Unit 3 Test Review: Interactions in the Physical Environment

These vocabulary flashcards cover the key terms from the Unit 3 Test Review for Physical Geography, including the spheres of the Earth, plate tectonics, geologic eras, the rock cycle, and soil dynamics.

Geosphere / Lithosphere

The solid outer layer of the Earth consisting of the crust and the upper mantle.

Hydrosphere

The sphere of the Earth that includes all of the planet's water.

Atmosphere

The sphere of the Earth that includes the layer of gases surrounding the planet.

Biosphere

The sphere of the Earth that includes all living organisms and their environments.

Crust

The thinnest, solid outermost layer of the Earth.

Mantle

The thickest layer of the Earth, described as semi-liquid and containing the lithosphere, asthenosphere, and mesosphere.

Outer Core

A liquid layer of the Earth located beneath the mantle.

Inner Core

A solid layer at the center of the Earth made primarily of metals.

Pangaea

A supercontinent formed 300 million years ago when all continents were joined together.

Continental Drift

The theory credited to Alfred Wegener stating that the surface of the Earth is made up of plates of rock that 'float' and shift on the magma below.

Alfred Wegener

The scientist who proposed the theory of Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift.

Tuzo Wilson

The scientist who discovered the 'how' or the mechanism to prove Alfred Wegener's theory.

Convection Currents

The cycle of heat rising, cooling, and sinking inside the Earth’s mantle that causes plate movement.

Convergent Boundary

A plate boundary where two tectonic plates move toward each other.

Divergent Boundary

A plate boundary where two tectonic plates move away from each other.

Transform Boundary

A plate boundary where two tectonic plates slide past each other.

Solidarity

A principle of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) that relates to responding to natural disasters and supporting others globally.

Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

A principle of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) that focuses on prioritizing the needs of the most marginalized when responding to natural disasters.

Pre-Cambrian Era

The geologic era spanning from $4.6$ billion to $600$ million years ago.

Paleozoic Era

The geologic era spanning from $570$ million to $245$ million years ago.

Mesozoic Era

The geologic era spanning from $245$ million to $66$ million years ago.

Cenozoic Era

The geologic era spanning from $66$ million years ago to the present day.

The Rock Cycle

The process where rocks are redistributed and transformed from one type to another, combining Earth's forces like heat and pressure with natural processes like erosion.

Intrusive Igneous Rock

A type of igneous rock that forms from magma inside the Earth.

Extrusive Igneous Rock

A type of igneous rock that forms from lava on the surface of the Earth.

Humus

The organic component of soil, typically formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganisms.

Leeching

A soil process occurring in wet climates where nutrients are washed downward through the soil profile.

Calcification

A soil process occurring in dry climates where water evaporates and leaves behind minerals in the upper soil layers.

Capillary Action

The upward movement of water through soil, typically occurring in dry climate soil profiles.

Deciduous

A type of vegetation consisting of trees that shed their leaves annually.

Coniferous

A type of vegetation consisting of evergreen trees that bear cones and needles.

Permafrost

Ground that remains frozen for at least two years, typically found in cold vegetation regions.