CHAP.3 Flashcards
geosphere
the mostly solid ,rocky part of earth ; extends from the center of the core to the surface of the crust
hydroshpere
the portion of earth that is water
crust
the thin and solid outermost layer of the earth above the mantel
mantle
in earth science ,the layers of rock between the earth’s crust and core
core
the central part of the earth below the mantel 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 move on top of it
tectonic plates
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 a result of chemical reaction
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 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 in which temperature increases as altitude increases; 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 differences density that are caused by temperature variations ; can result i 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
precipitation
any form of water that falls to the earths surface from the 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 amount of salt ,as in rivers and lakes
biosphere
the part of earth where life exists
condensation
the change of state from a gas to a liquid
