Fundamental Earth Science Concepts: Weather & Geology

Meteorological Phenomena

Cyclones

Cyclones are winds that rotate around a low-pressure center and converge toward the center. In the Northern Hemisphere, they rotate counter-clockwise, and in the Southern Hemisphere, they rotate clockwise. Cyclones are typically associated with low-pressure systems on weather maps and often bring unsettled weather.

Anticyclones

Anticyclones rotate in opposite directions around a high-pressure center and project outward from the center. Anticyclones are associated with high-pressure systems on weather maps and usually lead to good weather. Together, these pressure systems determine the weather patterns of the temperate zone.

Air Mass Types

Continental Polar Air Mass

This air mass is cold and dry.

Maritime Polar Air Mass

This air mass is relatively warm and wet in winter and cool in summer.

Continental Tropical Air Mass

This air mass is hot and dry.

Maritime Tropical Air Mass

This air mass is relatively cool and moist.

Atmospheric Processes

Convection

Air movement always involves cold air moving towards warmer areas, transferring heat from hot spots to colder ones.

Advection

This involves the horizontal movement of a cold air mass towards a warmer one, leading to the direct heating of the colder material by the warmer.

Venezuelan Local Winds

The Barinas

Originating in the Andes, these winds descend to the western plains and head east. They typically occur between May and August.

El Calentón (The Hot Wind)

These are hot, dry winds that descend from the mountain range towards the Caribbean coast, lasting for about 3 days between June and September.

Geological Formations

Rocks

Rocks are an association of one or more minerals, natural, inorganic, heterogeneous, of variable chemical composition, with no specified geometry, as a result of a defined geological process.

Minerals

Minerals are elements or compound bodies, solid or liquid, natural, inorganic, homogeneous, of constant chemical composition, generally adopting a particular geometric shape as a result of a chemical process.

Types of Rocks

Igneous Rocks

These result from the consolidation of magma.

Sedimentary Rocks

Formed by the consolidation of sediment.

Metamorphic Rocks

These come from other rocks in the Earth's crust that have undergone metamorphosis.

Classification of Igneous Rocks

Intrusive Igneous Rocks

Formed within the Earth's crust.

Extrusive Igneous Rocks

Volcanic rocks that have crystallized on the Earth's surface.

Classification of Sedimentary Rocks

Clastic Rocks

Their structure clearly shows that the materials within them are from the fragmentation of pre-existing rocks.

Non-Clastic Rocks

These rocks are divided into organic and chemical. Chemical precipitation rocks are caused by substances in solutions. Organic rocks come from the accumulation of dead plant and animal matter.

Mineral Classifications

Essential Minerals

These are minerals that must be present in the composition of a particular rock; their absence would result in the rock being classified differently.

Primary Minerals

These crystallize from magma or magmatic water. They are also called syngenetic minerals, having formed at the same time and as a result of the consolidation of magma into igneous rock.