The true shape of the Earth is?

oblate spheroid

The earth's true shape is most easily confirmed by?

photos from space

The Earth's shape appears to be...

perfectly round

Compared with its size, the Earth's surface appears to be.....

Hint: Think what Earth looks like from outer space

smooth

 How do you determine the circumference of the Earth?

measure the altitude of a star from 2 or more locations on Earth

The Earth's equatorial circumference is slightly smaller than its polar circumference.

FALSE

It is slightly larger

 What is the lithosphere?

Earth's solid outer layer (rock)

 What is the hydrosphere?

the thin layer of water on Earth's surface

What is the atmosphere?

thin shell of gases surrounding Earth

 Which is the densest sphere (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere)?

lithosphere

Remember for density: ground > water > air

 Which is the least dense sphere (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere)?

atmosphere

Remember for density: ground > water > air

Which is the thickest sphere (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere)?

lithosphere

 Which is the thinnest sphere (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere)?

hydrosphere

 MULTIPLE CHOICE

Over time, elevations represented on a topographic map...

a) remain the same

b) change

b) change

Remember: Our Earth is dynamic (never stops changing)!

What are the building blocks of rocks?

minerals

How are minerals identified?

Based on...

• physical properties

• chemcial properties

How are minerals grouped into families?

by chemical composition

What is the basic unit of most minerals?

silicon oxygen tetrahedron (pyramid shape)

[image][image]

 What do the physical properties of minerals depend on?

• internal arrangement
• bonding of atoms

How are rocks classified?

based on their origin

(how they are formed)

ex) sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic

How do igneous rocks form?

crystallization of molten magma or lava(intergrown crystals)

The size of crystals in igneous rocks depends on....

 the rate of cooling

 Where do intrusive igneous rocks form?

Small or large crystals?

Location: beneath Earth's surface

Crystals: large (cool slowly)

Where do extrusive igneous rocks form?

Small or large crystals?

 Location: on surface

Crystals: small (cool quickly)

 What are continents made of? Thick or Thin?

What are ocean crusts made of? Thick or Thin?

Continents: granite & thick

Ocean Crust: basalt & thin

What are sedimentary rocks made of?

• sediments
• organic remains

 Where (in the lithosphere) do sedimentary rocks form?

Hint: Water is the agent that deposits this material

at or near surface

Fossils are found in which type of rock?

sedimentary

How do metamorphic rocks form?

from other rocks

(heat & pressure recrystallizes them)

 When does contact metamorphism occur?

 molten rocks come in contact with other rocks

  Where does regional metamorphism occur?

What is it associated with?

 Occurs over large areas

associated with mountain building

Where do earthquakes and volcanoes occur?

in specific zones (they are not random!)

ex) ring of fire, Mid-Atlantic

What determines the speed of seismic waves?

density of material it travels through

How do we know the outer core is liquid?

S waves can't go through it

 What does the Richter Scale measure?

power of earthquake

The Mercalli Scale measures what?

damage from earthquake

 What are plate tectonics?

Earth's crust is divided into pieces (called plates) that move

What are the 3 types of plate boundaries?

1) divergent - moving away

2) convergent - crashing together

3) transform - sliding

What is subduction?

one plate sinks under another (forms a trench)

Remember: sub = below

 In which spheres do weathering of rocks occur?

 hydrosphere

biosphere

atmosphere

Which type of weathering do warm, moist climates favor?

chemical weathering

Which type of weathering occurs in cool & moist climates?

physical weathering

In which type of climate is weathering slow?

dry climate

 As particle size decreases, the rate of weathering.....

increases (surface area increases)

Remember: more surface area = more surfaces to wear down!

 How does soil develop?

• weathering
• biological activity

 Primary force behind erosion is...

gravity

Primary agent of erosion is....

flowing water

Remember: Think "dirty water" when river flow is higher

What affects the amount of stream erosion?

Hint: Think floods!

• velocity (speed) of stream
• volume (amount) of water

What does steam velocity depend on?

• gradient - flows from high to low

• volume (amount) of water

 What occurs at the outside of a meander bend in a stream?

Inside?

Outside: fast and erodes

Inside: slow and deposits

As stream velocity increases, the size of particles that can be transported....

increases

 What are 3 ways streams carry sediments?

 1) solution

2) suspension

3) bouncing/rolling

Which particles will be the first to settle out in a stream?

• large
  
• dense
• round

How are water & wind deposits arranged?

by size and layered

 Are gravity and glacial deposits sorted or unsorted?

unsorted

Think: Does gravity pick and choose where things land? Nope, it just drops them to the ground.

What is a feature of resistant layers of rocks?

stick out (form cliffs)

What are the characteristics of glacial landscapes?

•  U-shaped valleys
  
• depressions
• irregular hills
• scratched boulders

 In undisturbed strata, is the bottom layer older or younger?

older

 MULTIPLE CHOICE:

 Faults, folds, & intrusions are _____ than the rocks they are found in.

a) younger

b) older

c) same age

a) younger

The rocks have to be there before these things can happen to them!!!

