Earth Systems Flashcards
Continental Crust
crust found under continents; made of mostly silicon, oxygen, and aluminum
Outer Core
the heated, liquified rock layer under the mantle.
Very hot liquid iron and nickel
1. Crust
2. Mantle
3. Outer Core
4. Inner Core
Jet Streams
strong eastward winds in the stratosphere which blow horizontally around the earth
Exosphere
A layer in the atmosphere that separates the thermosphere from outer space.
Geyser
A hot spring of water that shoots water and steam into the air. This happens when magma heats the groundwater.
Thermosphere
A very thin layer of high-temperature atmosphere that includes the ionosphere and exosphere.
Plastic
a state in which a material is solid but can flow (generally slowly)
Weathering
a destructive process in which rock is gradually worn away and broken into smaller sediments and/or dirt
Asthenosphere
part of the upper mantle just below the lithosphere that is solid rock in a flexible state
Organic Material
dead plant and animal material in the soil
Erosion
The slow wearing away the surface of the land by wind or water
Tectonic Plates
Plates or parts of Earth’s crust and upper mantle that move across the asthenosphere
Nutrients
nutrient-rich foods and drinks. They support growth, energy production, and organism maintenance.
Continental Arctic Air Mass (cA)
A mass of cold, dry air that formed over land in the Arctic.
Maritime Tropical Air Mass (mT)
A warm, moist air mass that formed over tropical oceans
Aquifer
a body of water-soaked rock that is deep underground
Sedimentary Rock
When sands build up and stick together, they turn into rock.
Water Table
the level below which the soil and rock remain saturated with water`
Lithosphere
The crust and the top mantle make up the rigid outermost layer of the earth.
Includes crust and upper mantle. Solid rock.
Maritime Polar Air Mass (mP)
A mass of cold, wet air that grew over the polar seas.
Chemical Weathering
the process of breaking down rocks by chemical means
Ex: acid rain
Continental Tropical (cT)
A warm, dry air mass that formed over tropical landmasses
Plate Tectonics
parts of the Earth’s crust moving in big ways over long periods of time.
Convection Currents
the movement of fluid which transfers heat from one place to another
Air Masses
Regions of warm or cold, wet or dry air that tend to move together across Earth’s surface, taking their temperature and humidity with them.
Mesosphere
the coldest layer in the atmosphere; protects the earth from meteoroids