Earth Science Outline PDF

**[The Origin of the Universe ]** **The Universe** **Geology** - the study of materials and processes that operate beneath and upon earth's surface. **Astronomy** - planet origin, study of the universe, and members of the solar system **Oceanography** - movements of seawater, coastal processes,...

**[The Origin of the Universe ]** **The Universe** **Geology** - the study of materials and processes that operate beneath and upon earth's surface. **Astronomy** - planet origin, study of the universe, and members of the solar system **Oceanography** - movements of seawater, coastal processes, seafloor, tomography and marine life **Meteorology** - study of the atmosphere and elements that produce weather **Cosmology** - study of the whole universe and including its structure and evolution **10** to **15 billion** years ago the primordial explosion began called the Big Bang. **[The Four Subsystems ]** **Atmosphere** - gases that surrounds the earth. **78**% Nitrogen **21**% Oxygen **1**% Trace gases such as CO2, hydrogen, methane, ozone. **Biosphere-**All living organisms, humans, animals, dead animals and vegetations consists of all landforms **Hydrosphere -**all forms of water around earth such as ponds, lakes, seas, rivers, oceans, etc. **[Earth's Layer]** **Crust**- outer layer of rock in which where plants grow and humans live **Mantle** - a semi solid magma layer that consists iron, magnesium and silicon **Core** - located at the solid mass of metal(inner core) and a liquid mass of iron and nickel(outer core). **[The layer of the atmosphere]** -**Troposphere** (Lowest layer, and it contains water vapor) \- **Stratosphere** (2nd Layer, Contains the ozone layer) \- **Mesosphere** (Temperature decrease) \- **Thermosphere** ( Temperature Increase) \- **Exosphere** (Outermost layer, Exit, and vacuum of space) ***The Water Cycle?*** **[The Rock Cycle]** [Three main kinds of rocks:] **Igneous Rock** \- are formed when hot magma melt then rapidly cooled **Metamorphic Rock** \- Combination of rock types compressed together by high pressure and high heat. **Sedimentary Rock** \- Are formed by layers of sediment (Dirt, rock, etc) Being mixed and compressed **Weathering and Erosion** \- Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks on the surface of the earth are constantly being broken down by wind and water **Transportation and Deposition** \- As rivers get deeper or flow into the ocean, their current slows down, and the rock particles (mixed with soil) sink and become a layer of sediment **Compaction and Cementation** \- As the layers of sediment stack up (above water or below) the weight and pressure compacts the bottom layers. **Metamorphism** \- these rocks are exposed to high heat and pressure which changes them into metamorphic rock. **Rock Melting** \- Metamorphic rocks underground melt to become magma. **[Exogenic and Endogenic Processes ]** **Exogenic Processes** \- External processes that occur at or near the earth\'s surface **Endogenic Processes** \- Are geodynamic processes (Seismic activities) **Weathering** - Is a type of degradation process **Weathering** \- Is the physical breakdown and or chemical alteration of rocks at or near the earth\'s surface There are two types of weathering: - **Mechanical Weathering** \- Or Disintegration is break up of large into smaller fragments WITHOUT CHANGING the composition **Frost Wedging** \- A mechanical disintegration splitting or break up of rock by pressure of water or freezing in crack \- Water that enters through rocks spaces expands when its freezes **Thermal Stress** \- Results from the expansion and contraction of rocks caused by temperature changes \- The outer surface of the rock is sometimes warmer or colder than the inside \- The process of peeling off is called exfoliation **Pressure** \- The physical force exerted on an object \- Continuous physical force exerted **Pressure Release** \- When the overlying rock is eroded away causing the outer rock layer to expand more. \- The exfoliation due to pressure release is called **Sheeting** **Coastal Erosion** \- Is the process by which local sea level rise, strong wave action, and coastal flooding wear down or carry away rocks soils and etc.... **Midterms lessons Imnida** **CHEMICAL WEATHERING (Exogenic)** **Oxidation** - oxygen dissolved in water will oxidize some materials - **Hydrolysis** - affects carbonate minerals - **Carbonation** - carbonic acid reacts with calcium carbonate which forms calcium bicarbonate (H203 + CaCO3 = Ca(HCO3)2) **Biological Action** - is caused by the movements of plants and animals (organic acids). **ENDOGENIC PROCESSES: Folding and Faulting** **Endogenic Processes** - - **Divergent boundaries:** Plates move apart, creating new crust. **Convergent boundaries:** Plates collide, resulting in mountain building, subduction, and volcanic activity. **Transform boundaries:** Plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes. **MAGMA FORMATION** Magma is molten rock that forms deep within the Earth\'s crust. **VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS** When magma rises to the surface and erupts, it creates volcanoes and volcanic landforms. **Types of Volcano** \- Shield Volcano \- Stratovolcano \- Cinder cone \- Calderas **3.) Plutonism** Intrusive Igneous Rocks \- Magma that cools and solidifies beneath the Earth\'s surface forms intrusive igneous rocks. Ex. Granite and Gabbro Batholiths and Laccoliths **4.) Metamorphism** Transformation of rocks \- is the process of changing the texture and mineral composition of rocks under extreme heat and pressure. **Types of Metamorphism** contact metamorphism (due to contact with magma) and regional metamorphism (due to large-scale tectonic forces). **5.) DEFORMATION OF THE CRUST: FOLDING AND FAULTING** ** ** Rocks can be deformed by filing (bending) or faulting (breaking). **Folding** Folds form when the layers of rock bend around, and faults occur where rock layers actually break, and in some cases slide over each other. **Faulting** A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock. Faults allow the blocks to move relative to each other.This movement may occur rapidly, in the form of an earthquake - or may occur slowly, in the form of creep. Faults may range in length from a few millimeters to thousands of kilometers **Mountains and Valleys** These processes can create mountains, valleys, and other landforms. When plates collide or undergo subduction (that is -- ride one over another), the plates tend to buckle and fold, forming mountains. Endogenic processes are responsible for many of the Earth\'s most dramatic and powerful geological features. Understanding these processes is essential for understanding the formation and evolution of our planet.