Ch 3. Key Terms Flashcards
Geosphere
The mostly solid, rocky part of Earth; extends from the center of the core to the surface of the crust.
Hydrosphere
The portion of Earth that is water.
Crust
The thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle.
Mantle
The layer of rock between the Earth’s 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 reactions.
Erosion
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.
Atmosphere
A mixture of gasses 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 in which temperature increases as altitude in-creases; contains the ozone layer.
Ozone
A gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms.
Radiation
The energy that is transferred as electro-magnetic 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 differences 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
The change of state from a gas to a liquid.
Precipitation
Any form of water that falls to the Earths surface from the clouds; includes rain, snow, sleet, and hail.
Salinity
The measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid.
Fresh Water
Water that contains insignificant amounts of salts, as in rivers and lakes.
