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.
Hydrosphere
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 outer most 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
Chemical weathering
the process by which rocks break down as a result of chemical reactions
erosion
a process in which the materials of the 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 the Earth
trophosphere
the lowest layer of the atmosphere in which temperature drops at a constant rate as altitude decreases, the part of the atmosphere where weather conditions exist.
stratosphere
the layer of the atmosphere that lies between the trophopshere and the mesosphere and in which temperature increases as altitude increases
ozone
a gas molecule 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 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 reiterate 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 gas to liquid
precipitation
any form of water that falls to earth surface from clouds includes rain, snow, sleet and hail
salinity
a measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid
fresh water
water that contains insignificant amounts of salt as in rivers and lakes
biosphere
the part of Earth where live exists
