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Earth Science Finals
2nd Semester Earth Science Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Aftershocks | Smaller Earthquakes that follow a main earthquake. |
| Asthenosphere | A subdivision of the mantle situated below the lithosphere. The rock within is easily deformed. |
| Body Waves | Seismic waves that travel through Earth's interior. |
| Circum-Pacific Belt | An area surrounding the basin of the pacific ocean where oceanic lithosphere is continually subducted beneath the surrounding continental plates, causing most of Earth's largest earthquakes. |
| Core | The innermost layer of Earth located beneath the mantle and divided into an outer and inner core. |
| Crust | The very thin outermost layer of Earth. |
| Earthquake | Vibration of Earth produced by the rapid release of energy |
| Elastic Rebound | The sudden release of stored strain in rocks that results in movement along a fault . |
| Epicenter | The location on Earth's surface that lies directly above the focus of an earthquake. |
| Fault | A break in rock mass along which movement has occurred. |
| Fault Creep | Displacement along a fault that is so slow and gradual that little seismic activity occurs. |
| Foreshocks | Small earthquakes that often precede a major earthquake/ |
| Hypocenter (focus) | The location within Earth where slippage begins. |
| Inner Core | The solid innermost layer of Earth. |
| Intensity | A measure of the degree of shaking at a given locale, based on the amount of damage. |
| Liquefaction | A phenomenon in which soils and other unconsolidated materials containing abundant water are turned into a fluid-mass that is not capable of supporting buildings. |
| Lithosphere | The rigid outer layer of Earth, including the crust and upper mantle. |
| Magnitude | The total amount of energy released during the earthquake. |
| Mantle | The thick layer beneath the crust. |
| Megathrust Fault | The plate boundary separating a subducting slab of oceanic lithosphere and the overlying plate. |
| Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale | A 12 point scale developed to evaluate earthquake intensity based on the amount of damage to various structures. |
| Moment Magnitude | A more precise measure of earthquake magnitude than Richter that is derived from the amount of displacement that occurs along a fault zone. |
| Outer Core | A layer beneath the mantle that has the properties of a liquid. |
| Paleoseismology | The study of the timing, location, and size of prehistoric earthquakes. |
| Precursor | An event or a change that precedes an earthquake and may provide a warning. |
| Primary Wave | A type of seismic wave that involves alternating compression and expansion of the material it passes through. |
| Richter Scale | A scale of earthquake magnitude based in the motion of a seismograph. |
| Secondary Waves | Seismic waves that involve oscillation perpendicular to the direction of propagation. |
| Seismic Gap | A segment of an active fault zone that has not experienced a major earthquake over a span when most other segments have. They are probable sites for major earthquakes. |
| Seismic Waves | A rapidly moving ocean wave generated by earthquake activity capable of inflicting heavy damage. |
| Seismogram | The record made by a seismograph. |
| Seismograph | An instrument that records earthquake waves. |
| Seismology | The study of earthquakes and seismic waves. |
| Surface Waves | Seismic Waves that travel along the outer layer of Earth. |
| Tsunami | Large ocean waves generated by displacement along a megathrust fault that suddenly lifts a large slab of seafloor. |
| Aa Flow | A type of lava flow that has a jagged blocky surface. |
| Basalt plateau | The broad and extensive accumulation of lava from a succession of flows emanating from fissure eruptions. |
| Batholith | A large mass of igneous rock that formed when magma was emplaced at depth, crystallized, and subsequently exposed by erosion. |
| Caldera | A large depression typically caused by collapse or ejection of the summit. |
| Cinder Cone | A rather small volcano built primarily of pyroclastic ejected from a single vent. |
| Columnar Jointing | A pattern of cracks that form during cooling of molten rock to generate columns that are generally six sided. |
| Composite Volcano | A volcano composed of both lava flows and pyroclastic materials. |
| Concordant | A term used to describe intrusive igneous masses that from parallel to the bedding of the surrounding rock. |
