Term
| Transformation Plate Boundary |
|
Definition
| A boundary in which two plates silde past one another without creating or destroying lithosphere |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A majory division of geology that deals with the orgin of Earth and its development through time. Usually involves the study of fossils and their sequence in rock beds |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Unconsolidated particles created by weathering and erosion of rock, by chemical precipitations, or secretion of organism, and transported by water, wind or glacial ice |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the living portion of our Earth. It includes all life on earth;one of the subdivisions of Earth's physical environments |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Magma that reaches the Earth's surface |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The gaseous portion of the planet; the planet's envelope of air. One of the triditional subdivisions of earth's physical environments |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A rock formed by the crystallization of molten magma |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A boundary in which two platesmove apart, resulting in upwelling of material from the mantel to create new seafloor |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The concept that he processes that have shaped earth in the geologic past are esentially the same as those operating today |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Rock formed by the alteration of preexistinf rock deep within earth(but still in the solid state) by heat or pressure, and/or chemically active fluids |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The disintegration and decomposition of rock at or near the surface of the earth |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A major division of geology that examines the materials of earth and seeks to understand the processes and forces acting upon earth's surface from below |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| th rigid outer layer of earth, including the crust and upper mantle |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A continuous mountainous ridge on the floor of all the major ocean basins and varying in width. rifts at crests represen divergent plate boundaries |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The water portion of our planet; one of the traditional subdivisions of earth's physical environments |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| One of numerous rigid sections of the lithosphere that moves as a unit over the material of the Asthenosphere |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The constant circulation of Earth's water supply. Powered by the Sun and characterized by the continous exchange of water in the oceans, atmosphere and continents |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Located beneath the mantle, it is earth's innermost layer. The core isdivided into an outer core and an inner core |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the concept that Earth was shaped by catastrophic event of a short-term nature |
|
|
Term
| Convergent Plate Boundary |
|
Definition
| A boundary in which two plates move together, resulting in oceanic lithosphere being thrust beneath an overriding plate. Can also involve collision of two continental plates. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The solid Earth; one of earth's four basic spheres |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A model that illustrates the orgin of the three basic rock types and the interrelatedness of earth's materials and processes |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A body of molten rock found at depth, including any dissolved gases and crystals |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The incorporation and transportation of material by a mobile agent, such as water, wind or ice |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The remains or traces of organisms preserved form the geologic past |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Rock formed from the weathered products of preexisting rocks that have been transported, deposited and lithified |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The very thin outermost layer of the earth. this lyer is separated from other layers due to change in chemical composition |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A subdivision of the mantle situated below the lithosphere. This zone of weak material exists below a depth of 100km(as deep as 700km). Rock here is easily deformed |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Very level area of the deep-ocean floor, usually lying at the foot of the continental rise. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Systems where no matter enters or leaves the system. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Both energy and matter flow into and out of the system. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Active: Usually narrow and consisting of highly deformed sediments. they occur where oceanic lithosphere is being subducted beneath the margin of a continent. Passive: A margin that consists of a continental shelf, continental slope, and continental rise. They are not associated with plate boundaries and therefore experience little volcanism and few earthquakes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The gently sloping submerged portion of the continental margin, extending from the shoreline to the continental slope. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The steep gradient that leads to the deep-ocean floor and marks the seaward edge of the continental shelf. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The portion of seafloor that lies between the continental margin and the oceanic ridge system. This region comprises almost 30 percent of Earth's surface. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An elongate depression in the seafloor produced by bending of oceanic crust during subduction. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Aims to study Earth as a system composed of numerous interacting parts, or subsystems. |
|
|
Term
| Principle of Fossil Succession |
|
Definition
| States that fossil organisms succeed one another in a definite and determinable order, and therefore any time period can be recognized by its fossil content. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The science that examines Earth, its form and composition, and the changes it has undergone and is undergoing. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A tentative explanation that is then tested to determine if it is valid. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The solid, innermost layer of Earth, about 754 miles in radius. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A common boundary where different parts of a system interact. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The part of the mantle that extends from the core-mantle boundary to a depth of 660 kilometers. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The 1789-mile thick layer of Earth located below the crust. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A model for the origin of the solar system that assumes a rotating nebula of dust and gases that contracted to produce the Sun and planets. |
|
|
Term
| Negative Feedback Mechanism |
|
Definition
| The cooling phenomenon that works to stabilize our body temperature; works to maintain the system as it is or to maintain the status quo. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A layer beneath the mantle about 1410 miles thick that has the properties of a liquid. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Theory that is held with very high degree of confidence and is comprehensive in scope. |
|
|
Term
| Theory of Plate Tectonics |
|
Definition
| Weaves together the basic processes known to operate on Earth; provieded geologists with the first comprehensive model of Earth's internal workings. Earth's rigid shell is broken into numerous slabs called plates, which are in continual motion. |
|
|
Term
| Positive Feedback Mechanism |
|
Definition
| Mechanisms that enhance or drive change. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Rocks are placed in their proper sequence or order. Only the chronological order of events is determined. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The hypothesis first proposed in the 1960's by Harry Hess that suggested that new oceanic crust is produced at the crests of mid-ocean ridges, which are the sites of divergence. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An isolated mass of rock standing just offshore, produced by wave erosion of a headland. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A large, relatively flat expanse of ancient metamorphic rock within the stable continental interior. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The part of the craton that is mantled by relatively underformed sedimentary rocks and underlain by a basement of complex igneous and metamorphic rocks. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A long, narrow zone where one lithospheric plate descends beneath another. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In any underformed sequence of sedimentary rocks or surface-deposited igneous materials, each layer is older than the one above it and younger than the one below. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A group of interacting or interdependent parts that form a complex whole. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A well-tested and widely accepted view that explains certain observable facts. |
|
|
