GY 102 (University of Alabama) test 1

Types of Boundaries

-Divergent -Convergent -Transform

What are the four main types of volcanoes

-Shield -Composite -Volcanic Dome -Cinder Cone

tectonics

-change in configuration of earth's crust as a result of internal forces -plates moving on the surface in response to convection forces within

Continental Crust

2.7g/cm^3 granite

Oceanic Crust

3g/cm^3 basalt

How many elements are involved in the crust?

8 elements

What kind of science is geography?

A spatial science

What is a volcano

A vent in the surface of the earth through which magma and associated gases and as erupt -The form or structure that is produced by the ejected material

Two Types of Remote Sensing

Active (Radar) Passive (landsat)

Longitude

Angular distance; Directions E&W; 0-180 degrees;

Latitude

Angular distance;Directions N & S; each degree 69 miles, degrees ranging from 0 to 90

What are the types of periods?

Cambrian (fish) Triassic (dinosaurs) Tertiary (mammals) Quaternary (Humans)

Uniformitarianism

Crucial unifying concept; Developed by James Hutton(scottland); earth explained in terms of current processes; "present is the key to the past"

Faulting

Displacement of rocks on either side of a fracture Rocks strained beyond ability to remain whole Strained beyond its ability to stay intact, it is broken apart, layers are not continuous

Catastrophism

Earth had been formed by natural events; gradual processes had no effect; biblical interpretation of earth; theory until late 1700s

What is the sequence of geologic time?

Eons, Eras, Periods, Epochs

What are the two types of projections?

Equal Area(lambert/cylindrical) and True Shape(mercator)

Exogenic

External, solar energy is destruction (tearing down rock)

Geysers

Groundwater boils, erupting steam at surface

Planimetric Map

Horizontal Components (ex: roads,geologic, mineral, water resources, political)

Topographic Map

Horizontal and vertical; physical relief

What are the four cycles involved in the Geologic Cycle?

Hydrologic, Rock, Tectonic, Biogeochemical

What are the 3 main types of rocks?

Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic

Remote Sensing

Information acquired from distance without contact with the subject (your eyes are the first remote sensors you have used) (helps determine rate at which global warming is impacting earth)

What makes up earths structure?

Inner core, outer core, lower mantle, upper mantle

Endogenic

Internal, radioactive is constructional (creating new rock)

Punctuated Equilibria

Interruption to an equilibrium state

Large scale map vs Small scale map

Large scale (small area) lots of detail Small scale (large area) little detail

Meridians

Lines joining places of the same longitude (coverage of poles)

What are earths four spheres?

Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere

5 Spatial themes of Geography

Location; place; movement; region; human-earth relationships

Spatial

Nature and character of physical space, its measurement and distribution of things in it

Geomorphology

Origin, evolution, form, classification, and spatial distribution of landforms (how landscapes came to be)

What are the types of Eras?

Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic (oldest to most recent)

What are the types of Epochs?

Pleistocene, Holocene, Anthropocene

What are the types of Eons?

Precambrian and Phanerozoic this is based on the oxygen rich atmosphere (pre was before oxygen)

Geography

Science that studies relationships among natural systems, geographic areas, society, cultural activities and the interdependence of these over space

Moho Discontinuity

Separates mantle and crust

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Spatial data analysis; data processing tool; gathers, manipulates and analyzes geographic information; Single data place, composite overlay; diagnostic tool

Folding of rocks

Stress and strain of rocks response to compressional forces convergent plate boundaries folds in each layer Changed the form of the rock but not the relative position

Crustal deformation occurs due to

Stress, tensions, compression, shear

Holism

Sum of the whole

Map Projections

Techniques cartographers and mathematicians have created to depict all or part of a 3-dimensional, roughly spherical surface on 2-dimensional, flat surfaces with minimal distortion (inaccurate)

A good map must have

Title, scale, key/legend, date, projection, source, north arrow

Parallels

a circle that joins places of the same latitude at the Earth's surface (all lines of latitude are parallel and will never intersect)

plate tectonics

a geologic theory proposed to explain large scale motions of the earth's lithosphere

Superimposition

geologist will make an assumption that the oldest rocks will be at the bottom and the newest rockes will be on the top

Hot Springs

hot rocks heat groundwater discharged at surface

Relief

is the distance between the highest point and the lowest

Rock

mass of one mineral and many minerals assemblage of minerals (granite) Mass of one mineral (limestone)

What scale is earthquakes measured on?

mercalli (1-12)

What are the two most important elements involved in the crust

oxygen and silicon (74%)

Two types of geologic time

relative and absolute

What is an Earthquake?

sudden movement of a block of earth;s crust along a geologic fault

Gutenberg Discontinuity

the abrupt change in materials Separates the core and the mantle jagged surface

Isostasy

vertical crustal movements; plate tectonics; compensating adjustment

Crustal orders of relief

• First order of relief: continental landmasses and ocean basins • Second order of relief: continental and mountain masses, mid-ocean ridges • Third order of relief: Individual mountain, valleys, hills and other landforms