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earth science > unit 1 > Flashcards

unit 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

process by which certain bacteria convert organic nitrogen into ammonia and ammonium salts during decomposition

A

ammonification

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2
Q

process by which plants or animals convert nutrients into usable organic compounds, such as proteins

A

assimilation

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3
Q

the layer immediately surrounding the lower mantle; composed of molten rock

A

asthenosphere

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4
Q

the study of the universe beyond the earth

A

astronomy

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5
Q

the gaseous layer of a planet, usually retained by its gravity

A

atmosphere

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6
Q

the living organisms of Earth

A

biosphere

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7
Q

the part of Earth’s crust that forms landmasses

A

continental crust

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8
Q

theory proposed by Alfred Wegener that the continents once formed a single supercontinent that broke up and drifted apart

A

continental drift

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9
Q

process of heat transfer by the circulation or movement of a gas, liquid, or plastic material

A

convection

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10
Q

area where tectonic plates meet and push against each other

A

convergent boundary

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11
Q

innermost layer of the earth; divided into an inner and outer core

A

core

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12
Q

the outermost layer that forms the surface of the earth; upper part of the lithosphere

A

crust

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13
Q

the frozen water or ice system of a planet

A

cryosphere

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14
Q

bacteria and fungi that break down dead matter

A

decomposer

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15
Q

process by which certain bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas

A

denitrification

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16
Q

process by which sediment flows into a reservoir

A

deposition

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17
Q

a process creating different layered compositions of a planet

A

differentiation

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18
Q

area where tectonic plates are moving away from each other

A

divergent boundary

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19
Q

two opposing forces in balance or when two opposite processes occur at equal rates

A

equilibriumq

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20
Q

area along plate boundaries and ridges where the crust of the lithosphere is fractured

A

fault line

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21
Q

line of plants and animals that shows the order in which organisms are eaten

A

food chain

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22
Q

a diagram that shows the connections among food chains in an ecosystem

A

food web

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23
Q

a scientist who studies topics related to the structure and composition of Earth

A

geologist

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24
Q

the study of the structure of Earth, and the physical forces that continuously impact the structure of Earth itself

A

geology

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25
Q

all of the layers of Earth’s interior and crust

A

geosphere

26
Q

ancient, extinct plant species found on the continents of South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica

A

Glossopteris

27
Q

a natural and continuous cycle of Earth that recycles and distributes Earth’s water; often called the water cycle

A

hydrologic cycle

28
Q

the water system of Earth; solid, liquid, and gas phases

A

hydrosphere

29
Q

innermost region of Earth; composed of solid iron

A

inner core

30
Q

related to or possessing motion

A

kinetic

31
Q

the cool, rigid shell that includes the crust and uppermost mantle; composed of plates that move around on the underlying, plastic asthenosphere

A

lithosphere

32
Q

innermost layer of the two mantle layers; composed of rock and cooler than the core

A

lower mantle

33
Q

middle layer of Earth; composed of an upper and lower mantle

A

mantle

34
Q

small, extinct land reptile whose fossil remains have been found in western Africa and eastern South America

A

Mesosaurus

35
Q

process of intense heat and pressure which changes igneous or sedimentary rock into metamorphic rock

A

metamorphism

36
Q

a scientist who studies the changes in atmospheric conditions that produce different weather and climate patterns

A

meteorologist

37
Q

the study of Earth’s atmosphere and the processes that produce weather and climate conditions

A

meteorology

38
Q

process by which certain bacteria convert ammonium into nitrates

A

nitrification

39
Q

process by which certain bacteria in the soil convert nitrogen gas into ammonia and ammonium

A

nitrogen fixation

40
Q

the part of Earth’s crust located beneath the oceans and seas

A

oceanic crust

41
Q

a scientist who studies the oceans of Earth using the scientific disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics, and geology

A

oceanographer

42
Q

the study of the earth’s oceans

A

oceanography

43
Q

layer immediately outside the inner core; composed of liquid iron and sulfur

A

outer core

44
Q

meaning “all lands”; name of the supercontinent that is theorized to have contained all of the current continents in a single landmass

A

Pangaea

45
Q

meaning “all seas”; name of the single, large ocean that surrounded Pangaea

A

Panthalassa

46
Q

process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the Sun into sugars

A

photosynthesis

47
Q

ability of a solid to flow

A

plasticity

48
Q

the theory that the lithosphere is broken into pieces that float on the asthenosphere

A

plate tectonics

49
Q

something possible; ability to go into action or perform work

A

potential

50
Q

organisms that eat producers

A

primary consumer

51
Q

process by which living cells produce usable energy from food

A

respiration

52
Q

natural and continuous cycle of Earth that recycles Earth’s minerals

A

rock cycle

53
Q

process by which the earth’s lithospheric plates pull apart from each other, creating gaps that are filled with magma from the asthenosphere

A

seafloor spreading

54
Q

organisms that eat primary consumers

A

secondary consumer

55
Q

area where an oceanic plate sinks into the asthenosphere under another plate

A

subduction zone

56
Q

natural and continuous cycle of Earth that recycles Earth’s lithospheric plates

A

tectonic cycle

57
Q

predator that eats secondary consumers

A

tertiary consumer

58
Q

the study of energy and its transformations

A

thermodynamics

59
Q

area where tectonic plates slide sideways past each other

A

transform boundary

60
Q

the process by which plants give off water vapor

A

transpiration

61
Q

outermost layer of the two mantle layers; includes the asthenosphere and lower lithosphere; composed of solid rock, most of which flows due to convection currents within the mantle

A

upper mantle

62
Q

process that breaks down rock through physical and chemical changes

A

weathering

earth science (8 decks)

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