Earth's Spheres & Their Interactions

Vocabulary flashcards covering Earth's major spheres (Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Geosphere, Biosphere, Cryosphere), their interactions, and the processes of the water cycle.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding Earth, including oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, clouds, and wind.

Hydrosphere

All water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, groundwater, and water vapor.

Geosphere

Rocks, soil, minerals, and Earth's landforms, such as continents, the sea floor, mountains, and volcanoes.

Biosphere

All living things on Earth, including plants, trees, flowers, humans, animals, fungi, and bacteria.

Cryosphere

All frozen water on Earth, such as ice caps, glaciers, sea ice, and snow.

The Sun

The primary energy source that drives the water cycle.

Evaporation

The step in the water cycle where heat from the sun turns liquid water into water vapor that rises into the atmosphere.

Condensation

The step in the water cycle where water vapor cools and condenses to form clouds.

Precipitation

The step in the water cycle where condensed water falls from the atmosphere back to the Earth's surface.

Run off

The water cycle process where water flows over the land surface into lakes, rivers, or oceans.

Infiltration

The process in the water cycle where precipitation on the ground soaks down into the soil.

Groundwater

Water stored beneath the Earth's surface within soil and rock layers.

Biosphere-Hydrosphere-Geosphere Interaction

An interaction where living organisms such as trees (biosphere) absorb water (hydrosphere) directly from the soil (geosphere) to grow.

Geosphere-Atmosphere Interaction

An interaction where an event in the geosphere, such as a volcanic eruption, releases ash, rocks, and soil into the air (atmosphere).

Cryosphere-Hydrosphere Interaction

An interaction where heat melts frozen ice or glaciers (cryosphere) into liquid water in the ocean (hydrosphere).