tectonic plates
slab made u of earth's lithospherep
mantle
between the crust and core
crust
outermost layer of earth
core
inner part of the earth
convection currents
movement of energy/heat transfer
mid-ocean ridge
upwelling magma in the middle of the ocean
magma
not fluid within earth's crust (cooled - lava)
subduction zone
collision between tectonic plates where one sinks below the other
clay
fine-grained earth forming an impermeable layer in soil
silt
fine sand carried through water as sediment
loam
fertile soil of clay, sand, and humus
topsoil
top layer of soil
subsoil
soil under topsoil
water holding capacity
ability of soil to hold water against gravity
irrigation
supply of water through channels
troposphere
lowest region of earth's surface
stratosphere
above troposphere
ozone
toxic gas that reflects ultraviolet light
mesosphere
above stratosphere, below thermosphere
thermosphere
above mesosphere, increase in temperature with height
aerosols
substance under pressure released in a fine gas
albedo
proportion of radiation reflected by a surface
coriolis effect
mass in a rotating system experiences a force, important in weather systems
watershed
area of land that separates waters
insolation
exposure to the sun
jet streams
strong air streams circling the globe miles about the earth
monsoons
rainy season with prevailing wind
hurricane
a storm with violent wind, typically tropical
tornado
violent rotating winds in a funnel shape
rain shadow
region with little rainfall sheltered due to hills
milankovitch cycles
the shape of the earth's orbit is not a circle, the earth's axis is tilted