| Conduit | A pipelike opening through which magma moves toward Earth's surface. |
| Continental Volcanic Arc | Mountains formed in part by igneous activity associated with the subduction of oceanic lithosphere beneath a continent. |
| Country Rock | Preexisting crustal rocks intruded by magma. May be displaced or assimilated by magmas. |
| Crater | The depression at the summit of a volcano or a depression that is produced by a meteorite impact. |
| Decompression Melting | Melting that occurs as rock ascends due to a drop in confining pressure |
| Dike | A tabular-shaped intrusive igneous feature that cuts through the surrounding rock |
| Discordant | A term used to describe plutons that cut across existing rock structures, such as bedding planes. |
| Effusive Eruption | A quiescent eruption that produces mainly outpourings of fluid lava. |
| Eruption Column | Buoyant plumes of hot, ash-laden gases that can extend thousands of meters into the atmosphere. |
| Fissure | A crack in rock along which there is a distinct separation. |
| Fissure Eruption | An eruption in which lava is extruded from narrow fractures or cracks in crust. |
| Flood Basalts | Flows of basaltic lava issue from numerous cracks or fissures and commonly cover extensive areas to thickness. |
| Fumarole | A vent in a volcanic area from which fumes or gases escape. |
| Geothermal Gradient | The gradual increase in temperature with the depth in the crust. |
| Hot Spot | A concentration of heat in the mantle capable of producing magma, which in turn extrudes onto Earth's Surface, |
| Intraplate Volcanism | Igneous activity that occurs within a tectonic plate away from plate boundaries. |
| Intrusion | A structure that results from the emplacement and crystallization of magma beneath the surface of Earth. |
| Island Arc | A chain of volcanic islands generally located a few kilometers from a trench where active subduction of one oceanic slab beneath another is occurring. |
| Laccolith | A massive igneous body intruded between preexisting strata |
| Lahar | A mudflow on the slope of a volcano that results when unstable layers of ash and debris become saturated and flow downslope, usually following stream channels. |
| Lava | Magma that reaches Earth's surface. |
| Lava Tube | A tunnel in hardened lava that acts as a horizontal conduit for lava flowing from a volcanic vent. Lava tubes allow fluid lavas to advance great distances. |
| Magma | A body of molten rock found at depth, including any dissolved gases and crystals. |
| Mantle Plume | A mass of hotter than normal material that ascends toward the surface, where it may lead to igneous activity. These plumes of solid yet mobile material may originate as deep as the core mantle boundary |
| Massive | An igneous pluton that is not tabular in shape. |
| Pyroclastic Flow. | A highly heated mixture, largely of ash and pumice fragments, traveling down the flanks of a volcano or along the surface of the ground. |
| Pahoehoe Flow | A lava flow with a smooth to ropey texture. |
| Parasitic Cone | A volcanic one that forms on the flank of a larger volcano. |
| Partial Melting | The process by which most igneous rocks melt. Since individual minerals have different melting points, most igneous rocks melt over a temperature range of a few hundred degrees. |
| Pillow Lava | Basaltic Lava that solidifies in an underwater environment and develops a structure that resembles a pile of pillows. |
| Plug | An isolated steep sided, erosional remnant consisting of lava that once occupied the vent of a volcano. |
| Pluton | A structure that results from the emplacement and crystallization of magma beneath the surface of Earth |
| Pumice | A light colored glassy vesicular rock commonly having a granitic composition. |
| Pyroclastic Material | The volcanic rock ejected during an eruption including ash, bombs and blocks. |
| Scoria | Hardened lava that has retained the vesicles produced by escaping gas. |
| Ring of Fire | The zone of active volcanoes surrounding the pacific ocean. |
| Scoria Cone | A rather small volcano built primarily of pyroclastics ejected from a single vent. |
| Seamount | An isolated volcanic peak that rises at least 1000 meters above the deep ocean floor. |
| Shield Volcano | A broad, gently sloping volcano built from fluid basaltic lavas. |
| Sill | A tabular igneous body that was intruded parallel to the layering of preexisting rock. |
| Stock | A pluton similar to but smaller than a batholith. |
| Superplume | A large mantle plumes. Superplumes are thought to be responsible for creating basalt plateaus. |
