Ch. 3 Key Terms Flashcards
geosphere
The solid part of Earth that consists of all rock, as well as the soils and loose rocks on Earth’s surface.
hydrosphere
Makes up all of the water on or near Earth’s surface.
crust
A thin layer composed almost entirely of light elements. It is Earth’s thinnest layer.
mantle
The layer beneath the crust, makes up 68% of the mass of Earth.
core
The innermost layer is composed of the elements having the greatest density.
lithosphere
Earth’s outer layer is cool, rigid and includes the crust and uppermost part of the mantle.
asthenosphere
The layer beneath the lithosphere is a pliable, solid layer of the mantle made of rock that flows very slowly and allows tectonic plates to move on top of it.
tectonic plate
They glide across the underlying asthenosphere in much the same way a chunk of ice drifts across a pond.
chemical weathering
Wears down rocks, making them smoother as time passes.
erosion
Transports the materials after weathering elsewhere.
atmosphere
The surrounding mixture of gases including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, ect. on Earth.
troposphere
The layer nearest to Earth’s surface, extends to about 18km above Earth’s surface and this is where almost all weather occurs.
stratosphere
Above the troposphere is extends from about 18km to 50km and absorbs the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) energy and warms the air.
ozone
O3, is a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms, and reduces the amount of harmful UV radiation that reaches Earth.
radiation
The transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves.
conduction
The transfer of energy in the form of physical contact.
convection
The transfer of energy when variations in temperature move the matter making up the air.
greenhouse effect
The process which greenhouse gases absorb and reradiate infrared radiation near the Earth.
water cycle
The continuous movement of water into the air, onto land, and then back to water sources.
evaporation
The process by which liquid water is heated by the sun and then rises into the atmosphere as water vapor.
condensation
The process which water vapor forms droplets on dust particles which then form clouds.
precipitiation
Droplets continue to get larger which they fall from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
salinity
The concentration of all the dissolved salts within an ocean.
fresh water
Approximately 3% of all water on Earth is fresh water, does not contain salt.
biosphere
The narrow layer around Earth’s surface in which life can exist.
