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Environmental Studies, The Blue Planet, Chapter 6
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51
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 2
11/04/2012

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Term
Body Wave
Definition
A seismic wave that travels outwards from the focus, and travels through the Earth's interior.
Term
Surface Wave
Definition
A seismic wave that travels around the Earth's surface.
Term
Deformation
Definition
A change in shape.
Term
Elastic Deformation
Definition
When a change in shape reverses when force is removed.
Term
Elastic Energy
Definition
Energy stored in rocks.
Term
Elastic Rebound Hypothesis
Definition
The hypothesis of earthquake formation. Some fault surfaces are rough, become locked.
Term
Epicenter
Definition
The surface center of an earthquake.
Term
Focus
Definition
The overall origin of an earthquake.
Term
Fault
Definition
A break or fracture in rock.
Term
Liquification
Definition
The sudden disturbance of liquid which turns seemingly solid ground to quicksand.
Term
Magnitude
Definition
The measure of energy of an earthquake.
Term
Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI)
Definition
A scale used to quantify the magnitude of earthquakes.
Term
Moho
Definition
Not YOLO. Mohorovicic Discontinuity. The base of the crust that separates the crust from the underlying zone of denser composition.
Term
P-Wave
Definition
The first waves recorded by a seismograph after an earthquake.
Term
S-Waves
Definition
The second waves recorded by a seismograph after an earthquake.
Term
Reflection
Definition
When seismic waves are reflected by numerous bounderies inside the planet.
Term
Refraction
Definition
When the speed of a wave changes as it passes from one medium to another, causing i to bed. (Pencil in water.)
Term
Richter Magnitude
Definition
A measurement of the amplitude of seismic waves. Corrects for distance from the epicenter.
Term
Seismic Discontinuities
Definition
Bounderies where the velocity of waves changes suddenly rather than smoothly.
Term
Seismic Gaps
Definition
Places where earthquakes haven't occurred in a long time.
Term
Seismic Moment Magnitude
Definition
The scale used to determine the magnitude of a quake.
Term
Seismic Wave
Definition
The vibrations caused by elastically stored energy carried out to other parts of the Earth.
Term
Seismicity
Definition
Earthquake activity.
Term
Seismogram
Definition
A recording made by a seismogram.
Term
Seismograph
Definition
A machine used to record seismic waves.
Term
Tsunami
Definition
A seismic sea wave.
Term
Andesitic Magma
Definition
A type of magma that contains about 60% silicon and lots of dissolved gas.
Term
Basaltic Magma
Definition
A type of magma that's has 60% silicon and little dissolved gas. (80% of magma from all volcanoes.)
Term
Batholith
Definition
Similar to stocks, huge plutonic bodies that are fundamental building blocks of continental crust.
Term
Caldera
Definition
A large depression near the summit of a volcano several kilometers in diameter. Formed by collapse after eruption.
Term
Dormant Volcano
Definition
A volcano that is dormant.
Term
Eruption Column
Definition
What comes out of a volcano.
Term
Extinct Volcano
Definition
A dead volcano.
Term
Fissure Eruption
Definition
When lava reaches the surface of Earth through an elongate vent.
Term
Hot Spot
Definition
Places lava is fed to the surface by plumes.
Term
Plume
Definition
An upwelling mass of hot air (see: Glenn Beck) and material.
Term
Lava
Definition
Magma that reaches the Earth's surface.
Term
Magma
Definition
A mixture of molten rock, minerals grains, and dissolved gas formed at high temperatures.
Term
Partial Melt
Definition
When something melts only partially.
Term
Pyroclast
Definition
A fragment of hot shattered magma ejected during an explosive eruption (ewwww....)
Term
Pyroclastic Flow
Definition
A mobile mass of tephra that is denser than the atmosphere and will not rise into the air, but just flow over.
Term
Pyroclastic Rock
Definition
Consolidated, solid tephra.
Term
Tephra
Definition
A deposit of unconsolidated loose pyroclasts.
Term
Rhyolitic Magma
Definition
A type of magma containing 70% silicon and the highest gas content.
Term
Shield Volcano
Definition
A dome-shaped volcano with a small slope, formed by successive eruptions of basaltic lava.
Term
Stratovolvano
Definition
Your typical cone-shaped volcano. Has layers of lava and tephra.
Term
Tephra Cone
Definition
The cone that builds up around the vent of a steep volcano.
Term
Viscosity
Definition
The property that causes a substance to resist flowing. Magma viscosity depends on composition
Term
Volcanic Ash
Definition
The smallest tephra particles.
Term
Volcanic Gas
Definition
Small amounts of gas dissolved in magma.
Term
Volcano
Definition
A vent from which melted rock, solid rock debris, and gas is expelled.
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