Geology and Earth's Resources Quiz

Study Notes

Geology Overview

Geology is the scientific study of Earth, encompassing its materials, processes, and history.
Physical Geology focuses on Earth’s materials, changes in its surface and interior, and the forces driving these changes.

Resource Utilization

Average American uses approximately:
- Nonmetals: ~8.666 kg/person/year
- Metals: ~147 kg/person/year
- Energy: 958 gallons of petroleum, 1908 kg of coal, 2775 m³ of natural gas, and 0.06 kg of Uranium.

Earth as a System

Closed System: Permits energy exchange but not matter exchange with surroundings.
Open System: Allows both energy and matter to flow in and out.

Earth Systems

Atmosphere: A layer of gases enveloping Earth, primarily composed of Nitrogen. Critical for supporting life.
- Troposphere: Lowest layer where weather occurs; warmer base due to heat absorption.
- Stratosphere: Contains the ozone layer; stable temperatures until about 20 km, then gradual temperature increase up to 50 km.
- Mesosphere: Temperature decreases with height until the mesopause; temperatures reach around -90°C above 80 km.
- Thermosphere: Temperature increases due to absorption of high-energy solar radiation; orbits of the ISS occur between 330 km and 435 km.
Hydrosphere: Encompasses all water on/near the surface, covering 71% of Earth and consisting of:
- 97.5% saltwater (oceans) and 2.5% freshwater (glaciers, groundwater, rivers, lakes).

Ocean Geography

Northern Hemisphere: Known as the land hemisphere, with 61% land and 39% water.
Southern Hemisphere: Known as the water hemisphere, comprising 81% water and 19% land.
Pacific Ocean: Largest and deepest ocean, stretches from the Arctic to the Antarctic Ocean.
Indian Ocean: Third largest, primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, bordered by Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.
Atlantic Ocean: Second largest, flanked by Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Arctic Ocean: Smallest and shallowest, roughly 7% the size of the Pacific.
Antarctic Ocean: Defined by the Antarctic Convergence where currents meet, includes portions of other oceans at about 50 degrees south latitude.

Biosphere

Encompasses all living and once-living materials; Earth is the only known life-supporting planet.
Contains all ecosystems, including forests, coral reefs, and plankton-rich ocean surfaces.

Geosphere

Represents the solid, rocky part of Earth, differentiated into:
- Crust: Thinnest layer (5 km - 80 km), rigid and breakable; site of most earthquakes.
- Mantle: Divided into layers:
  - Lithosphere: Uppermost mantle; rigid and fractured into lithospheric plates.
  - Asthenosphere: Extends to a depth of ~660 km; involved in convection processes.
  - Mesosphere: Lower mantle portion from 660 km to 2900 km, where pressure increases and material strengthens.
- Outer Core: Liquid layer extending from 2900 km to 5150 km; convection currents here generate Earth’s magnetic field.
- Inner Core: Solid layer from 5150 km to Earth's center made predominantly of iron, remaining solid due to immense pressure.

Layering Characteristics

Planetary Differentiation: Process that formed Earth’s layered structure from denser materials sinking to the center.
Layering by Physical Properties: Based on compositional density and physical state (solid or liquid).
Layering by Chemical Properties: Based on whether the layer is solid or liquid, as well as its strength.

Description

Test your knowledge on physical geology, Earth's materials, and the forces of change that shape our planet. This quiz also covers the average resource usage of an American and the concepts of closed and open systems. Challenge yourself to understand the dynamics of Earth as a system.