Chapter 3 Key terms Flashcards
geosphere
the mostly solid rocky part of Earth extend from center of the core to the surface of crust
hydrosphere
the portion of Earth that is water
crust
Earth thin crust composed of almost entirely of light elements.
mantle
in earth science the layer of rock between the earth 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 consist of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle
asthenosphere
a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet such as earth
tectonic plate
a block of lithosphere that consists of the mantle also called lithospheric plate
chemical
the process by which rocks break down as a results of chemical reactions
weathering
the continuous movement of the water
erosion
a process in which the materials of the earth 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 mesosphere and 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 electromagnetic waves such as visible light and infrared waves
conduction
the transfer of energy as heat through a material
convection
the movement of matter of matter due to differences in
greenhouse effect
the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of earth that occurs when carbon dioxide water vapor and other gases in air absorb and radiate infrared radiation
water cycle
water that contains wastes from homes or industry
evaporation
the change of state from a liquid to a gas
condensation
the change of state from a gas to liquid
precipition
In meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravitational pull from clouds.
salinity
the concentrations of salts in water or soils.
fresh watere
water that contains insignificant amounts of salts in rivers and lakes
biosphere
the part of earth where life exists
