Geology and Earth's Resources Quiz

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.