Ch. 3 Key Terms Flashcards
geosphere
the mostly solid rocky part of the earth. extends from the center of the core to the surface of the crust.
hydorsphere
the portion of the earth that is water
crust
the thin and solid outermost layer of the earth above the mantle.
mantle
in earth science, the layer of the rock between the earths crust and core
core
the central part of the earth below the mantle. also the center of the sun
lithosphere
the solid, outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle.
asthenosphere
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.
tectonic plate
a block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle, also called lithospheric plate.
chemical weathering
the process by which rocks break down as a result of chemical reaction.
erosion
a process in which the materials of Earths 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.
atmosphere
a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet such as earth.
troposphere
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.
stratosphere
the layer of the atmosphere that lies between the troposphere and the mesosphere and creases. contains the ozone layer.
ozone
a gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms
radiation
the energy that is transferred as electromagnetic waves, such as visible light and infrared waves.
conduction
the transfer of energy as heat through a material
convection
the movement of matter due to difference in density that are caused by temperature variations. can result in the transfer of energy as heat.
greenhouse effect
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
water cycle
the continuous movement of water between the atmosphere, the land, and the oceans.
evaporation
the change of state from a liquid to a gas
condensation
gas to a liquid
precipitation
any form of water that falls to the earths surface from the clouds.
salinity
a measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid.
fresh water
water that contains insignificant amounts of salts like rivers or lakes.
biosphere
the part of the earth where life exists
