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Plate Tectonics
The theory that explains the movement of large plates that make up the Earth's lithosphere, leading to geological phenomena.
Convergent Boundary
A boundary where tectonic plates move towards each other, often resulting in the formation of mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
Divergent Boundary
A boundary where tectonic plates move apart, leading to seafloor spreading and the formation of rift valleys.
Transform Fault Boundary
A boundary where tectonic plates slide past each other, which can cause earthquakes.
Magma
Molten rock located beneath the Earth's crust that can rise and cool to form new lithosphere.
Asthenosphere
The solid, flexible outer layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere.
Lithosphere
The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the uppermost mantle and the crust, divided into tectonic plates.
Soil Formation
The process by which rock and organic materials are broken down to create soil.
Weathering
The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces through physical, biological, or chemical processes.
Erosion
The transport of weathered rock fragments by wind, water, or ice.
Albedo
The proportion of light that is reflected by a surface; higher of this means more light is reflected.
Nutrient Pollution
The excessive presence of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in the environment, often leading to eutrophication.
Coriolis Effect
The deflection of moving objects, such as air or water currents, caused by the Earth's rotation.
Thermohaline Circulation
Global ocean circulation driven by differences in temperature and salinity, affecting nutrient distribution in oceans.
El Nino
A climate pattern characterized by warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific, impacting global weather patterns.
La Nina
A climate pattern characterized by cooler ocean temperatures in the Pacific, often opposite to El Nino effects.
Watershed
An area of land that drains into a water body, such as a river or lake.
Soil Horizons
Layers of soil that differ in physical and chemical properties, including O-horizon (organic matter), A-horizon (topsoil), B-horizon (subsoil), and C-horizon (parent material).
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