Essential Geology Terms: Earth’s Layers, Quakes, and Volcanoes
Understanding Earth’s Structure and Geological Phenomena
Earth’s Internal Layers
Crust
The outermost layer, primarily composed of aluminum-rich silicates. The continental crust has an average thickness of 35 km and can reach 80 km. The oceanic crust has a maximum thickness of 10 km and consists of basaltic rocks.Mantle
Extends from the base of the crust to approximately 2900 km deep. It is separated from the crust by the Mohorovičić discontinuity and is rich in iron and magnesium silicates. The Read MoreCartographic Elements and Meteorological Concepts
Cartographic Scale
Scale is the mathematical relationship between real-world dimensions and their representation on a map or plan. It defines the relationship between the graphic size (on paper) and the actual dimensions on the ground, for example, 1:500.
Contour Lines and Isolines
A contour line connects all points on a map having equal status, height, or elevation. Contours are typically printed in sienna for land maps and blue for glaciers, deep sea, and lake areas.
An isoline (also known as an isopleth,
Read MoreRocks in Construction: Properties, Types, and Applications
Rocks: Properties, Types, and Construction Uses
Natural materials extracted from rock masses are fundamental to various construction applications. This document examines their key properties, classifications, and practical uses.
Material Properties and Testing
- Specimen Testing: Used to determine essential properties such as density, tensile strength, moisture content, and porosity.
- Granular Sample Testing: Conducted to ascertain particle size distribution, density, moisture content, and abrasion resistance.
Atmosphere, Climate, and Weather Measurement
Atmospheric Science Fundamentals
Atmosphere: Composition and Properties
The Atmosphere is a gaseous mass that envelops the Earth, extending up to 1000 km. It filters solar heating, absorbs water vapor, and is rich in nitrogen.
Solar and Terrestrial Radiation
- Solar Radiation: The warming of the atmosphere and land by the sun.
- Terrestrial Radiation: The heat emitted from Earth into the atmosphere.
Gradients and Pressure Measurement
- Altotermic Gradient: The direct relationship between temperature and height.
Global Population & Energy Systems: Dynamics and Applications
Population Growth Dynamics
Current World Population: 7.3 Billion
World population today: 7.3 Billion
The Population Hourglass
- 7 billion now (2011)
- 140 million born each year
- 57 million die each year
- 108 billion estimated to have ever lived on Earth
Population Density: Understanding Distribution
Population density (number of persons per square km) is more useful than its inverse. The inverse of population density is the area per person.
Key Factors Affecting Population
- Population
- Growth rate
- Life expectancy
- Fertility
- Developing
Earth’s Dynamic Geology: Rock Cycle and Formation Processes
Geology: Earth’s Materials, History, and Phenomena
Geology is the science of Planet Earth as a whole. It describes the materials that form it, helps us learn its history and evolution, and seeks to understand the cause of endogenous and exogenous phenomena.
The Rock Cycle: Earth’s Dynamic Processes
The rock cycle describes how magma becomes igneous rocks, and how sediments can be generated, forming sedimentary or metamorphic rocks. Igneous and sedimentary rocks, in turn, can give rise to metamorphic
Read More