Geologic Time Review!

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What is the Geologic Time Scale?

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A system of chronological dating that relates geological strata to time, used by geologists and other Earth scientists to describe the timing and relationships of events in Earth's history.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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What does 'superposition' mean in geology?

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The principle that in any undisturbed sequence of rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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Define 'index fossil'.

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Fossils of organisms that were widespread but only existed for a short period of time, used to date and correlate the age of rock layers.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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What is 'uniformitarianism'?

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The principle that the processes occurring today (like erosion and sedimentation) have worked in the same way throughout geological time.

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What is a 'catastrophic event' in geology?

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An event that causes significant and rapid changes to the Earth's surface, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or asteroid impacts.

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

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How do paleontologists estimate the age of the Earth?

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By using radiometric dating techniques on rocks and fossils, which indicate that the Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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What is the significance of ice core data?

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Ice core data provides historical climate information, showing correlations between CO2 levels and global temperatures over time.

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

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What is 'deposition' in geological terms?

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The process by which sediments, soil, and rocks are added to a landform or land mass, often occurring in bodies of water.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

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Explain 'folding' in geology.

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A geological process that causes rock layers to bend and deform due to tectonic forces, often resulting in mountain formation.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

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What is 'intrusion' in geology?

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The process by which magma from the Earth's interior moves into existing rock formations, solidifying to form igneous rock.