1. Earth scientists envision that the earth is composed of concentric layers of different materials. Compare and contrast the crust, mantle, core system of different layers with the lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer core, inner core system.

2 I discussed in lecture and the reading assignments in Segar address the range of elevations observed on Earth's surface. How does the observed range of elevations relate to Critical Concepts 1 and 2 in Segar and to your answer to question #1?

3. What kinds of rocks underlie and/or compose the continental shelves, continental slopes, and continental rises? How do those geomorphologic features form? In light of your answer, where is the most appropriate place to locate the boundary between a continent and its adjacent ocean basin?

4. Describe two ways that submarine canyons form. What role(s) do submarine canyons play?

5. Describe the geomorphic features in the ocean basins and the distribution of rock or sediment types found at different locations in the ocean basins. Consider the relative thickness, type, and age of the sediments or sedimentary rocks t different points in a typical ocean basin.

6. How do submarine geomorphic features and submarine 'outcrop' patterns suggest that the interior of the earth is undergoing convection?

7. What happens during an earthquake? Do earthquakes occur in the lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer core, or inner core? What inferences can one draw from the distribution of earthquakes throughout earth's interior?

8. What are the different kinds of seismic waves generated by earthquakes? How can earth scientists distinguish the different types of seismic waves?

9. Do seismic data confirm or refute the picture of concentric layers in earth's interior outlined in questions #1 and #2?

10. Explain how earth scientists locate the focus (or hypocenter) of an earthquake (to see how this is done, you may want to check out "http://vcourseware5.calstatela.edu/VirtualEarthquake/VQuakeIntro.html"). What is the epicenter of an earthquake? Where, in geological terms, do most earthquakes occur? What do earthquake locations have to do with plate tectonic theory?

11. What do earthquake first motions tell us about the relative movement of lithospheric plates at divergent plate boundaries, convergent plate boundaries, and conservative plate boundaries?

12. Volcanism, where molten rock escapes from the interior of the earth, indicates that earth's interior is hotter than its surface. Where does molten rock come from? Are there large pools of molten rock everywhere below the earth's surface? If not, what factors lead to the melting of rock at particular locations?

13. Earth's magnetic field resembles somewhat that of a large bar magnet aligned parallel to its rotation axis, but no earth scientists believe that there is large bar magnet inside Earth. What observations convince them that there is no bar magnet inside Earth?

14. Why do earth scientist infer that the geomagnetic field has reversed its polarity at different times in the geologic past?

15. How does the pattern of magnetic anomalies on the modern sea floor indicate that sea-floor spreading occurs, and how does this pattern provide insight to the rates at which oceanic crust moves away from mid-ocean ridges?

16. Combine your answers to the questions above to outline the theory of plate tectonics. Why do earth scientists call divergent plate boundaries constructive plate boundaries? Why do earth scientists call convergent plate boundaries destructive plate boundaries?

17. What relationships exist between subduction zone seismicity, volcanic island arcs (or strings of continental volcanoes), and plate movement?

18. What relationships exist between the seismicity, volcanism, and morphology of mid-ocean ridge/oceanic fracture zone systems?

19. Why aren't continental crust and continental lithosphere subducted?

20. How does plate tectonics theory account for the thick accumulations of sedimentary rocks found along continental margins? What happens to these sedimentary rocks when continents collide? What do the answers to these questions have to do with explaining the thick accumulations of deformed sedimentary rocks found in continental mountain ranges?

21. How is plate tectonics related to convection in the mantle? Where do hot spots (mantle plumes) fit in our picture of plate tectonics?

22. What are phases? What are the differences between latent heat and sensible heat? Can you think of any situations where understanding the differences between latent and sensible heat will provide insight?

24. Citing specifics, describe how the polar nature affects physical properties of H₂O.

25. How do dissolved solids affect the physical properties of water, particularly its melting and evaporation?

26. What are the most important solutes in sea water? Are the same chemical components found in the same relative amount in river water or rain water? What factors or processes affect the composition of sea water (i.e. what are the most important sources and sinks for solutes in sea water)?

27. What is the average salinity of sea water, and how does sea water salinity change with position in the oceans?

28. What is the troposphere, and why do we focus on it in our discussion of atmospheric processes?

29. What happens to the solar radiation that reaches earth? How does Earth's system loose energy (i.e. why isn't Earth continuing to heat up)?

30. What is the greenhouse effect?

31. What evidence exists to suggest that tropospheric temperatures are higher now than they have been for at least a millennium? What factors are likely to have played a role in the observed warming?

32. What are the differences between 'global warming' and the 'greenhouse effect'?