Chapter 1: Learn Smart

Earth's Hydrosphere

- It includes soil moisture, groundwater, lakes, clouds, and air moisture -it overlaps with every sphere of Earth

how does feedback works?

-A feedback can amplify, or make worse, a change that is occurring - A feedback can counteract, or lessen, a change that is occurring

interpretation of data

-A volcanic process formed a be;t opf low topography and volcanic rocks -More recent volcanism may have smoothed the topography of the belt of volcanic rock

select the different types of information a geologist can infer from studying fossils and the rocks containing fossils.

-How the life-form lived and died -How long ago the particular life form lives -Past local and global environments

_____ are examples of natural hazards present in the Rapid City areas a result of itds location in a low area along Rapid Creek

-Landslides -Floods

quantitative measurements of ________.

-chemical composition -physical properties such as density, mass and weight -age

processes that are part of the biogeochemical cycle

-coal is created from decayed plant material. The coal is burned to create energy, and carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere -A seed is deposited by a bird who ate it. The seed falls into soil and rain causes the seed to sprout.

slow

-continental movement -groundwater movement

We express the steepness of a slope_____.

-in degreees from horizontal -as a gradient -as the change in elevaqtion over a horizontal distance

Rapid

-ocean wave speed -wind speed

examples of quantitative measurements

-size of surface features -water flow -water chemistry -orientation -gas composition

Lithosphere

-solid earth -the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle

fate of solar energy entering Earth's atmosphere

-some light is converted into chemical energy by plants -some light is converted into infrared radiation -it heats Earth's atmosphere -solar energy evaporates water in the atmosphere

differences between continents and ocean basins

-the continents and ocean basins have different rock thicknesses -the continents and ocean basins have different rock types

___ are geologic considerations when identifying physically safe places for human habitation.

-the steepness of hillsides -faults in Earth's crust that can potential cause earthquakes -the strength of underlying geology

Geologist may determine the density of earth materials by_____

-using instruments to measure the pull of gravity -through direct measurement in the laboratory -measuring the different velocities of seismic waves traveling through Earth

Equator

0 degrees latitude

Outer planets from the Sun outward (top-bottom)

1. Jupiter 2. Saturn 3. Uranus 4. Neptune

Testing Alternative Explanations

1. Observation 2. Question 3. Hypothesis 4. Prediction 5. Investigation 6. Analysis

tropic of cancer

23.5 degrees North

Tropic of Capricorn

23.5 degrees south

Arctic Circle

66.5 degrees North

Antarctic Circle

66.5 degrees South

Match the spheres listed below with an example of how they overlap the biosphere

Atmosphere: plants extract carbon dioxide and emit oxygen Hydrosphere: plants use groundwater Lithosphere: rocks are weathered by plant activity

the inner planets are sometimes referred to as terrestrial planets because of their similarity to______.

Earth

four terrestrial planets

Earth, Venus, Mercury, and Mars

open system

Energy and material move in and out of the system example: A person running- takes in nutrients, converts them to energy, and expels it as heat, movement, and water

180 degrees from the Prime Meridian is the ________ ___________ Line.

International Date

Four outer planets

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

the gravity of the ____ and the ___ causes the tides in the oceans of Earth.

Moon and Sun

Greenwich Mean Time

The time in that time zone ecompassing the Prime Meridian, or 0 degrees longitude

ocean waves

This is a motion caused by the transfer of momentum between wind and a body of water

Geologists exclusively study rocks

True or False Answer: False

Steep slopes exhibit gradual changes in elevation amd show only low relief.

True or False: False

postive feedback

a change to a system that reinforces an ongoing tradition example: more glacial ice representing cool conditions causes more reflection of solar energy, resulting in further cooling.

