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Earth's Systems 2

NYS Earth & Space Sciences

TermDefinition
Temporal Scale The time frame over which geological processes occur, ranging from seconds (earthquakes) to millions or billions of years (mountain building, continental drift). Helps scientists study how Earth changes over different time periods.
Spatial Scale The size or extent of area over which geological processes operate, ranging from microscopic (mineral formation) to global (plate tectonics). Spatial scale determines how we observe and measure Earth processes at different levels of detail.
Continental Crust The thick, less dense outer layer of Earth that forms continents and continental shelves, composed primarily of granitic rocks rich in silica and aluminum. It averages 30-70 kilometers thick and is older and more buoyant than oceanic crust.
Oceanic Crust The thin, dense outer layer of Earth that forms ocean floors, composed primarily of basaltic rocks rich in iron and magnesium. It averages 5-10 kilometers thick and is continuously created at mid-ocean ridges and destroyed at subduction zones.
Lithosphere The rigid outer shell of Earth consisting of the crust and uppermost portion of the mantle, extending to about 100 kilometers depth. The lithosphere is broken into tectonic plates that move over the underlying asthenosphere.
Asthenosphere The partially molten, weak layer of the upper mantle beneath the lithosphere, extending from about 100 to 350 kilometers depth. Its plastic-like behavior allows tectonic plates to move and slide over it.
Stiffer Mantle The lower portion of the mantle below the asthenosphere where increasing pressure makes the rock more rigid despite high temperatures. This region extends from about 350 kilometers depth to the core-mantle boundary.
Mohorovicic Discontinuity The boundary between Earth's crust and mantle, discovered by seismologist Andrija Mohorovicic. This discontinuity is marked by a sudden increase in seismic wave velocity as waves pass from less dense crustal rocks to denser mantle rocks.
Outer Core The liquid layer of Earth composed of molten iron and nickel, extending from about 2,900 to 5,150 kilometers depth. Convection currents in the outer core generate Earth's magnetic field.
Inner Core The solid innermost sphere of Earth composed primarily of iron and nickel, extending from 5,150 kilometers depth to Earth's center at 6,371 kilometers. Extreme pressure keeps it solid despite temperatures exceeding 5,000°C.
Convection Currents (in the mantle) The circular flow patterns of hot, semi-solid rock in the mantle caused by temperature differences. Hot material rises from deeper regions while cooler material sinks, driving plate tectonic movement at Earth's surface.
Subsidence The gradual sinking or settling of Earth's surface due to natural processes like groundwater withdrawal, sediment compaction, or tectonic activity. This process can create depressions, valleys, or cause coastal areas to sink below sea level.
Weathering The breakdown and alteration of rocks and minerals at or near Earth's surface through exposure to atmospheric conditions, water, and biological activity. Weathering prepares material for erosion and transport.
Chemical Weathering The breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions that alter mineral composition, such as oxidation, hydration, and acid dissolution. This process is enhanced by warm, humid climates and produces new minerals and dissolved ions.
Physical Weathering The mechanical breakdown of rocks into smaller fragments without changing their chemical composition, caused by processes like freeze-thaw cycles, thermal expansion, root growth, and abrasion.
Erosion & Deposition Systems The interconnected processes by which weathered material is transported from one location and deposited in another through various agents like wind, water, ice, and gravity, reshaping Earth's surface over time.
Wind Erosion The process by which wind picks up, transports, and deposits loose particles like sand and dust, creating features such as sand dunes, desert pavements, and contributing to soil loss in arid and agricultural regions.
Wave Erosion The process by which ocean waves break down coastal rocks and sediments through hydraulic action and abrasion, creating features like sea cliffs, sea caves, and beaches while transporting sediment along shorelines.
Stream Erosion The process by which flowing water in rivers and streams cuts into bedrock and transports sediment downstream, carving valleys, canyons, and creating features like waterfalls, meanders, and floodplains.
Glacial Erosion The process by which moving ice masses scrape, pluck, and transport rock and sediment, creating distinctive landforms like U-shaped valleys, cirques, moraines, and fjords in mountainous and polar regions.
Gravity Erosion The downslope movement of rock and sediment due to gravitational forces, including processes like landslides, rockfalls, mudflows, and soil creep that transport material from higher to lower elevations.
Carbon in the Atmosphere Carbon dioxide and other carbon-containing gases present in Earth's atmosphere, primarily from volcanic outgassing, respiration, combustion, and human activities. Atmospheric carbon plays a crucial role in climate regulation and the greenhouse effect.
Carbon in the Hydrosphere Dissolved carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, and carbonate ions present in oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater. Ocean water contains the largest reservoir of carbon in the hydrosphere, affecting ocean chemistry and marine ecosystems.
Carbon in the Geosphere (lithosphere) Carbon stored in rocks, minerals, and fossil fuels within Earth's crust, including limestone, coal, oil, and natural gas. This represents the largest long-term carbon reservoir, formed over millions of years through geological processes.
Carbon in the Biosphere Carbon present in all living organisms and organic matter, including plants, animals, microorganisms, and decomposing organic material in soils. This carbon cycles rapidly between organisms through photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.
Created by: PRO Teacher etucci
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