Earth Science Terms

fossil

• is any trace of an ancient organism that has been preserved in rock

• is a type of rock formed from volcanic activity

• is a living organism found in modern ecosystems

• is a mineral that has crystallized over time

P Wave

• A type of seismic wave that compresses and expands the ground.

• A type of seismic wave that travels through the Earth's crust only.

• A type of seismic wave that causes the most damage during an earthquake.

• A type of seismic wave that is slower than S waves.

weathering

• process that breaks down rocks and other substances

• a method of planting trees

• a type of erosion caused by wind

• the formation of new rocks from magma

tsunami

• A wave or series of waves produced by an earthquake or landslide

• A type of large ocean fish

• A volcanic eruption that causes flooding

• A strong wind that creates high waves

fossil fuels

• energy-rich substances made from the preserved remains of organisms

• renewable energy sources derived from sunlight

• non-renewable resources that are always available

• substances that do not produce energy when burned

refinery

• A factory that produces electricity from renewable sources

• A facility where crude oil is processed into fuels and other products

• A place where metals are extracted from ores

• A plant that manufactures chemicals for industrial use

divergent boundary

• plates move apart, or diverge, from each other at this boundary

• plates collide and push against each other

• plates slide past one another

• plates are stationary and do not move

Triangulation

• Using two distances to locate a fault line.

• Using three distances waves travel to pinpoint the epicenter of an earthquake.

• Using satellite imagery to track seismic activity.

• Using historical data to predict future earthquakes.

convergent boundary

• plates come together and converge at this boundary

• plates move apart from each other

• plates slide past one another

• plates are stationary and do not interact

ore

• a type of rock that contains valuable minerals

• a mineral deposit that is large enough and valuable enough for extraction

• a process of extracting minerals from the earth

• a geological formation with no economic value