Continental shelf

a finge of shallow seafloor surrounding the land

uplift

a tectonic process that forces rocks onto Earth's surface

Rocky fragments left over from the formation of the solar system are called _______.

asteroids

the movement of matter and energy in Earth's _____ drives climate and weather

atmosphere

Precipitation

atmospheric water vapor forms drops and dails to the ground

The takeup of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by plants, the emission of greenhouse gasses produced by humans, and the ocean acting as a sink for gases are all exchanges involved in Earth's _______ cycle.

carbon

human influences on the landscape may______.

change climates, landscapes, and apperances

Atmosphere-Hydrosphere

clouds

biosphere-hydrosphere

coral reefs

______ lines on a topographic map follow a specific elevation

countour

explanations are the result of collecting _____ and making _______.

data and interpretations

Life-forms inhabiting the biosphere are ______ the processes of Earth's other spheres.

dependent on

______ refers to height above sea level, whereas beneath the water is expressed as depth below sea level.

elevation

Lithosphere-Atmosphere

emission of volcanic gasses

Evaporation

energy transformations cause water to collect in the atmosphere from all of Earth's surfaces

The ______ is an imagined line, a parallel, that divides the earth into top and bottom halves.

equator

the _____ is an imaginary line, a parallel, that divides Earth into top and bottom halves.

equator

Atmosphere

gases

Radioactive decay in Eath, especially in earths crust, creates a temendous amount of______.

heat

Earth's orbit around the Sun is almost circular, which explains why Earth receives about the same amount of _____ year-round.

heat and light

Radioactive decay within Earth produces heat; the other main form of heat produced by Earth comes from_____.

heat trapped when Earth was formed.

concept sketches

help you learn, retain, and apply new information by diagramming the important features, processes, and relationships you want to describe

Local and global movement of water and associated energy near the earth's surface is called the ___ cycle.

hydrologic

A scientific theory is a(n) ___ that has withstood the test of time, constantly being tested and supported

hypothesis

A(n) ______ is a testable explanation that has been developed based on observations, data, and interpretations.

hypothesis

The asthenosphere is located beneath the

lithosphere

What two spheres that play the role in the following process: the ocean transporting sand; a river carving a bedrock channel; an earthquake creatinga tsunami.

lithosphere and hydrosphere

Biosphere

living organisms

Closed system

material is not exchanged with the surroundings (but energy could be)

streams

moving water flows downhill and sculpts the landscape in its path

A closed system will have______ inputs

no new

The Sun creates heat and light through the process of joining together hydrogen atoms in nuclear ________.

nuclear fushion

A location that is least at risk for geologic hazards is _____.

on a gentle slopes away from the Mountains

Geology give us an idea of the ________ of a given landscape

past, present, and future

The hydrologic cycle is a complex cycle consisting of________.

phase changes pf water caused by energy transfers.

biosphere-lithosphere

plants growing in soil

Earth's warming may elicit greater energy consumption to cool homes and businesses, and stimulate a ___ feedback cycle. Comparatively, rising gas prices may increase use of public transportation in a ___ feedback cycle

positive and negative

in the hydrolic cycle process, rainfall is a type of ___ , wehreas liquid water is changed to water vapor by ______, which forms clouds.

precipitation and evaporation

Topographic_____ is the difference in elevation of one feature relative to a neighboring feature

relief

rugged areas have high topographic ____, showing sharp contrast between the elevation of neighboring valleys and mountains.

relief

soldification

rock cools after being exposed to high temperatures

deformation

rock is exposed to force or heat that changes its shape

melting

rock is subjected to increased pressure and temperature that change its state

evolutionary diagrams

show the history of an area in a series of steps proceeding from the earliest to most recent

satellite image

shows distribution of different types of plants, rocks, and other features by reflecting different wavelengths of light off the land surface

stratigraphic section

shows rock units stacked on top of one another to scale in terms of thickness

cross section

shows surficial and subsurface features in two dimensions

geologic map

shows the ages and types of rocks and sendiment in an area.

Block diagram

shows the shape of the land surface and subsurface in 3 dimension: shows the location and orientation of faults, folds, and other geologic feautures

shaded relief map

shows the shape of the land with hills lighter in color than darker valleys

topographic map

shows the shape of the land, elevation, using contour lines

the type and thickness of ____ in an area is functiion of climate, steepness of slope, type of earth materials, and types of plants and animals, which in turn dictate suitability for growing crops and raising livestock

soil

on a contour map, contour lines that are closely spaced together depict _____ slopes.

steep

Hydrosphere-Lithosphere

stream-cut channels

Geology

study of earth

biosphere-atmosphere

vegetation in wet or dry climates

Hydrosphere

water

Groundwater flow

water seeps into the ground and flows through rock and soil

energy and matter are moved in the atmosphere in the form of_____?

wind and water vapor