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Important Introductory Concepts
Introducing geology, the essentials of plate tectonics, and other important concepts
38
Geology
Undergraduate 1
01/22/2012

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Cards

Term
Geology
Definition
scientific study of Earth
Term
Most dangerous geological hazards
Definition
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods, and tsunamis
Term
Tsunami
Definition
Huge ocean waves, usually caused by displacement of the sea floor
Term
Pyroclastic flow
Definition
Hot, turbulent mixture of expanding gases and volcanic ash that flows rapidly down the side of a volcano, very deadly
Term
Mudflow
Definition
slurry of water and rock debris that flows down a stream channel, very dangerous from a volcanic eruption
Term
System
Definition
an arbitrarily isolated portion of the universe that can be analyzed to see how its components interrelate
Term
Earth system
Definition
includes the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere
Term
Atmosphere
Definition
the gases that envelop the earth
Term
Hydrosphere
Definition
the water on or near Earth's surface
Term
Biosphere
Definition
all the living or once-living material on Earth
Term
Geosphere / solid Earth system
Definition
the rock and other inorganic Earth material that make up the bulk of the planet
Term
Mantle
Definition
most voluminous of Earth's three major concentric zone, solid rock
Term
Crust
Definition
thin outer layer of the Earth
Term
Core
Definition
center of the Earth
Term
Lithosphere
Definition
crust and uppermost part of the mantle, relatively rigid and makes up the plates in the plate tectonic theory
Term
Asthenosphere
Definition
uppermost mantle underlying the lithosphere, soft
Term
Tectonic forces
Definition
forces generated inside the Earth that cause the deformation of rock as well as vertical and horizontal movements of portions of the Earth's crust
Term
Plate tectonics
Definition
regards the lithosphere as broken into plates that are in motion that move relative to one another along plate boundaries
Term
Divergent boundary
Definition
two plates that move apart from each other
Term
Mid-oceanic ridge
Definition
crests of submarine mountain ranges that usually coincide with divergent boundaries
Term
Magma
Definition
molten rock
Term
Igneous rock
Definition
rock that forms when magma solidifies
Term
Rift valley
Definition
runs along the crest of mid-oceanic ridges
Term
Convergent boundary
Definition
plates moves toward each other
Term
Ocean-continent convergence
Definition
the oceanicplate is overriden by the less dense continental plate
Term
Subduction zone
Definition
plate bends beneath another during convergence; occurs with ocean-continent convergence and ocean-ocean convergence
Term
Oceanic trench
Definition
found where oceanic lithosphere bends and begins its descents
Term
Metamorphic rock
Definition
rock that forms from high pressure that does not melt but changes state
Term
Ocean-ocean convergence
Definition
a type of convergence where two oceanic plates meet, and the less-dense plate is subducted; results in a volcanic island arc
Term
Volcanic island arc
Definition
The result of ocean-ocean convergence, such as seen in Indonesia
Term
Continent-continent convergence
Definition
continental plates buckle and deform with huge vertical uplift and thickening as well as lateral shortening
Term
Transform boundary
Definition
two plates slide horizontally past each other
Term
Isostatic adjustment
Definition
vertical movement of sections of Earth's crust to achieve balance
Term
Erosion
Definition
moving water, ice, or wind loosens and removes material
Term
Equilibrium
Definition
when materials are adjusted to the physical and chemical conditions of their environment so that they do not change or alter with time
Term
Sediment
Definition
product of the breakdown of rock, loose material
Term
Sedimentary rock
Definition
loose particles are cemented into this form of rock
Term
Lithify
Definition
to cement loose particles into rock
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