Exam 1: Understanding Earth: a Dynamic and Evolving Planet

The explanation present is the key to the past is referring to the principle of _____________.

According to the principle of uniformitarianism, processes have occurred at different rates throughout geologic time.

The three eras that have taken place since the end of the Precambrian from oldest to youngest are the ____________________, ____________________, and ____________________.

Continental crust is thinner and denser than the oceanic crust.

Global warming is caused by increased concentrations of ____________________ in the atmosphere.

The two primary materials that geologists use as clues to understand Earth's past are ____________________ and ____________________.

What is a system? What are four Earth systems?

What are two examples of geology-related environmental concerns? Briefly explain why geology holds an important position in environmental science.

The Jovian planets are:

The central thesis of the theory of organic evolution is that there has always been the same diversity of species on Earth in the past as today.

The two types of crust are ____________________ and ____________________.

At the moment of the Big Bang, both ____ and ____ were set at zero.

What distinguishes science from other forms of human inquiry?

What are the characteristics of the terrestrial planets?

How are the rock cycle and plate tectonics related?

In the 19th century, geologists developed the geologic time scale using

What is the scientific method?

Theories are formed via a process called _______________.

Historical geology is the study of ____________________.

What are some of the consequences of global warming predicted to be?