APES – Earth Science – Flashcards

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Biosphere
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the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth (or other planet) where living organisms exist
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lithsophere
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the solid outer layer of the earths crust and upper mantle
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mantle
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the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
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asthenosphere
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The solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made of mantle rock that flows very slowly, which allows tectonic plates to move on top of it
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hydrosphere
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the portion of earth that is water
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magma
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molten rock in the earth's crust
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Geologic Time Scale
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scale used by paleontologists to represent evolutionary time
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Law of Superposition
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The geologic principle that states that in horizontal layers of sedimentary rock, each layer is older than the layer above it and younger than the layer below it.
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principle of uniformatarianism
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idea that suggests that changes in the Earth's surface happened slowly instead of all at once. Gradual shifting and compression changes occurred across different continental land forms.
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law of original horizontality
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states layers of sediment are generally deposited in a horizontal position
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law of lateral continuity
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Lava flows and strata extend laterally in all directions until they thin to nothing or reach the edge of their basin of deposition
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Sediment
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matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid
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oxygen catastrophe
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on the GTS, an event marked by major extinction or organisms when the levels of oxygen in the atmosphere peaked
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plate tectonics
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the theory that pieces of Earth's lithosphere are in constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle
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convergent boundary
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boundary between two colliding plates, often associated with mountain building ocean trenches and volcanic islands
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divergent boundary
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the boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other
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transform boundary
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the boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally
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Himalayas
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an example of two continental plates colliding
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Mid-Atlantic Ridge
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an example of a divergent boundary
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Mariana's trench
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an example of an oceanic plate and a continental plate colliding
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Japan or Hawaii
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an example of two oceanic plates colliding
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Ring of Fire
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a major belt of volcanoes that rims the Pacific Ocean
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Earthquake
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shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity
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Richter Scale
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a logarithmic scale of 1 to 10 used to express the energy released by an earthquake
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focus
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The point beneath Earth's surface where rock breaks under stress and causes an earthquake
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Epicenter
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the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
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Body waves
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seismic waves that travel through the Earth's interior
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Surface waves
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seismic waves that travel along the Earth's surface
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P waves
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travels fastest, compressional waves, can travel through solids, liquids and gasses
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S waves
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a slower, transverse wave; the rock vibrates perpendicular to the direction of wave movement; can travel through rock but not gas or liquid
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volcano
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a fissure in the earth's crust (or in the surface of some other planet) through which molten lava and gases erupt
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pyroclastic flow
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A hot, high-velocity mixture of ash, gas and fragmented rock that flows like a liquid down slopes and over terrain.
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cinder cone
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a steep, cone-shaped hill or small mountain made of volcanic ash, cinders, and bombs piled up around a volcano's opening.
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stratovolcano
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A composite volcanic cone built of interlayered lava flows and pyroclastic materials
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hot spot
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an area where magma from deep within the mantle melts through the crust above it
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caldera
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a large crater caused by the violent explosion of a volcano that collapses into a depression
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dormant volcano
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not active but capable of becoming active, A volcano that has not erupted for a long time, but may erupt again one day.
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extinct volcano
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said of a volcano that is unlikely to erupt again, A volcano that has not erupted for thousands of years and probably will not erupt again.
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active volcano
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One that is erupting or shows signs that it may erupt in the near future.
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Electromagnetic Induction
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the process of generating an electric current from the motion of a conductor through a magnetic field
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turbine
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A machine for producing power in which a wheel or rotor is made to revolve by a fast-moving flow of water, steam, gas, or air.
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generator
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engine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy by electromagnetic induction
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alternating current
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a flow of electric charge that regularly reverses its direction
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direct current
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an electric current that flows in one direction steadily
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substation
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a place where electricity is transformed for distribution by a low-voltage network
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transformer
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an electrical device by which alternating current of one voltage is changed to another voltage
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power pool
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part of a power load program that would pull in additional needed electricity from nearby plants to meet the demands of an area
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peak load
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the greatest demand for electricity, which is met by using hydroelectric power and natural gas
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geothermal energy
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energy derived from the heat in the interior of the earth
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renewable energy
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Any source of energy that can be continually produced and is inexhaustible given current conditions.
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dry rock conversion
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geothermal energy made by pumping in pressurized water into hot rock
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flash energy
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geothermal energy from water that is brought up very hot, and then vaporizes. The steam from the water is used to power turbines
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Binary
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hot water pumped up from geothermal energy is used to heat a secondary liquid, which will vaporize and turn a turbine for electricity
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seismology
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the branch of geology that studies earthquakes
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seismic waves
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vibrations that travel through Earth carrying the energy released during an earthquake
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Basaltic magma
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the most common form of magma, results from the partial melting of rock in the asthenosphere. Generally has the lowest silica content of the three common volcanic rocks, which makes it the least viscous.
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Andesite magma
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magma that can arise in a variety of ways, but most is produced by the partial melting of wet basalt. This often occurs at subducting plate margins where oceanic crust dives beneath another plate.Can also be generated by the melting of continental crust. Normally more viscous and contain more dissolved gases.
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Rhyolitic lava
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magma that is rich in silica and therefore quite viscous. It can arise from the partial melting of continental crust. Because of its viscosity, which results in the magma solidifying before it can reach the surface, it is generally is less common than other forms
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Lava, ash, and debris flows
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the most common and serious volcanic hazards
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relative time measurements
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Dating an unknown sample to a certain time period when compared to samples of known ages
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geologic plate
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a layer of rock that drifts slowly over the supporting, upper mantle layer
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subduction zone
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The region where oceanic plates sink down into the asthenosphere.
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convection
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material circulation caused by heat
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fault
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a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
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love waves
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Surface waves that shear the ground in a horizontal direction. Can only travel through solids. Third to arrive.
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Raleigh Waves
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surface waves whose matter moves in a circular motion
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tephra
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bits of rock or solidified lava dropped from the air during an explosive volcanic eruption; ranges in size from volcanic ash to volcanic bombs and blocks
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energy
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power that may be translated into motion, overcoming resistance, or affection physical resistance
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power
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the source of energy used to operate a system
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electricity
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any phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons
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calories
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measures amount of energy in food
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joule
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energy in work
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watts
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amount energy in power
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BTU
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amount of energy it takes to heat/cool one pound of water by one degree
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kWh
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amount of energy consumed by electric utilities
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horsepower
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amount of energy in anything with an engine or motor
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energy is conserved
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1st law of thermodynamics
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disorder
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2nd law of thermodynamics... can never be 100% efficient
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