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Earth Science

Rocks, plates, oceans and weather

61 cards~10 minReferences included

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4 chapters · 61 cards
  1. 01
    Earth's layers and plate tectonics13 cards · ~2 min
  2. 02
    Rocks, minerals and geological change15 cards · ~3 min
  3. 03
    Earthquakes and measuring the Earth9 cards · ~2 min
  4. 04
    Water, weather and atmosphere24 cards · ~4 min

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01
Prompt: Earth's outermost solid layer
ScienceA little curiosity
Earth science · RECALLEarth's outermost solid layerThink it. Then flip it.
02
Prompt: Layer beneath Earth's crust
ScienceA little curiosity
Earth science · RECALLLayer beneath Earth's crustThink it. Then flip it.
03
Prompt: Earth's liquid metal layer
ScienceA little curiosity
Earth science · RECALLEarth's liquid metal layerThink it. Then flip it.

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  1. 01Earth's outermost solid layerRECALL
    Crust

    Continental and oceanic crust differ

    Share this card ↗Source: Earth's crust
  2. 02Layer beneath Earth's crustRECALL
    Mantle

    Makes up most of Earth's volume

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  3. 03Earth's liquid metal layerRECALL
    Outer core

    Helps generate the magnetic field

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  4. 04Boundary where plates move apartRECALL
    Divergent boundary

    New crust can form

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  5. 05Boundary where plates collideRECALL
    Convergent boundary

    One plate may subduct

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  6. 06Late Paleozoic supercontinentRECALL
    Pangaea

    Later split into today's continents

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  7. 07These moving slabs make up Earth's lithosphere.RECALL
    Tectonic plates

    They form the lithosphere

    Share this card ↗Source: Tectonic plates
  8. 08This circulation of hot and cooler mantle material is part of the coupled system of plate motion.RECALL
    Mantle convection

    Hot material rises and cooler material sinks

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  9. 09Divergent plate boundary · relative plate movementRECALL
    Plates move apart

    New crust can form there

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  10. 10Convergent plate boundary · relative plate movementRECALL
    Plates move together

    One plate may subduct beneath another

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  11. 11Transform plate boundary · relative plate movementRECALL
    Plates slide past each other

    Earthquakes are common there

    Share this card ↗Source: Earth science
  12. 12This process takes one tectonic plate down beneath another.RECALL
    Subduction

    It recycles crust into the mantle

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  13. 13This long underwater mountain chain forms where tectonic plates spread apart.RECALL
    Mid-ocean ridge

    New oceanic crust forms there

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  14. 14Rock formed from cooled magma or lavaRECALL
    Igneous rock

    Granite and basalt are examples

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  15. 15Rock changed by heat and pressureRECALL
    Metamorphic rock

    Marble forms from limestone

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  16. 16Rock formed from compacted sedimentsRECALL
    Sedimentary rock

    Sandstone is an example

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  17. 17Scale describing mineral hardnessRECALL
    Mohs scale

    Talc is 1 and diamond is 10

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  18. 18Process breaking rock into piecesRECALL
    Weathering

    Erosion transports the pieces

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  19. 19Molten rock below Earth's surfaceRECALL
    Magma

    At the surface it is called lava

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  20. 20Process turning sediment into rockRECALL
    Lithification

    Includes compaction and cementation

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  21. 21Molten rock at Earth's surface has this name.RECALL
    Lava

    Below the surface it is magma

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  22. 22This volcano type has broad, gentle slopes built mainly by fluid lava flows.RECALL
    Shield volcano

    Fluid lava builds wide layers

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  23. 23This steep-sided volcano type is built from layers of lava and fragmented volcanic material.RECALL
    Stratovolcano

    It can produce explosive eruptions

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  24. 24This process breaks down rock in place, without transporting the fragments.RECALL
    Weathering

    It can be physical or chemical

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  25. 25This process removes and transports rock or soil by water, wind, ice or gravity.RECALL
    Erosion

    Water, wind and ice can move it

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  26. 26This process lays down sediment previously carried by water, wind or ice.RECALL
    Deposition

    It builds layers and landforms

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  27. 27This cycle moves carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, organisms and rocks.RECALL
    Carbon cycle

