Earth History Vocabulary
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| Theory | In science, an explanation for natural events that is based on a large number of observations and is in accord with existing scientific principles.
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| Uniformitarianism | The hypothesis that the Earth developed gradually through natural processes still at work today. Examples: weathering processes, erosion, volcanoes, earthquakes, etc...)
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| Stratigraphy | A branch of geology, studying rock layers and layering.
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| Extinction | The death of all members of a species.
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| Fossil | The remains of an organism or sign of an organism, usually preserved in rock.
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| Plate Tectonics | Theory of geology that the Earth's lithosphere is broken up into large plates which move over time.
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| Paleontology | The study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.
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| Geologic Time Scale | Used by geologists and other scientists to describe the timing and relationships between events that have occurred during the history of the Earth.
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| Radiometric Dating | A technique to date materials, based on the comparison between the observed amount of a naturaly occurring radioactive isotope (uranium) and their known decay rates.
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| Fitness | The reproductive success of an organism
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| Adaptations | Characteristics/variations of an organism that helps it survive in a particular environment
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| Natual Selection | The unequal survival and reproduction of organisms due to the preservation of favorable adaptations.
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| Population | A group of individuals of the same species, found in the same time and place and are able to reproduce
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| Evolution | A change in genetic traits of a species that distinguishes it from previous populations as a new species of animal. Permanent genetic adaptations.
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| Species | A group of organisms that share similar characteristics and can reproduce among themselves to produce fertile offspring.
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| Variation | An inherited trait that makes an individual different from other members of its species. Results from mutations in the genes of the organism (permanent)
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| Gradualism | A slow, ongoing process where one species changes into a new species.
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| Punctuated Equilibrium | A rapid process where the mutation of a few genes results in the appearance of a new species over a relatively short period of time.
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| Sedimentary Rock | Formed when layers of sand, silt, clay, or mud are compacted and cemented together. examples: limestone, sandstone, shale
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| Radioactive Element (Isotope) | An element that gives off a steady amount of radiation as it slowly changes to a nonradioactive element
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| Embryology | The study of embryos and their development.
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| Homologous | Body parts that are similar in origin and structure.
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| Vestigal Structures. | Structures that no longer seem to have a function.
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| Relative Dating | A way to find the approximate age of the Earth and Fossils using the position of in the rock layers.
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| Absolute Dating | The exact age of an object (such as a rock or artifact); found by techniques, such as the study of growth rings in trees and radiocarbon dating.
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| Law of Superposition | A law that states that the oldest rock layer Is at the bottom and each layer above is the youngest.
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| Precambrian Eon | Earth's formation which accounts for 85% of Earth's history. No fossil Record
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| Paleozoic Era | An era of Earth's history where several plant and animal species evolve. Accounts for 8.5% of Earth's history. Occurs after the Precambrian Era and before the Mesozoic Era
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| Mesozoic Era | An era of Earth's history where several dinosaurs adn birds evolve. Accounts for 3.5% of Earth's history.
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| Cenozioc Era | An era of Earth's history where mammals evolve. Accounts for 1.4% of Earth's history.
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| Eon | Represents a large part of geologic time and the longest unit of time.
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| Epoch | An interval of geologic time that is longer than an age and shorter than a period.
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| Era | A broad span of geological time based on the general type of life existing during the time. The four eras on Earth are Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic.
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| Period | A unit of geologic time that is longer than an Epoch and shorter than an Era. Examples: Proterozoic, Archean, Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Tertiary, Quaternary
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| Age | Represents a small part of geologic time and is the shortest unit of time.
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| Half Life | The number of years needed for half of an isotope to decay. Example: 50%, 25%, 12.5%, 6.25%, 3.125%
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| "Meso" | middle
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| "Paleo" | ancient life
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| "Ceno" | recent life
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| "Homo" | The same
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| Cast | Secondary mold that is a replica of the original.
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| Endangered | Threatened with danger or extinction.
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| Trace fossil | A fossilized track, burrow, or other sign of activity of life of an animal made in sedimentary rock.
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| Carbon Film | A type of preservation or fossilation that happens as a result of pressure and heat from being buried. What remains is a thin film of the remaining carbon from inside the organisms body, showing a silhouette of the original body.
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| Mold | An impression made in the Earth by an organism as it is fossilized.
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| Petrified Fossil | The fossilization of an organism from the Conversion of organic material into inorganic material.
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| Amber | A yellow, brown, or transluscent resin that comes from Coniferous Trees (pine trees).
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| Tar | A molasses-like liquid petroleum product that oozes from the Earth's surface.
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| Pseudofossil | A natural occuring object that looks like a fossil, but is not.
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| Preserved | To keep in perfect or unaltered, original condition
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| Horizontal | Parallel to the ground. Example: Lying flat on your back.
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| "Pseudo" | False
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| "Uni" | One or "One in the Same"
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| Geology | Study of Earth's processes
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| "Geo" | Earth
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| "ology" | The study of
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| "strata" | Layers
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| "graphy" | illustration or drawings of
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| "ologist" | A person who studies
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| Geologist | A person who studies Earth's processes.
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| Invertebrates | Organisms that are lacking a vertebrate or "backbone"
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| Vertebrates | Organisms that have a vertebrate or "backbone"
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| Cladogram | A branching diagram that shows the progressive evolution of species with a common ancestor.
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| Biodiversity | diversity amoung plants and animals species within an environment.
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Created by:
kelli.reno
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