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Nooria's Geology
Test 3
71
Geology
Undergraduate 2
05/17/2011

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Term
3 Major Ocean Features:
Definition
Continental Margins
Deep Ocean Basins
Mid-Ocean Ridges
Term
Passive margins —
Definition
not associated with plate boundaries and thus are not associated with earthquakes and volcanoes.
Term
Active margins —
Definition
occur where oceanic crust (lithosphere) is being sub-ducted beneath the edge of a continent and are associated with earthquakes and volcanism.
Term
Continental shelf -
Definition
consists of a gentle slope extending from the shoreline to the deep-ocean basin in passive continental margin.
Term
Continental slope -
Definition
occurs on the seaward edge of the continental shelf.
Term
Continental rise -
Definition
a more shallow incline.
Term
Deep-ocean trench -
Definition
are long, relatively narrow features that form the deepest parts of the ocean.
Term
Accretionary wedge -
Definition
sediments from the seafloor and pieces of oceanic crust are scraped from the descending plate and plastered against the edge of the overriding continent.
Term
Turbidity currents -
Definition
are created when sand and mud on continental shelf are dislodged.
Term
Submarine canyons —
Definition
steep-sided valley cut into the continental slope.
Term
Manganese nodules -
Definition
occur on may abyssal plains - especially in the Pacific Ocean.
Term
Seamounts -
Definition
Dotting the deep-ocean floor are isolated volcanic peaks.
Term
Guyots —
Definition
submerged, flat-topped seamounts.
Term
Two main sources of sediment:
Definition
turbidities
sediment that settles out from the water column
Term
Seafloor Sediments:
Definition
Terrigenous
Biogenous
Hydrogenous
Term
Terrigenous —
Definition
mineral grains that were weathered from continental rocks and transported to the ocean.
Term
Biogenous —
Definition
shells and skeletons of marine organisms.
Term
Hydrogenous —
Definition
minerals that crystallize directly from seawater.
Term
Mid-Ocean Ridges (MOR):
Definition
New Ocean Crust Forming (Basaltic Composition)
Term
Transform faults -
Definition
The mid-ocean ridge is broken into segments that are offset by large
Term
Gyre -
Definition
The patterns on the waves in the ocean
Term
Surface circulation deflected by the..
Definition
Coriolis effect
Term
Riplets -
Definition
friction of wind on surface of water causes waves to develop.
Term
Geometry of waves:
Definition
crests
troughs
wave height
wave length
wave period
Term
Wave refraction -
Definition
Bending of the waves
Term
Longshore Current -
Definition
develops in the surf region and can move large quantities of material.
Term
Wave-cut cliffs -
Definition
originate by the cutting action of the surf against the base of coastal land.
Term
Wave cut platform -
Definition
A relatively flat, bench-like surface is left behind.
Term
Sea arches -
Definition
form by wave erosion of coastal headlands.
Term
Sea stacks -
Definition
are blocks of erosion-resistant rock isolated from the land by sea.
Term
Barrier Island -
Definition
A long, relatively narrow island running parallel to the mainland, built up by the action of waves and currents and serving to protect the coast from erosion by surf and tidal surges.
Term
Spit -
Definition
narrow coastal land formation that is tied to the coast at one end.
Term
Tombolos -
Definition
A bar that extends outward from the shore, connecting with an island.
Term
Baymouth bar -
Definition
is a depositional feature as a result of longshore drift.
Term
Beach nourishment -
Definition
involves adding large quantities of sand to the shore system to halt shoreline erosion.
Term
Groin -
Definition
A structure built to restore an eroding beach, that juts out into a body of water perpendicular to the shoreline. It intercepts longshore drift and traps sand.
Term
Jetties -
Definition
A landing stage or small pier at which boats can dock or be moored.
Term
Breakwater -
Definition
A barrier built out into the sea to protect a coast or harbor from the force of waves.
Term
Seawall -
Definition
A protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away.
Term
Submergent coasts -
Definition
are created when sea level rises or the land subsides.
Term
Emergent coasts -
Definition