    It links air, oceans, rocks and life

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  28. 28Glacial erosion commonly produces this valley profile with a broad floor and steep sides.RECALL
    U-shaped valley

    Glacial erosion broadens the valley

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  29. 29Instrument recording earthquakesRECALL
    Seismograph

    Records ground motion

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  30. 30Point inside Earth where an earthquake beginsRECALL
    Focus

    The epicentre is directly above it

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  31. 31This underground point, also called the hypocentre, is where an earthquake rupture begins.RECALL
    Focus

    Also called the hypocenter

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  32. 32This point on Earth's surface lies directly above an earthquake's focus.RECALL
    Epicenter

    It is often near the strongest shaking

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  33. 33This instrument records ground motion from earthquake waves.RECALL
    Seismograph

    The record is a seismogram

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  34. 34This imaginary line circles Earth halfway between the poles.RECALL
    Equator

    It is at 0° latitude

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  35. 35This reference meridian is defined as 0° longitude.RECALL
    Prime meridian

    It passes through Greenwich

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  36. 36This coordinate measures angular distance north or south of the equator.RECALL
    Latitude

    It is measured in degrees

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  37. 37This coordinate measures angular distance east or west of the prime meridian.RECALL
    Longitude

    It is measured in degrees

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  38. 38Largest oceanRECALL
    Pacific Ocean

    Covers more area than all land combined

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  39. 39Liquid water changing to vapourRECALL
    Evaporation

    Part of the water cycle

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  40. 40Water vapour changing to liquidRECALL
    Condensation

    Helps form clouds

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  41. 41Atmospheric layer containing weatherRECALL
    Troposphere

    The lowest major layer

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  42. 42Most abundant atmospheric gasRECALL
    Nitrogen

    About 78 percent of dry air

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  43. 43Long-term pattern of weatherRECALL
    Climate

    Weather is shorter-term

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  44. 44Science of weatherRECALL
    Meteorology

    Studies the atmosphere

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  45. 45Cloud type commonly producing thunderstormsRECALL
    Cumulonimbus

    Tall clouds with strong vertical development

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  46. 46Warm Atlantic current flowing north past the eastern United StatesRECALL
    Gulf Stream

    Part of the North Atlantic circulation

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  47. 47Measure of water vapour in airRECALL
    Humidity

    Relative humidity is expressed as a percentage

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  48. 48This phase change takes liquid water from a surface into the air as vapour.RECALL
    Evaporation

    Liquid water becomes vapour

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  49. 49This phase change turns water vapour into liquid droplets.RECALL
    Condensation

    Clouds form through it

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  50. 50Rain, snow and hail are forms of this water falling from the atmosphere.RECALL
    Precipitation

    Rain, snow and hail are forms

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  51. 51This permeable underground layer stores and transmits groundwater.RECALL
    Aquifer

    Wells can draw from it

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  52. 52This drainage area directs water toward a common outlet; it is also called a catchment.RECALL
    Watershed

    Also called a drainage basin

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  53. 53This atmospheric layer contains most weather.RECALL
    Troposphere

    It is the lowest major layer

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  54. 54This atmospheric layer contains most ozone.RECALL
    Stratosphere

    The ozone layer absorbs ultraviolet radiation

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  55. 55This category of atmospheric gas absorbs and emits infrared radiation, contributing to warming.RECALL
    Greenhouse gas

    Carbon dioxide and methane are examples

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  56. 56This climate pattern involves unusually warm surface water in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.RECALL
    El Niño

    It can shift weather worldwide

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  57. 57This seasonal wind system reverses direction and often brings a distinct wet season.RECALL
    Monsoon

    It often brings a wet and dry season

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  58. 58This organized rotating storm system forms over warm tropical seas around a low-pressure centre.RECALL
    Tropical cyclone

    Names include hurricane and typhoon

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  59. 59This violently rotating air column extends from a thunderstorm to the ground.RECALL
    Tornado

    It extends from a thunderstorm toward the ground

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  60. 60This long, deep, narrow depression in the seafloor commonly forms at a subduction zone.RECALL
    Ocean trench

    Subduction zones create many trenches

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  61. 61This envelope of gases surrounds Earth.RECALL
    Atmosphere

    It supports weather and life

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