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Earth Science Final Questions
Flashcard questions for my Earth Science Final Tomorrow.
65
Science
9th Grade
06/15/2011

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Term
What are 4 pieces of evidence supporting sea-floor spreading?
Definition
Younger rocks closer to midocean ridge, paleomagnetic stripes on each side of ridge, pillow lava and seafloor cracks found by Alvin.
Term
Most oceanic crust is comprised of:
Definition
basalt (mafic rock)
Term
continental crust is composed of:
Definition
granitic (felsic rock)
Term
method of heat transfer is considered the main driving force for all plate movement.
Definition
Convection
Term
Ocean floor spreading occurs at:
Definition
rift zones, divergent boundaries
Term
Magnetic stripes in the ocean floor rocks showed that the earth’s magnetic fields or poles
Definition
reverse in a regular pattern, have switched over geologic time
Term
The Ring of Fire outlines which plate?
Definition
Pacific
Term
Rock fragments thrown into the air during a volcanic eruption are called
Definition
tephra or pyroclasts
Term
fast-moving clouds of gas, ash, and other tephra.
Definition
Nuee__ _Ardente__ or pyroclastic cloud
Term
What forms when the top or side of a volcano collapses into the magma chamber as in Yellowstone or Long Valley (California)?
Definition
Caldera
Term
. Compared the thickness and density of continental and oceanic crust
Definition
Continental crust is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust.
Term
What is New Jersey’s location relative to a plate boundary?
Definition
Close to the center of the North American plate, closest boundary is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, at the mid-ocean ridge
Term
Most scientists in Wegener’s time rejected his Continental Drift hypothesis because
Definition
his inability to accurately/plausibly explain the mechanism by which the plates move
Term
List the top three gases in the atmosphere by percentage, in descending order
Definition
Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon
Term
Condensation occurs at the
Definition
dew point
Term
As you increase you altitude
Definition
temperature decreases
Term
The _ozone_ layer located in the
Definition
stratosphere
Term
stratosphere absorbs damaging
Definition
ultraviolet radiation
Term
man made chemical used in aerosols and refrigerators
Definition
CFC
Term
In what atmospheric layer is most of the water vapor found?
Definition
troposphere
Term
What is occuring? The handle of a metal spoon gets hot when sitting in hot water, even though the handle is not in the water.
Definition
Conduction
Term
what is occuring?
The circulation of heat in earth’s mantle, or why cream will mix without stirring in a cup of hot tea.
Definition
Convection
Term
What is occuring?
You can feel the heat from a fireplace when you get close
Definition
Radiation
Term
The lowest relative humidity will occur during the part of the day when the temperature is farthest away from the
Definition
dew point
Term
The highest relative humidity occurs when the temperature is equal to
Definition
dew point
Term
Temperature increases here due to energy absorption by ozone
Definition
ozone layer in stratosphere
Term
Puffy cotton ball type clouds, indicators of fair weather, name means “heap”
Definition
cumulus
Term
clouds that form as a layer
Definition
stratus
Term
An air mass’s ability to resist rising
Definition
stability
Term
All forms of water that fall from clouds
Definition
precipitation
Term
Why do the wind belts blow at an angle?
Definition
coriolis affect
Term
name front: Cold, dense air that displaces warm air, forcing the warm air up . Precipitation occurs just behind the front.
Definition
cold front
Term
name front:
Advancing warm air that displaces cold air. Approach is characterized by clouds that gradually lower and eventually produce steady rain. Precipitation occurs ahead of the front.
Definition
warm front
Term
name front
Cold air mass that moves rapidly and overtakes a warm front, resulting in two cold air masses meeting at the surface and forcing the warm air above them
Definition
occluded front
Term
name front:
Two air masses that meet and do not advance
Definition
stationary front
Term
what forms When friction between updrafts and downdrafts within a cumulonimbus cloud creates regions of air with opposite charges
Definition
lightning
Term
. Lightning is seen before thunder is heard because
Definition
light is faster than sound
Term
What are three atmospheric conditions necessary for the development of a thunderstorm?
Definition
? Sufficient moisture in the air, a source of uplift, contrast in temperatures of the air masses
Term
How do you protect yourself from hail?
