5th Grade Earth and Space Science CH 7

atmosphere

the system of layered gases that surrounds Earth

altitude

the height of an object or point above sea level or ground level.

atmosphereic pressure

the force exerted by air on a given area

troposphere

the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where weather occurs and air is most dense.

stratosphere

the second layer of Earth's atmosphere, above the troposphere, where temperatures increase with altitude and the ozone layer is located.

mesophere

the third layer of Earth's atmosphere, above the stratosphere, characterized by decreasing temperatures and where meteors often burn up upon entry.

thermosphere

the fourth layer of Earth's atmosphere, above the mesosphere, characterized by very high temperatures and low density, where the ionosphere is located and space shuttles orbit.

exosphere

the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere, above the thermosphere, where the atmosphere thins out into space and is composed of very low densities of hydrogen and helium.

geosphere

the system of solid and molten rock layers that form earth’s ground

crust

the outermost layer of the geosphere

mantle

the middle layer of the geosphere

core

the innermost layer of the geosphere

hydrosphere

the system that contains all the water on, underneath, and above earth’s surfaceIt includes oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and water vapor in the atmosphere.

biosphere

the system of all living things on earth

organisms

any individual living things, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

deposition

sediment released by wind or water that settles on the ground

erosion

the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural forces such as water, wind, or ice and transported to another location.

precipitation

any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.

latitude

a distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees

solar

relating to the sun