Chapter 1 - EScience

What is Geology?

The science that examines Earth, its form and composition, and the changes it has undergone and is undergoing.

What is Earth Science?

The study of Earth and its surroundings in space, including geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy.

What two broad areas is geology broken into?

• Physical geology

• Historical geology

What is physical geology?

Examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the processes that operate beneath and upon its surface."

What forms in response to Earth's internal and external processes?

• Rocks

• Minerals

What is the meaning of historical geology?

Understanding the origin of Earth and the development of the planet through its 4.6-billion-year history

Describe the study of oceanography and what it includes:

The study of the ocean, including seawater, ocean movement, coasts, the seafloor, and marine life

What is meteorology?

Study of the atmosphere and the processes that produce weather and climate

Aside from natural hazards, describe another important connection between people and Earth science.

• Human activities change the comp. (structure) of the atmosphere,

• Triggers → air pollution episodes + global climate change

What is the basis of scientific inquiry?

A process of investigation that leads to producing knowledge, based on making careful observations and on creating explanations that make sense of the observations

What is the scientific method?

Process where researchers gather facts through observations and formulate scientific hypotheses and theories

What are the 4 major spheres of Earth?

• Hydrosphere

• Atmosphere

• Biosphere

• Geosphere

Describe the major physical environments of Earth:

• Hydrosphere - The water portion of our planet

• Atmosphere - Gasses surrounding Earth

• Geosphere - The solid Earth

Describe what the biosphere is?

The totality of all life on our planet

What is the hydrosphere and how does it work?

• Hydrosphere - water portion of planet

• A dynamic mass of water that is continually on the move → evaporating from the oceans to the atmosphere → precipitating to the land → running back to the ocean again

What is the atmosphere and how does it help us?

Earth is surrounded by a life-giving gaseous envelope (layer of gas) called the atmosphere.

Describe the geosphere and its 3 layers:

• Geosphere - solid part of Earth

• Parts → Crust, mantle, core (outside → inside)

  • Core - dense

  • Mantle - Less tense

  • Crust - Thin outer skin of Earth

Describe where the asthenosphere is located and what it does.

A soft layer of the upper mantle under the lithosphere (crust) that allows tectonic plates to move.

Describe the hydrologic cycle:

Water evaporates → condenses into clouds → falls as precipitation → becomes groundwater, enters plants, or flows to the ocean.

What 2 sources power the Earth System?

• The Sun → powers external processes at Earth’s surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere.

• Earth’s interior → powers internal processes like volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountains.

What is a system + 3 examples

System: A group of connected parts that interact and work together as a whole.

3 Earth system examples:

• Hydrologic system → water

• Tectonic system → mountain building

• Climate system → climate/weather

What are the 2 principal divisions of Earth's surface?

The ocean basins and the continents

What are the 3 major regions of the ocean floor?

• Continental margins

• Deep-ocean basins

• Oceanic (mid-ocean) ridges.

What is the continental margin?

• The portion of the seafloor close to the continents

• May include the continental shelf, continental slope, and continental rise.

What is the continental shelf?

The edge of a continent that sits underwater under shallow ocean water (shallow end before water gets deep)

What is the continental slope?

The steep drop-off from the edge of a continent down toward the deep ocean floor.

What are deep-ocean basins?

• The deep, lower parts of the ocean floor beyond the continental slope

• The portion of seafloor that’s between the continental margin & oceanic ridge system

What are seamounts?

Underwater mountains that rise from the ocean floor but do not reach the surface

What is the oceanic ridge?

• A long chain of underwater mountains where new ocean floor is formed.

(basically) - a giant mountain range that runs along the bottom of the world's oceans

What are mountain belts?

Long areas or chains of mountains formed where tectonic plates come together

What are cratons?

A very old stable core of a continent that has stayed mostly unchanged for millions of years.

What are shields?

Parts of a continent’s stable interior where very old rock is exposed at the surface

What are stable platforms?

Areas of ancient continental rock covered by younger sedimentary rock

Describe the general distribution of Earth’s youngest mountains

• mainly found along tectonic plate boundaries

• Especially around the Pacific Ocean & across southern Europe and Asia.

What is the difference between shields and stable platforms?

Shields are exposed ancient rock, while stable platforms are ancient rock covered by younger sedimentary rock.

What are tectonic plates?

Big rigid sections of Earth’s outer layer that move over the softer layer under them.

• Moving puzzle pieces that make up Earth’s outer shell.

• When they move or slide against each other → Earthquakes, volcanos, and mountains are created