Geophysics & Environmental Physics
60 terms · page 2 of 3
Hydrothermal Vents
Fissures on the ocean floor near volcanically active mid-ocean ridges that vent geothermally heated, mineral-rich seawater into the ocean.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsIce Core Analysis
The retrieval and paleoclimatological analysis of cylindrical ice samples extracted from deep polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsInsolation
The solar electromagnetic radiation power reaching a specified surface area per unit time.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsIonosphere
An ionized layer of Earth's upper atmosphere (~60 km to 1,000 km) where extreme solar UV and X-ray radiation ionize atmospheric gas atoms…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsIonospheric Scintillation
Rapid fluctuations in amplitude and phase of satellite radio signals caused by small-scale electron density irregularities in the…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsIsostasy
The state of gravitational equilibrium between Earth's lithospheric crust blocks floating at depths determined by their thickness and…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsLa Niña
The cool climate phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) characterized by abnormally cold sea surface temperatures in the central…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsLehmann Discontinuity
The seismic boundary at a depth of ~5,150 km marking the transition between Earth's liquid outer core and solid inner core.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsLithosphere
The rigid, brittle outermost mechanical shell of Earth comprising the entire crust and uppermost solid mantle.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsMagnetosphere
The region of space surrounding Earth dominated by Earth's geomagnetic field, shielding the planet from harmful solar wind plasma.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsMantle Convection
The slow, highly viscous thermal convection currents within Earth's solid silicate mantle transporting internal core heat toward the…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsMilankovitch Cycles
Cyclical variations in Earth's orbital eccentricity, axial tilt (obliquity), and precession that alter the seasonal and latitudinal…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsNutation
Small periodic nodding oscillations superimposed upon Earth's long-term rotational axis precession.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsOcean Acidification
The ongoing long-term reduction in the pH of Earth's oceans caused by the absorption of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsOcean Currents
Continuous, directed large-scale movements of seawater generated by wind stress, Coriolis force, temperature, salinity differences, and…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsPaleoclimatology
The scientific study of Earth's past climate conditions across geologic history using indirect environmental proxy records.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsPaleomagnetism
The study of the historical record and orientation of Earth's magnetic field preserved in iron-bearing minerals in rocks, sediments, or…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsPlate Tectonics
The unifying geophysical theory stating that Earth's rigid outer lithosphere is divided into major tectonic plates drifting over the…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsPrecession of the Equinoxes
The slow continuous conical rotation of Earth's rotational axis in space, taking ~25,800 years to complete one full cycle.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsRadiative Forcing
The net change in Earth's energy balance per unit area at the tropopause due to an environmental driver of climate change.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsRadiometric Dating in Geology
A geochronological technique used to determine the absolute age of rocks and minerals by measuring radioisotope parent-to-daughter ratios.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsRadon Gas Migration
The environmental migration of radioactive Radon-222 gas from decaying uranium in rocks and soil into indoor building spaces.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsRelative Humidity
The ratio of the actual vapor pressure of water in an air parcel to the saturation vapor pressure at the same temperature, expressed as a…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsRemote Sensing in Geophysics
The acquisition of geophysical information about Earth's surface and atmosphere from a distance using satellite or airborne sensors.