Studied by 1 personCore
Innermost zone of Earth made mostly out of iron and nickel
mantle
the layer of magma above the core
magma
molten rock
asthenosphere
semi-molten rock that is plastic
lithosphere
the solid upper mantle and crust where fossil evidence for plate movement has been found.
plate tectonics
the lithosphere is divided into constantly moving plates
earthquake
movement of Earth’s crust from released potential energy from moving tectonic plates
hotspots
where molten material from the mantle reaches the lithosphere
volcano
a vent in Earth’s crust often formed by a hotspot
tsunami
giant waves caused by seismic activity
continental plate
a large section of the Earth's crust that forms the continents and is made out of less dense silicon dioxide
oceanic plates
plates found beneath oceans and are rich in iron making them more dense.
divergent boundary
a boundary where the plates are moving away from each other
seafloor spreading
the creation of new crust formed by magma created by divergent boundaries
convergent boundaries
where two plates collide
subduction
when an ocean plate and a continental plate collide, forcing the oceanic plate underneath the continental plate
island arcs
chains of volcanic islands created by subduction and hotspots
collision zone
where two continental plates collide and create a mountain range
transform boundaries
where plates move in opposite directions and slide past each other
fault
fractures in rock caused by the movement at transform boundaries, often creating earthquakes
igneous rocks
rocks formed directly from magma
basaltic rocks
dark rock often found in the crust of oceanic plates
granitic rocks
lighter colored rocks often found in the crust of continental plates. When it breaks down it forms sand.
sedimentary rocks
form when sediments are compressed by layers of other sediments
metamorphic rocks
created when a rock is subjected to high temperatures or pressures which causes a large change in the rock
rock cycle
the formation, alteration, and destruction of rocks. The longest and slowest cycle that starts and ends as magma.
physical weathering
the mechanical breakdown of rocks and minerals through water, wind, temperature variation, and/or plants and animals.
chemical weathering
the breakdown of rocks and minerals by chemical reactions and/or dissolving of chemical elements
acid rain
rain high in sulfuric and nitric acid that can cause chemical weathering
erosion
physical removal of rock fragments by wind, water, ice, human activity and/or gravity
parent material
rock material where inorganic parts of the soil are derived.
horizons
horizontal soil layers that have their own color and texture
O horizon
the surface of the soil mostly containing organic matter in decomposition
humus
fully decomposed material in the lowest layer of the O horizon
A horizon/topsoil
made of mixed minerals and organic material
E horizon
the leaching zone under horizon O or A which brings iron, aluminum, and other organic acids to the B horizon
B horizon
made mostly of mineral matter, also called subsoil
C horizon
the least weathered and the most similar to the parent material rock
porosity
the size of air spaces between particles, characterized by sand, silt, or clay
water-holding capacity
the amount of water a soil can hold against gravity
permeability
the ability of water to move through soil
cation exchange capacity
the ability of a soil to hold and release cations
base saturation
the percentage of soil bases to soil acids
watersheds
all the land in a landscape that drains into a particular waterway
insolation
incoming solar radiation and the main source of Earth’s energy
albedo
light reflected back from Earth
Nitrogen gas and oxygen gas
the two main gases in the atmosphere
troposphere
the most dense layer of the atmosphere that is closest to Earth. It has the most immediate effect on Earth’s systems.
stratosphere
The second closest layer that contains the ozone layer at the bottom. Also called the inversion layer.
ozone layer
the layer that absorbs most UV-B radiation and all the UV-C radiation
mesosphere
the third closest layer where most meteors burn
thermosphere
the second farthest layer that blocks some x-rays and some UV radiation
exosphere
the farthest layer where satellites orbit
density
a factor that affects how air circulates
water vapor capacity
determines air circulation and water vapor retention.
saturation point
the maximum amount of water vapor that can be in the air at a certain temperature
adiabatic cooling
a cooling effect that takes place as air rises and expands in volume due to decreased pressure
adiabatic heating
a heating effect that takes place as air sinks and decreases in volume due to an increase in pressure
latent heat release
the release of energy when water vapor condenses into liquid water
atmospheric convection currents
global patterns of air movement, caused by the unequal heating of Earth
hadley cells
air currents found between 30 degrees North and 30 degrees south
intertropical convergence zone
the region with the most sunlight where Hadley cells converge
pollar cells
where air rises at 60 degrees north or south and sinks at the poles or 90 degrees north or south
Ferrell Cells
the air currents between polar and Hadley cells
coriolis effect
the deflection of wind paths due to Earth’s rotation
gyres
the large circular movement of ocean currents
upwelling
when currents move away from an area allowing an upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water from the bottom
thermohaline circulation
the mixing of surface water a deep water that moves heat and nutrients
windward side
the side of a mountain facing the wind where adiabatic cooling occurs to create precipitation
leeward side
the side of a mountain not facing the wind where the weather is typically more arid
rain shadow
the difference in climate on either side of a mountain
El Nino
when ocean currents switch from east-west to west-east every 3-7 years and create large climate effects
La nina
when el nino reverses but winds are still strong so normal conditions are more pronounced then usual
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