Ch. 3 Key Terms Flashcards

1
Q

geosphere

A

the mostly solid, rocky part of the Earth; extends from the center of the core to the surface of the crust

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2
Q

hydrosphere

A

the portion of Earth that is water

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3
Q

crust

A

the thin and solid outermost layer of the earth above the mantle

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4
Q

mantle

A

in earth science, the layer of rock between the Earth’s crust and core

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5
Q

core

A

the central part of the Earth below the mantle; also the center of the sun

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6
Q

litosphere

A

the solid, outer layer of the Earth that consist of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle

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7
Q

asthenosphere

A

the solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made of mantle rock that flows very slowly, which allows tectonic plates to move on top of it

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8
Q

tectonic plate

A

a block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle; also called lithosphere plate

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9
Q

chemical weathering

A

the process by which rocks brake down as a result of chemical reactions

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10
Q

erosion

A

a process in which the materials of Earth’s surface are loosened dissolved or worn away and transported from one place to another by a natural agent such as wind, water, ice, or gravity

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11
Q

atmosphere

A

a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, such as Earth

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12
Q

troposphere

A

the lowest layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature drops at a constant rate as altitude increases; the part of the atmosphere where weather conditions exist

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13
Q

stratosphere

A

the layer of the atmosphere that lies between the troposphere and the mesosphere and in which temperature increases as altitude increases; contains ozone layer

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14
Q

ozone

A

a gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms

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15
Q

radiation

A

the energy that is transferred as electromagnetic waves, such as visible light and infrared waves

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16
Q

conduction

A

the transfer of energy as heat through a material

17
Q

convection

A

the movement of matter due to differences in density that are caused by temperature variations; can result in the transfer of energy as heat

18
Q

greenhouse effect

A

the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases in the air absorb and reradiate infrared radiation

19
Q

water cycle

A

the continuous movement of water between the atmosphere, the land, and the oceans

20
Q

evaporation

A

the change of state from a liquid to a gas

21
Q

condensation

A

the change of state from a gas to a liquid

22
Q

precipitation

A

any form of water that falls to the Earth’s surface from the clouds; includes rain, snow, sleet, and hail

23
Q

salinity

A

a measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid

24
Q

fresh water

A

water that contains insignificant amounts of salts as in rivers and lakes

25
Q

biosphere

A

the part of Earth where life exist