Vocab Flashcards
Astronomy
The study of objects beyond earth’s atmosphere
Meteorology
The study of the forces in the atmosphere that cause the weather
Geology
The study of the materials that make up the earth
Oceanography
The study of Earth’s oceans
Environmental Science
The study of Earth’s organisms and their surroundings
Geosphere
The area from the surface of the earth down to it center
Atmosphere
The blanket of gases that surrounds our planet
Hydrosphere
All the water on earth, including the atmosphere
Cryosphere
Region of permanently frozen water on earth
Biosphere
All organisms including the environments in which they live
Scientific Method
A series of problem-solving events that help scientist conduct experiments
Hypothesis
A testable explanation or educated guess
Independent Variable
a changeable factor in an experiment
Dependent Variable
a factor that is affected by the change made an experiment
Control
Used in an experiment to show that the results and experiment are a result of the condition being tested
Le Système International d’Unitès
a modern version of the metric system
Scientific Notation
a type of shorthand that scientists use to express large numbers
Scientific Model
a small version of a larger object or idea
Scientific Theory
an explanation based on many observations over a long period of time
Scientific Law
a principle that describes a natural process
a “rule of nature”
Cartography
the science of mapmaking
Equator
the imaginary line that horizontally circles the Earth halfway between the North and South poles
Latitude
lines on the map running parallel to the equator
Longitude
lines on a map that run parallel to the Prime Meridian
Prime Meridian
represents 0° longitude
International Date Line
at 180° meridian
serves as the transition line for calendar days
Mercator Projection
a map that has parallel lines of latitude and longitude
Conic Projection
made by projecting points and lines from a globe onto a paper cone
Gnomic Projection
made by projecting points and lines from a globe into a piece of paper that touches the globe at a single point
Topographic Map
map that shows changes in elevation of Earth’s surface
Contour Line
connects points of equal elevation
Contour Interval
the difference in elevation between two side-by-side contour lines
Geologic Map
used to show the distribution, arrangement, and type of rocks located below the soil
Map Legend
explains what the symbols on a map represent
Map Scale
the ratio between distances on a map and actual distances on Earth
Remote Sensing
the process of gathering data about Earth using instruments mounted on satellites, airplanes, or ships
Landsat Satellites
things that record reflected wavelengths of energy from Earth’s surface
Sonar
the use of sound waves to detect and measure objects underwater
Global Positioning System
a satellite navigation system that allows users to locate their approximate position on Earth
Geographic Information System
a mapping system that uses worldwide databases from remote sensing to create layers of information that can be superimposed upon each other to form a comprehensive map