develop either because of a drop in sea level or the coast experiences uplift due to tectonic forces.
Term
Spring tides -
Definition
occur during full and new moons when the forces of the Moon and Sun are aligned together causing a larger tidal bulge resulting in large tidal variation.
Term
Neap tides -
Definition
occur during the first and third quarters of the Moon, the forces of the Moon and Sun are perpendicular to one another - canceling each other out to a small degree resulting in smaller tidal variation.
Term
Composition of air -
Definition
Nitrogen (N)—78%
Oxygen (O2)—21%
Argon and other gases
Carbon dioxide (CO2)—0.036%—absorbs heat energy from Earth
Term
Water vapor -
Definition
Up to about 4% of the air's volume
Forms clouds and precipitation
Absorbs heat energy from Earth
Term
Aerosols
Definition
Tiny solid and liquid particles
Water vapor can condense on solids
Reflect sunlight
Help color sunrise and sunset
Term
Ozone -
Definition
Three atoms of oxygen (O3)
Distribution not uniform
Concentrated between 10 to 50 kilometers above the surface
Absorbs harmful UV radiation
Human activity is depleting ozone by adding chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Term
Troposphere –
Definition
decrease temp. with increase in altitude (environmental
lapse rate)
Term
Stratosphere –
Definition
temp. increases with increase altitude above ozone layer
Term
Thermosphere –
Definition
increase in temp. with increase in altitude
Term
Earth motions:
Definition
Rotates on its axis
Revolves around the Sun
Term
Seasons:
Definition
Result of
Changing Sun angle
Changing length of daylight
Term
Summer solstice
Definition
June 21–22
Sun's vertical rays are located at the tropic of Cancer (23½° N latitude)
Term
Winter solstice
Definition
December 21–22
Sun's vertical rays are located at the tropic of Capricorn (23½° S latitude)
Term
Autumnal equinox
Definition
September 22–23
Sun's vertical rays are located at the equator (0° latitude)
Term
Spring equinox
Definition
March 21–22
Sun's vertical rays are located at the equator (0° latitude)
Term
Visible Light in Electromagnetic Spectrum:
Definition
R-O-Y G. B-I-V
Term
Differential heating of land and water
Definition
Land heats more rapidly than water
Land gets hotter than water
Land cools faster than water
Land gets cooler than water
Term
Three states of matter -
Definition
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Term
To change state, heat must be
Definition
Absorbed, or
Released
Term
Evaporation
Definition
Liquid is changed to gas
600 calories per gram of water are added—Called latent heat of vaporization
Term
Condensation -
Definition
Water vapor (gas) is changed to a liquid
Heat energy is released—Called latent heat of condensation
Term
Melting
Definition
Solid is changed to a liquid
80 calories per gram of water are added—called latent heat of melting
Term
Freezing
Definition
Liquid is changed to a solid
Heat is released—called latent heat of fusion
Term
Sublimation -
Definition
Solid is changed directly to a gas (e.g., ice cubes shrinking in a freezer)
680 calories per gram of water are added
Term
Deposition -
Definition
Water vapor (gas) changed to a solid (e.g., frost in a freezer compartment)
Heat is released
Term
Condensation -
Definition
Water vapor in the air changes to a liquid and forms dew, fog, or clouds
Term
Clouds -
Definition
Made of millions and millions of
Minute water droplets, or
Tiny crystals of ice
Term
Form (three basic forms)
Definition
Cirrus—High, white, thin
Cumulus—Globular cloud masses often asso-ciated with fair weather
Stratus—Sheets or layers that cover much of the sky
Term
Classification based on height
Definition
High clouds—Above 6000 meters
Types include cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus

Middle clouds—2000 to 6000 meters
Types include altostratus and altocumulus

Low clouds—Below 2000 meters
Types include stratus, stratocumulus, and nimbostratus (nimbus means "rainy")

Vertical Development
Term
4 Types of Fogs -
Definition
Advection fog—Warm, moist air moves over a cool surface

Radiation fog
Earth's surface cools rapidly
Forms during cool, clear, calm nights

Steam fog
Cool air moves over warm water and moisture is added to the air
Water has a steaming appearance
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