Earth Sciences [Earth History]

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Earth Sciences 106

Geology - the science of earth including: composition, structure, origin, life forms and the physical/chemical processes that affect it and its history

Earth history - study of the origin and development of Earth including its life forms through time

Earth dynamics: geologic processes (phys/chem weathering, sedimentation, tectonics etc.) + the study of Earth materials/features resulting from those processes

Scientific Theory - a unifying idea that incorporates multiple hypotheses, explains a large number of facts, has undergone testing and is regarded as the nearest a concept can come to a fact

Plate Tectonics Theory : concept that Earth's lithosphere is composed of interacting pieces floating on a deformable asthenosphere

Evolutionary Theory: unifying idea of Biology: process which species give rise to other species through genetic changes and natural selection

Earth System - sum of physical, chemical, biological processes operating on/within the Earth

Atmosphere

Biosphere

Geosphere [Lithosphere]

Hydrosphere

7 Principles of Earth History:

Uniformitarianism [James Hutton]

​​​Principle of Superposition

Principle of Original Horizontality

Principle of Original Lateral Continuity

Principle of Cross-cutting Relationships

Principle of Included Fragments

Principle of Biotic Succession

Lithosphere - outer layer [approx. 100 km thick. incl: crust/upper mantle]

Crust - outermost layer of Earth. defined by: density, composition, seismic velocity differences from mantle

Asthenosphere - layer within upper mantle/below lithosphere where rocks are ductile

Retrodiction: looking back is time [opposite of prediction]