Final Earth Science Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the carbon cycle, water cycle, and rock cycle processes based on the lecture review notes.

Carbon Sink

A process where carbon leaves the atmosphere, including sedimentation of buried organisms or carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) dissolving in the ocean.

Carbon Source

A process where carbon enters the atmosphere, including plant decomposition, burning fossil fuels, plant respiration, animal respiration, animal decomposition, and carbonic acid dissolving in rain.

Carbon Store

Carbon stored outside the atmosphere.

Transpiration

The stage in the water cycle where water enters the atmosphere through the leaves of a plant.

Evaporation

The stage in the water cycle where the surface of a body of liquid water turns to water vapor.

Condensation

The stage in the water cycle where water vapor collects as droplets in a cloud.

Precipitation

A stage in the water cycle consisting of Rain, Snow, Sleet, or Hail.

Snowmelt

The process where snow, usually on top of mountains, turns to liquid water.

Runoff

The stage in the water cycle where water Gows, usually toward the ocean.

Groundwater Infiltration

The process where water sinks underground, soaking porous soils and rocks.

Water Table

The depth at which groundwater can be found.

Intrusive Igneous Rock

Rock formed when underground magma crystallizes and hardens.

Extrusive Igneous Rock

Rock formed when lava hardens after erupting from a volcano.

Metamorphic Rock

Rock formed when rocks sink deep underground where they are subjected to extreme heat and pressure.

Sedimentary Rock

Rock formed when small particles of dirt and rock are compressed, or rock that is buried, layered, and sqeezed together after weathering and erosion.

Coal

A type of sedimentary rock formed when organic material, such as wood, is buried and compressed.