| Tabular | Describing a feature such as an igneous pluton that has two dimensions that are much longer than the third. |
| Vent | The surface opening of a conduit or pipe. |
| Viscosity | A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. |
| Volatiles | Gaseous components of magma dissolved in melt. |
| Volcanic Cone | A cone shaped structure built by successive eruptions of lava or pyroclastic materials. |
| Alluvial Fan | A fan shaped deposit of sediment formed when a stream's slope is abruptly reduced. |
| Alluvium | Unconsolidated sediment deposited by a stream. |
| Aquifer | Rock or soil through which groundwater moves easily. |
| Aquitard | Impermeable beds that hinder or prevent groundwater movement. |
| Artesian System | A system in which groundwater under pressure rises above the level of the aquifer. |
| Back swamp | A poorly drained area on a floodplain that results when natural levees are present. |
| Bar | The common term for sand and gravel deposits in a stream channel. |
| Base level | The level below which a stream cannot erode |
| Bed Load | Sediment that is carried by a stream along the bottom of its channel. |
| Braided Channel | A stream channel consisting of numerous intertwining channels |
| Capacity | The total amount of sediment a stream is able to transport. |
| Competence | A measure of the largest particle a stream can transport; a factor that is dependent on velocity. |
| Cone of Depression | A cone shaped depression in the water table immediately surrounding a well. |
| Confined Aquifer | An aquifer that has impermeable layers ( aquitards) both above and below. |
| Cut Bank | The area of active erosion on the outside of a meander. |
| Cutoff | A short channel segment created when a river erodes through the narrow neck of land between meanders. |
| Delta | An accumulation of sediment formed where a stream enters a lake or an ocean. |
| Dendritic Pattern | A stream system that resembles the pattern of a branching tree. |
| Discharge | The quantity of water in a stream that passes a given point in period of time. |
| Dissolved Load | The portion of a stream's load that is carried in solution. |
| Distributary | A section of a stream that leaves the main flow. |
| Divide | An imaginary line that separates the drainage of two streams; often found along a ridge. |
| Drainage Basin | The land area that contributes water to a stream. |
| Drawdown | The difference in height between the bottom of a cone of depression and the original height of the water table. |
| Evaporation | The process of converting a liquid to gas |
| Evapotranspiration | The combined effect of evaporation and transpiration |
| Flood | The overflow of a stream channel that occurs when a discharge exceeds the channel's capacity. |
| Floodplain | The flat low lying portion of a stream valley that is subject to periodic inundation. |
| Geyser | A fountain of hot water that is periodically ejected. |
| Gradient | The slope of a stream. |
| Groundwater | Water in the zone of saturation. |
| Headward Erosion | The extension upslope of the head of a valley due to erosion. |
| Hot Spring | A spring in which the water is warmer than the mean annual air temperature of its locality. |
| Hydrologic Cycle | The unending circulation of Earth's water supply. |
| Incised Meander | A meandering channel that flows in a steep, narrow valley. Incised meanders form either when an area is uplifted or when base level drops. |
| Infiltration | The movement of surface water into rock or soil through cracks and pore spaces. |
| Laminar Flow | The movement of water particles in straight line paths that are parallel to the channel. The water particles move downstream, without mixing. |
| Longitudinal Profile | A cross section of a stream channel along its descending course from the head to the mouth. |
| Meander | A looplike bend in the course of a stream |
| Natural Levee | An elevated landform that parallels some streams and acts to confine their waters, except during flood stage. |
| Oxbow Lake | A curved lake produced when a stream cuts off a meander. |
| Perched Water Table | A localized zone of saturation above the main water table created by an impermeable layer. |
| Permeability | A measure of a material's ability to transmit water. |
| Point Bar | A crescent shaped accumulation of sand and gravel deposited on the inside of a meander. |
| Porosity | The volume of open spaces in rock or soil. |
| Pothole | A circular depression in a bedrock stream channel created by the abrasive action of particles swirling in fast moving eddies. |
