Earth Science Test 3 Vocab

Vocabulary

exosphere

separates earth from the rest of the atmosphere and space.

thermosphere

where radiation gets stopped. extremely hot, low density so it can’t hurt.

mesosphere

protects earth from solid objects. hits and curve.

stratosphere

contains ozone layer that protects us from the suns UV radiation. major wind currrents. little weather.

troposphere

lowest layer of atmosphere. where weather happens. where we live.

crust

the outermost layer, made of weathered material.

asthenosphere

the lower layer of the earth's mantle, layer of plasticized solid. weak.

lithosphere

the upper layer of earths mantle, stone. stronger. tectonic plate.

outer core

outer part in the earths surface. composed of metal- mostly liquid iron and nickel.

inner core

dense hot ball in the center of the earth. extremely hot.

magnetosphere

magnetic force field powered by rotating iron core.

Van Allen belts

layer of plasma.

aurora borealis

plasma gets curved around Earth then falls and makes light.

chlorofluorocarbons

chemical causing ozone layer hole. cause thinning of ozone layer.

seismic waves

echo that shows how many layers are in the earth. how many echos=how many layers.

convection

motion in a gas or liquid where the warmth rises and goes out.

continental drift

hypothesis that all continents were once joined together.

converging boundary

lithosphere plates (boarder) where places meet or collide.

diverging boundary

where the plates separate and land moves away. in water.

transform boundary

2 plates moving past each other.

subduction

ocean floor sinks under another piece of crust.

mid-ocean ridge

when both lands push together going up, molten material fills the space under.

magnetosphere

shields our Earth from harmful solar radiation