Where are index fossils found?

How long did they exist?

Found: wide areas

Length: short period of time

 How is geologic time divided?

based on fossil records

What is an unconformity?

buried erosional surface

Think: Doesn't conform with neighboring rocks

 What do unconformities represent?

gaps in the geological record

Can the half-life of a radioactive isotope be changed?

no

Good thing or else it wouldn't be a reliable way to date things!

 What can carbon dating be used on?

recent organic remains

 MULTIPLE CHOICE

Most life forms in our geologic past ______.

a) continue to exist

b) are extinct

c) never existed

b) are extinct

Which holds more water vapor, warm or cool air?

warm air

Think of how dry your skin gets in the winter!

 As altitude increases, air pressure _____

 decreases

This is why your ears pop as you takeoff on an airplane (readjust to lower levels of pressure).

 How is wind identified?

What causes wind?

Named: direction it comes from

Cause: differences in air pressure

Think diffusion

 MULTIPLE CHOICE

As air temperature gets closer to the dew point, the chance of precipation ______.

a) increase

b) decrease

c) remain the same

a) increase

High pressure?

Low: warm & moist

High: cool & dry

 What (on Earth) is equal to the altitude of Polaris?

latitude of observer

 Which is associated with good weather - rising or falling barometer?

rising

What is a front?

 where air masses meet

Where are the most likely locations for precipitation?

leading edges of air masses (fronts)

 Clockwise or Counterclockwise?

• circulation around low pressure system

• circulation around high pressure system

L - counterclockwise, towards center, air rises

H - clockwise, away from center, air sinks

What direction do weather systems usually move in the United States?

West to East, hook up towards NE

What are the characteristics of the following air masses?

CT

CP

MT

MP

CT - warm & dry

CP - cool & dry

MT - warm & moist

MP - cool & moist

 Where and when do hurricanes form?

Where: warm ocean waters

When: summer - autumn

Where do hurricanes lose strength?

over land or cool water

Lose the warm water fuel.

When and where do tornadoes form?

When: spring

Where: very different air masses collide

 What direction does the Earth rotate?

How many degrees per hour?

Direction: west to east

Amount: 15 degrees per hour

(15 * 24 = 360)

In the U.S., what direction do you have to face to see the sun at noon?

south

 What direction does the Earth revolve?

How many degrees per day?

Direction: counterclockwise

Degrees: 1 degree per day

As a planet gets closer to the sun, what happens to the speed of its orbit?

it increases

Sun has a lot of gravity...pulls on the "small" planets

 What is the shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun?

nearly circular

How long does it take to orbit Earth?

Shape: elliptical

Duration: 1 month

What causes seasons?

tilt of Earth's axis + revolution around Sun

 What influences the intensity of sunlight?

angle of sun

 At what angle is the intensity of the Sun greatest?

90 degrees

Directly above, light concentrated to one area. At an angle, light is spread out (think sunlight closer to the equator, compared to here).

 Shadows get longer as the Sun.....

gets lower

SUMMER SOLSTICE (June 21)

 Where does the sun rise?

Where does it set?

Altitude high or low?

Where do vertical rays hit?

How many hours of sunlight does NY get a day?

How many hours of sunlight does North Pole get?

 Rise: north of east

Set: north of west

Altitude: highest of year

Vertical Rays: Tropic of Cancer

NY gets: 16 hours

NP gets: 24 hours

WINTER SOLSTICE (December 21)

Where does the sun rise?

Where does it set?

Altitude high or low?

Where do vertical rays hit?

How many hours of sunlight does NY get?

How many hours of sunlight does North Pole Get?

Rise: south of east

Set: south of west

Altitude: lowest of year

Vertical Rays: Tropic of Capricorn

NY gets: 8 hours

NP gets: 0 hours

EQUINOXES

Vernal - March 21

Autumnal - September 23

Where does the sun rise?

Where does it set?

Where do vertical rays hit?

How many hours of sunlight does whole Earth get?

Rise: due east

Set: due west

Vertical Rays: Equator

Daylight: 12 hours

How many hours of intense sunlight does the equator get every day?

12 hours

 What type of light energy does the Earth mostly absorb?

What type does it reradiate?

Absorb: short wavelength

Reradiate: long wavelength

What is the greenhouse effect? 

Which gas is mostly involved with this?

Definition: prevent escape of heat from atmosphere

Gas: Carbon Dioxide

Marine climates have ____ summers and _____ winters.

Continental climates have ____ summers and _____ winters.

Marine: cool summers, warm winters

Continental: hot summers, cold winters

NOTE: Continental has more extreme temperature differences than Marine

Climate on windward side of mountain is....

 leeward: dry & warm (due to compression)

windward: cool & moist (due to expansion)