Space
What is the name of the galaxy that contains our Solar System?
Milky Way
How does the "Redshift" of distant galaxies provide evidence that the universe is expanding?
As galaxies move away from us, the light waves they emit are stretched into longer, redder wavelengths. The further away they are, the faster they move and the greater the redshift.
Which layer of the Earth is broken into the tectonic plates that move across the surface?
Lithosphere or Crust
What instrument is used to measure air temperature?
Themometer
What is the primary force that drives surface ocean currents?
Wind
What force keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun
Gravity or Space-Time
What is the name of the ancient supercontinent that existed approximately 200 million years ago?
Pangea
What is the name of the underwater mountain range where new oceanic crust is created?
Mid-ocean ridge
What is the name for the process where liquid water turns into water vapor (gas)?
Evaporation or Transpiration
Which specific surface current carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic toward Europe?
Gulf Stream
What is a "light-year" a measure of?
Distance (it is the distance light travels in one vacuum year, approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers)
Which gas makes up the majority of Earth's atmosphere?
Nitrogen (approximately 78%)
What do scientists call the point on the Earth's surface directly above where an earthquake starts?
Epicenter
What is the name for the boundary where two different air masses (such as warm and cold) meet?
A Front
What do we call the large, circular surface current systems found in each of the major ocean basins?
Gyres
According to the Big Bang theory, what is the "Cosmic Microwave Background"?
The "afterglow" or leftover radiation from the Big Bang that fills the universe almost uniformly; it represents the moment the early universe cooled enough for light to travel freely.
What is "albedo," and how does it affect the temperature of a surface?
Albedo is the measure of a surface's reflectivity. Surfaces with high albedo (like ice) reflect more sunlight and stay cooler, while low albedo surfaces (like asphalt) absorb more heat.
What is the difference between "magma" and "lava"?
Magma is molten rock located underground; lava is molten rock that has reached the Earth's surface.
Explain the difference between "weather" and "climate."
Weather refers to short-term conditions of the atmosphere (minutes to days), while climate is the average of weather patterns in a specific area over a long period (usually 30 years or more).
In an "upwelling," what is being brought from the deep ocean to the surface?
Nutrients
What do we call a star that has collapsed under its own gravity to the point where not even light can escape?
Black hole
What would be the likely climatic consequence for Northern Europe if the thermohaline circulation (the AMOC) were to significantly slow down or shut down?
The region would become significantly colder. The current acts as a "heat pump," and without it, the warm air usually carried to Europe would vanish, leading to harsher winters and shorter growing seasons.
What specific process occurs when an oceanic plate sinks beneath a continental plate and melts back into the mantle?
Subduction
How does the "Coriolis Effect" influence the direction of wind in the Northern Hemisphere?
It causes winds to deflect to the right. Because of the Earth's rotation, moving air does not travel in a straight line but follows a curved path.
How does the formation of sea ice in the North Atlantic contribute to the sinking of water (downwelling)?
Salt rejection. As sea ice forms, it leaves the salt behind in the surrounding water; this makes the water extra salty and dense, causing it to sink.