Earth Science Mid-term Flashcards

neither a beginning nor an end to the universe (matter is constantly destroyed and remade)

someday, the universe will contract and expand again

the distance light travels in one year

hydrogen and helium

finite life span

evolution

burns first

burns last

used to measure the distance of stars from earth

fusion

fission

North star

closest star to Earth

dust and gases

top

bottom

stars moving away

stars moving towards

main sequence star; 70% hydrogen, 28% helium

brightness from earth

brightness if all stars were the same distance

the solar system condensed from a cloud of dust and gas

Mars and Jupiter

tail always pointed away from the sun

beyond Neptune where comets originate

small, solid particle

streaks of light produced by a solid particle

a meteoroid that passes through earth's atmosphere and hits earth's surface

Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus ans Neptune

layer closest to the ground; temperature drops with altitude; contains all weather

three layer oxygen atoms bonded together; protect earth from ultra violet radiation

temperature decreases with altitude; meteors burn up

largest and outermost layer; contains isosphere( bounces radio waves back to earth

mostly hydrogen and helium; earth's surface was molten; no oxygen present

formation of moon occurs; volcanoes result in carbon; oceans form, carbon dioxide leaves the atmosphere

cynobacteria consumed carbon dioxide and released oxygen

1% trace gas; 21% oxygen; 78% nitrogen

the amount of solar radiation reaching a given area

inter-tropical convergence zone; influenced by the sun's radiation; warm air rises

sub-tropical high pressure belt; influences the distribution of deserts; cold air sinking

sub-polar low pressure belt; warm air rises

polar high; high to low always

forces that drive surface winds

the influence of the earth's rotation

dry and cold

moist and cold

moist and warm

dry and warm

warm air; low pressure system; brings rain

cold air sinking; high pressure system; good weather

slow moving

balance each other out ( warm and cold front)

dry air

low pressure; tropical storm; counter clockwise; warm air rises

high pressure; clear weather; clockwise; cooling air

measures relative humidity

wind speed

fresh water. petroleum, minerals, food

needle-like crystals become slush

icebergs break off of glaciers

plate-like icebergs

uneven solar heating generates winds

wind driven; primarily horizontal

differences in density caused by differences in temperature and salinity

fertilizer carried by run-off causes algae blooms; causes dead zones in oceans

too much sediment stops sunlight from reaching plants; carried from land to water through storm drains

excess carbon dioxide dissolved into ocean by waves; animals' shells are thinner

organisms that make their own carbonate shells; build-up of material such as limestone and dolomite

a semi-enclosed area where fresh water and salt water mix

higher salinity closer to oceans; lower salinity in rivers

higher salinity during droughts; lower salinity after rainfall

waves generated by sudden movements of the seafloor

waves generated by the gravitational pull of the moon

created by the transfer of wind energy to the ocean surface

located at the pycnocline (area in which water density increases at a rapid pace

created by sudden movements of the seafloor; mostly occur in the Pacific ocean

the difference in height between high tides and low tides

works by transmitting sound waves towards the ocean bottom

the zone of transition between ocean basin floor

the gently sloping submerged surface extending from the shoreline

the steep gradient that leads to the deep ocean floor

the downslope movement of dense, sediment-laden water

the gently sloping surface at the base of the continental slope

the area of the deep ocean floor between the continental margin and the oceanic ridge

the very level area of the deep ocean floor

an isolated volcanic peak that rises at least 1000 meters above the deep ocean floor

the process by which plate tectonics produces at new oceanic ridges

form along mid-ocean ridges; where mineral rich water escapes through cracks in the oceanic crust

consist primarily of mineral grains that were eroded from continental rocks

consists of shells and skeleton marine animals

a thick, common biogenous sediment produced by dissolving calcium carbonate shells

biogenous sediment composed of silica-based shells of single-celled animals

consists of minerals that crystallize directly from ocean water through various chemical reactions

compact chemical structures made of water and natural gas

hard lumps of manganese and other metals

the layer of ocean water between about 300 meters and 100 meters

is a ratio of the air's actual water-vapor content compared with the amount of water vapor

the temperature to which a parcel of air would need to be cooled to reach saturation

clouds that are high, white, and thin

clouds that consist of rounded individual cloud masses

clouds best described as sheets or layers that cover much or all of the sky

occur when the moon moves in a line directly between earth and the sun

occur when the moon passes through the earth's shadow

a large, cool star of high luminosity; occupies the upper right portion of the HR diagram

a very large, very bright red giant star

a collapsing cloud of gas and dust destined to become a star

an exploding massive star that increases in brightness many thousands of times

a star that has exhausted most or all of its nuclear fuel and has collapsed

about 30% of all galaxies; diameters of 20,000 to 125,000 light years

about 60% of galaxies; range in shape from round to oval