Life on Earth
When was the Earth formed?
4.5 Billion years ago
What controls a planet's temperature?
What gasses are predominantly released during a volcanic eruption?
Carbon dioxide; sulfur dioxide (CO2, SO2)
We find fossils of the same species on different continents, across oceans, because A) the animals/plants moved across the oceans, or B) the continents moved
B) the continents (plates) moved!
Movement of the tectonic plates typically causes what kind of seismic activity?
Earthquakes
Photosynthesizers were responsible for producing what important molecule for life?
Oxygen
True or false: the moon has the same atmosphere as the Earth
False! The moon does not have an atmosphere
How far can the effects of a large volcanic eruption reach?
the whole Earth!
True or False: the Earth is split up into many pieces called tectonic plates
True
What instrument is used to measure earthquakes?
seismometer
What gas was responsible for the Great Dying Mass Extinction event 250 Million years ago?
True or false: the moon experiences more dramatic fluctuations in temperature than the Earth (over a 24 hour period)
True
Aerosols from volcanic eruptions can have which effect on the Earth's temperature: A) cooling, or B) heating
cooling
True or False: the tectonic plates move at roughly the same speed that your fingernail grows
True! ~3 cm/yr
True or false: humans can cause earthquakes
True! fanquakes at concerts at sports events
CHANGE Carbon dioxide (CO2), Water (H2O), and Methane (CH4), are all examples of what kind of gasses which retain heat?
Greenhouse gasses
What gas makes up almost 80% of the Earth's atmosphere?
Nitrogen
Greenhouse gases released from volcanoes can have what effect on the Earth's temperature: A) cooling, or B) heating
B) Heating
What geologic feature would you expect to see at a convergent plate boundary?
Mountains, volcanoes, and/or earthquakes!
At what geologic setting do earthquakes occur most?
along plate boundaries
Where is the Earth's largest reservoir of water?
The Earth's interior!
True or false: Venus has the same atmospheric composition as the Earth
False
What is an example of how a volcanic eruption can influence humans?
gloomy weather inspiring artists and writers, famine, snowfall in the summer
How are two plates moving with respect to each other at a divergent plate boundary?
moving away from each other
How can climate change cause earthquakes?
increased melting of sea ice --> icequakes as pieces of ice break off of large ice shelves!