| Radial Pattern | A system of streams running in all directions away from a central elevated structure. |
| Rectangular Pattern | A drainage pattern characterized by numerous right angle bends that develops on jointed or fractured. |
| Runoff | Water that flows over the land rather than infiltrating into the ground. |
| Saltation | Transportation of sediment through a series of leaps or bounces. |
| Settling Velocity | The speed at which solid particles of various sizes are separated by moving water or wind. The size, shape, and specific gravity of particles influence settling velocity. |
| Sorting | The process by which solid particles of various sizes are separated by moving water or wind. Also the degree of similarity in particle size in sediment. |
| Spring | A flow of groundwater that emerges naturally at the ground surface. |
| Stream Terrace | A flat, benchlike structure produced by a stream which was left elevated as the stream cut downwards. |
| Stream Valley | The channel, valley floor, and sloping valley walls of a stream. |
| Transpiration | The release of water vapor to the atmosphere by plants. |
| Trellis Pattern | A system of streams in which nearly parallel tributaries occupy valleys cut in folded strata. |
| Turbulent Flow | Movement of water in an erratic fashion often characterized by swirling, whirlpool |
| Unsaturated Zone | The area above the water table where openings in soil, sediment, and rock are not saturated but filled mainly with air. |
| Watershed | The land area that contributes water to a stream. |
| Water Table | The upper level of the saturated zone of groundwater. |
| Well | An opening bored into the zone saturation. |
| Yazoo Tributary | A tributary that flows parallel to the main stream because a natural levee is present. |
| Zone of Saturation | The zone where all open spaces in sediment and rock are completely. |
| Abrasion | The grinding and scraping of a rock surface by the friction and impact of rock particles carried by water, wind, or ice. |
| Alluvial Fan | A fan shaped deposit of sediment formed when a stream's slope is abruptly reduced. |
| Alpine Glacier | A glacier confined to a mountain valley, which had previously been a stream valley. |
| Arete | A narrow knifelike ridge separating two adjacent glaciated valleys. |
| Calving | Wastage of a glacier that occurs when large pieces of ice break off into water. |
| Cirque | An amphitheater shaped basin at the head of a glaciated valley produced by frost wedging and plucking. |
| Crevasse | A deep crack in the brittle surface of a glacier. |
| Drumlin | A streamlined asymmetrical hill composed of glacial till. |
| End Moraine | A ridge of till marking a former position of the front of a glacier. |
| Equilibrium Line | the elevation at which the accumulation and wasting of glacial ice is equal. |
| Fiord | a steep sided inlet of the sea formed when a glacial trough is partially submerged. |
| Glacial Budget | The balance or lack of balance between ice formation at the upper end of a glacier and ice loss in the zone of wastage. |
| Glacial Drift | An all embracing term for sediments of glacial origin. |
| Glacial Erratic | An ice transported boulder that was not derived from bedrock near its present site. |
| Glacial Striations | Scratches and grooves on bedrock caused by glacial abrasion |
| Glacial Trough | A mountain valley that has been widened, deepened, and straightened by a glacier. |
| Glacier | A thick mass of ice originating on land from the compaction and recrystallization of snow that shows evidence of past or present flow. |
| Ground Moraine | An undulating layer of till deposited as the ice front retreats. |
| Hanging Valley | A tributary valley that enters a glacial trough at a considerable height above its floor. |
| Horn | A pyramid like peak formed by glacial action in three or more cirques surrounding a mountain summit. |
| Ice Sheet | A mass of glacial ice flowing outward in all directions from one or more accumulation centers. |
| Ice Cap | A mass of glacial ice covering a high upland or plateau and spreading out radially. |
| Ice Shelf | A large relatively flat mass of floating ice that forms where glacial ice flows into bays and extends seaward from the coast but remains attached to the land along one or more sides. |
| Iceberg | A mass of floating ice produced by a calving glacier. |
| Kame | A steep sided hill composed of sand and gravel that originates when sediment is collected in openings in stagnant glacial ice. |
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