Geology Course - Earth's Layers

The process by which molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies, forming igneous rocks.

Rocks formed from the accumulation of sediments, like sand or small pieces of other rocks.

Rocks that have been transformed from their original state by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions.

The process by which existing rocks are broken down into smaller fragments.

The movement of weathered rock fragments from one place to another.

A force applied to a substance, often resulting in deformation.

A type of stress that applies pressure equally in all directions.

Forces that cause movement and deformation within the Earth's crust.

A line that divides the two sides of a fold (anticline and syncline) and runs along the highest point of the anticline or the lowest point of the syncline.

An imaginary flat surface that cuts through the fold axis and divides the fold as evenly as possible into two halves.

A bend or curve in rock layers that forms an upward arch.

A bend or curve in rock layers that forms a downward trough.

A fracture in the Earth's crust where rocks on one side have moved relative to rocks on the other side.

The distance that rocks on opposite sides of a fault have moved.

The surface along which rocks on opposite sides of a fault have moved.

The side of a fault that sits above the fault plane.

A seismic wave that causes the ground to compress and expand like a spring. They travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

A seismic wave that causes the ground to move up and down or side to side, like a rope being shaken. They can only travel through solids.

Seismic waves that travel along the Earth's surface. They cause the ground to move like ocean waves and snake-like motions.

A type of surface wave that causes a rolling motion like ocean waves.

A type of surface wave that causes a side-to-side vibration like a snake.

An instrument used to detect and record seismic waves. It consists of a suspended weight and a pen that records the ground's movement on a rotating drum.

The record produced by a seismograph showing the amplitude and timing of seismic waves.

The speed at which seismic waves travel through different materials. It is faster in denser materials, like the Earth's mantle.

The exact location on the Earth's surface where an earthquake occurs.

A graph that relates the time difference between the arrival of P-waves and S-waves to the distance from the seismic station to the earthquake's epicenter.

The first seismic waves to arrive at a seismic station, characterized by compression and expansion of the rock.

The second seismic waves to arrive at a seismic station, characterized by a shaking motion perpendicular to the wave's direction of travel.

The process of determining the location of an earthquake's epicenter by using data recorded by at least three seismic stations.

The strength or intensity of ground shaking during an earthquake.

The process by which the ground suddenly loses its strength and behaves like a liquid during an earthquake.

Strong, rigid structures built to withstand the shaking forces of an earthquake.

The strength of an earthquake, measured by the amount of energy released during the quake. It's often described using the Richter scale.

A scale used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake based on the energy released. This is now often replaced by the Moment Magnitude Scale for greater accuracy.

A more modern method for measuring earthquake magnitudes that considers not just the energy released, but also the area of the fault that moved and the amount of slippage.

The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake where the seismic waves originate.

The location inside the Earth where the earthquake originates, often along a fault line.

The different types of waves generated by an earthquake, each travelling at different speeds. P-waves are the fastest, followed by S-waves, then surface waves.

The time it takes for a seismic wave to travel from the earthquake's focus to a seismograph.

The process of recording physical, chemical, electrical, or other properties of rock and fluids within a well.

A graph that displays the measured properties of the rock layers against depth.

The process of analyzing log data to estimate the amount of oil or gas present in the ground.

The science of combining log analysis with core analysis and petrographic data to understand the reservoir's characteristics.

The process of lowering the salinity of pore fluid in the reservoir, which can improve oil and gas recovery.

The process by which minerals are deposited in the pores of the rock, blocking the pathways for electric current flow.

This refers to the process of reducing the pore space within a rock, limiting the pathways for electrical current flow.

The process of removing fluids from pores within the rock, which can increase the electrical resistance of the rock formation.