stars based on temperature.

Red stars

The coolest category of stars based on temperature.

Sunspots

Dark spots on the surface of the Sun.

Photasphere

The layer of the Sun described as what we see.

Solar Flare

A phenomenon described as a flash of light from the Sun.

Chromosphere

The outermast layer of the Sun.

Sun Core

The site of nuclear fusion where hydrogen is converted to helium.

Divergent Boundary

A plate boundary where plates move apart, resulting in a ridge and new material added from depth.

Convergent Boundary

A plate boundary where plates move towards each other, forming volcanoes (volcanic arc) and trenches.

Transform Boundary

A plate boundary where plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes within the crust.

Scientific Inquiry Processes

The formulation of scientifically investigable questions, construction of investigations, collection of data, and evaluation of meaning.

Weathering

The physical BREAKING DOWN of rock by water, wind, ice, animals, or plants.

Erosion

The MOVEMENT of sediment from broken rock by water, ice, wind, or gravity, which forms sand dunes and river deltas.

Deposition

The DROPPING of sediment in a NEW location.

Weather

Short term conditions such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation; for example, a high of $93^{\circ}F$ or $50\,cm$ of snowfall on a specific date.

Climate

Average conditions over the long term, typically measured over at least $30\text{ years}$.

Troposphere

The atmospheric layer where we live and where weather occurs.

Stratosphere

The atmospheric layer containing the Ozone layer.

Mesosphere

The coldest atmospheric layer where meteors burn.

Thermosphere

The hottest atmospheric layer.

Law of superposition

The geological principle that the oldest rock is on the bottom and new rock is on top.

Lithosphere

The layer of Earth consisting of the crust and upper most solid mantle.

Asthenosphere

The layer where convection currents occur, causing plates to move.

Crust

The outermost layer of Earth, which is $0-100\,km$ thick.

Outer core

The layer of Earth composed of liquid metals and possessing extreme heat.

Inner core

The solid, innermost center of the Earth located at a depth of $6378\,km$.

Igneous Rocks

Rocks formed from the cooling and crystallization of magma or volcanic eruptions (lava).

Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks formed from sediments through processes of deposition, lithification, compaction, and cementation.

Metamorphic Rocks

Rocks formed from existing rocks through the application of heat and pressure.

Convection

A method of heat transfer where hot air or liquid rises and cool air or liquid sinks.

Conduction

A method of heat transfer that occurs through touch.

Radiation

A method of heat transfer through light energy.

Solar eclipse

An event occurring during a New moon when the Sun is covered and the Moon is between the Sun and Earth.

Lunar eclipse

An event occurring during a Full moon when the Moon is covered and the Earth is between the Sun and Moon.

Scientific Models

Systematic descriptions (material, visual, mathematical, or computational) of objects or phenomena used in making scientific theories.

Theory

A set of principles devised to explain WHY a group of facts or phenomena occurs, often used to make predictions.

Law

A statement that describes WHAT the invariable relationships among phenomena are under specified conditions.

Sea breeze

A breeze that moves towards land during the day.

Land breeze

A breeze that moves towards water at night.