Definition
get under cover and stay away from windows
Term
how do u protect urself from lighning?
Definition
get inside. dont touch plumbing or electric shit
Term
how do u protect urself from tornado
Definition
get to the lowest interior room of a house. away from windows
Term
how do you protect against flood
Definition
follow flood watch and warnings to leave low areas if neccasary
Term
The icy precipitation that sometimes occurs with severe thunderstorms is called
Definition
hail
Term
. List 4 stages of tropical cyclone development from lowest to highest strength.
Definition
Tropical wave, tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane(or typhoon or cyclone)
Term
The phenomenon in which the effects of cold air are worsened by wind and moisture in the air is the
Definition
wind chill factor
Term
An extended period of well below normal rainfall is a
Definition
drought
Term
Evaluate the next two statements and decide if each is a description of weather or climate
It rained for 4 days straight
Definition
weather
Term
Evaluate the next two statements and decide if each is a description of weather or climate.
The average rainfall for this month is 3.14 inches (I don’t know if this is true, I just made this up for this practice test).
Definition
climate
Term
what is the urban heat island affect
Definition
The increase in air temperature caused by increased absorption and radiation of paved surfaces, buildings, pollution of transportation and factories, found in industrialized urban regions.
Term
. Give two examples of greenhouse gases that are increased by human activities and include the source.
Definition
Carbon dioxide – burning of fossil fuels
Nitrates and sulfates – automobile exhaust
Water vapor in the upper atmosphere – jet airplane contrails
Term
Suggest two things that can be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by human activities
Definition
1. better exhaust filters, 2. use public transportation or car pool, 3) alternate energy production methods
Term
List 4 effects that global climate change could have on the planet and it’s natural systems.
Definition
1. death of some plant and animal species
2. change in growing regions for various crops
3. flooding of coastal regions due to melting of glaciers in Antarctica and Greenland,
4. change in ocean currents and salinity in the ocean.
Term
What is the cause of acid rain and how does it interfere with the water cycle?
Definition
Nitrogen and sulfur based compounds released into the atmosphere as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels. These compounds react with water vapor in the air to form acid rain which in turn may fall and react with surfaces instead of proceeding through the water cycle. For example, highly acid rain is toxic to most plant life, which means the plants die and will not replace water vapor in the atmosphere through the process of transpiration.
Term
What are 4 weather changes El Niño conditions can cause in the United States?
Definition
Warmer than average winters in the upper Midwest and northwest – less snow
Central and southern California and southwest US get more rain than normal
Fewer hurricanes form
Wet and cool in the south during winter, dry and warm in the north during winter
Term
Where does el Nino occur?
Definition
In the tropical South Pacific Ocean
Term
what r 4 natural causes of ice ages?
Definition
Extensive volcanic activity, meteor collision, changes in solar activity, changes in the earth’s orbit, changes in the composition of the atmosphere, plate tectonics, solar activity variations
Term
Which energy sources are derived originally from the Sun’s energy?
Definition
Coal
Oil
Wind
Solar
Term
Which of Earth’s natural cycles has been most impacted by the release of carbon dioxide due to the burning of fossil fuels?
Definition
Carbon Cycle
Term
Which cycle involves bacteria in soil that convert this nutrient into different forms?
Definition
nitrogen cycle
Term
Which cycle is the slowest because it depends mostly on geologic processes?
Definition
phosphorus cycle
Term
What are the advantages and disadvantage of damming rivers for hydroelectric power?
Definition
Cheap, clean energy and flood control are advantages. Flooding of river valleys, changing of habitats, interruption of fish ability to move up and downstream are disadvantages
Term
What are the advantages and disadvantages to using coal to generate electricity?
Definition
Cheap, uses existing technology as an advantage, abundant in USA. Pollutes the atmosphere with greenhouse gases and particulates as well as bases for acid rain as disadvantage
Term
Which of the following products are not made from petroleum resources?
Definition
All plastic are petroleum based
Term
What are the advantages and disadvantages of cars with hybrid and electric motors
Definition
Advantage – less pollution, better gas mileage. Disadvantage – cost more, not as much power.
Term
. Renewable resources can be replenished in
Definition
a reasonable length of time (your life)
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