Definitions & Vocabulary
What does Verwitterung mean in English ?
weathering
Are the crust, mantle and core compositional or mechanical layers ?
compositional.
Who first proposed the theory of plate tectonics ?
Alfred Wegener ("theory of continental drift")
Name the 3 types of rocks.
Sedimentary, metamorphic, ingneous.
Name the 4 agents of erosion.
Water, ice, wind, gravity.
Why is igneous translated as "vulkanisch" in German ?
Because igneous comes from the latin word "fire" and igneous rocks can be born thanks to volcanic eruptions.
What is the lithosphere ?
The upper mechanical layer of the Earth : crust + upper mantle.
What is the role of the Aestenosphere in the continental drift ?
It is a more plastic, molten layer beneath the solid crust and works like a giant conveyor.
What is the difference between intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks ?
intrusive igneous rocks form when the magma cools slowly, while extrusive ones form when it cools rapidly (during a volcanic eruption).
What is gully erosion ?
What is the name of the supercontinent that existed on Earth millions of years ago?
Pangea.
Which layer is not solid : the mesosphere, the inner core or the outer core ?
the outer core.
What happens when a continental plate meets a oceanic plate ?
Subduction.
What rock(s) is / are NOT metamorphic : marble, shale, granite, gneiss, or slate ?
shale and granite.
What are the main erosion processes in wind erosion?
Deflation and abrasion.
Define Erosion.
the geological process in which landforms are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water.
How much of the Earth's volume does the mantle represent?
82%
What type of plate boundaries create earthquakes ?
Transform boundaries.
What is the difference between compaction and cementation ?
Compaction refers to layers piling up with time and pressing down the lower layers, while cementation is a chemical process that glues the sediments together.
Why is the ocean such a powerful agent of erosion?
Destructive waves erode the coastlines in 4 combined ways: hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition, and solution. It can destroy cliffs and create sea stacks, or roll back the coastline all together.
What is "deep time" ?
Deep time is the concept of geological time.
How deep and how hot is the inner core of the Earth?
Between 5000 and 6000 km deep, around 4400°C - 6700°C.
Why is the Atlantic Ocean growing ?
It grows at a rate of 5 cm/year, as new sea floor is created by volcanic activity along its mid-ocean ridge. As the plates move apart, magma rises toward the surface then cools down in the water, forming new rock (sea floor spreading).
Explain the cycle of rocks.
With heat and pressure sedimentary rocks turn into metamorphic rocks, that will later melt and then cool down to form igneous rocks. Igneous rocks then erode into sediments, which will eventually become sedimentary rocks.
How was the Matterhorn formed?
It was created by weathering and erosion caused by glaciers and is called a glacial horn. A horn is formed when 3 or more cirques are created on different sides of the mountain, working their way towards each other.