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
