Chapter 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.
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
Techtonic 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 Earth’s surface are loosened, dissolved, or worn away and transported from one place to another by a natural agent.
Atmosphere
A mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, such as Earth
Trophosphere
The lowest layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature drops at a constant rate as altitude increases.
Stratosphere
The layer of the atmosphere that lies between the troposphere and the mesosphere and in which temperature increases as altitude increases
Ozone
A gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atomas
Radiation
The energy that is transfered as electromagnetic waves, such as visible light and infrared waves
Conduction
The transfer of energy as heat through a material.
Convection
The moment of matter due to differences in density that are causes by temperature variations.
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, 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.
Salinity
A measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid.
Fresh Water
Water that contains less amounts of salt as in rivers and lakes.
Biosphere
The part of Earth where life exists.
