Earth and Life Science - You and the Natural World

A set of 150 vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in Earth and Life Science, focusing on Earth's subsystems, ecological processes, and human impacts on the environment.

The zone of life on Earth, encompassing all living organisms.

Biosphere

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

Lithosphere

The total amount of water on a planet, in liquid, vapor, and ice form.

Hydrosphere

The gaseous layer surrounding Earth that provides insulation and weather.

Atmosphere

The supercontinent that existed approximately 335 million years ago.

Pangaea

The theory that continents have moved over geological time.

Continental Drift

A semi-fluid layer below the lithosphere that allows for tectonic plate movement.

Asthenosphere

The scientific theory explaining the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates.

Plate Tectonics

Tectonic plate boundaries where plates move away from each other.

Divergent Boundaries

Tectonic plate boundaries where plates move toward each other.

Convergent Boundaries

Tectonic plate boundaries where plates slide past each other horizontally.

Transform Boundaries

The removal of topsoil due to various factors, detrimental to plant growth.

Soil Erosion

The sinking or collapsing of the lithosphere due to extraction of resources.

Land Subsidence

Clearing forested areas, negatively impacting ecosystems and biodiversity.

Deforestation

The expansion of cities, often resulting in habitat fragmentation.

Urbanization

Contamination of the air by harmful chemicals and biological agents.

Air Pollution

Release of gases like CO2 and CH4 that contribute to global warming.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Reduction of the ozone layer due to substances like CFCs, increasing UV exposure.

Ozone Depletion

Precipitation that contains harmful levels of sulfuric and nitric acids.

Acid Rain

The atmosphere's role in maintaining Earth's climate and temperature.

Climate Regulation

Nature's process of reusing carbon atoms through various biological processes.

Carbon Cycle

The process of nitrogen changing forms and moving through the atmosphere.

Nitrogen Cycle

The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Water Cycle

The process by which plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen using sunlight.

Photosynthesis

The process by which living organisms consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

Respiration

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Biodiversity

Biomes that encompass all bodies of water on Earth, supporting unique life forms.

Aquatic Biome

Biomes dominated by trees, playing a crucial role in climate regulation.

Forest Biome

Arid ecosystems characterized by low precipitation and unique adaptations of flora.

Desert Biome

Cold, treeless regions with permafrost and low-growing vegetation.

Tundra Biome

Water's essential role in agriculture, industry, and daily human activities.

Economic Resources of the Hydrosphere

The atmospheric conditions that influence regional climates and ecosystems.

Weather Patterns

The effects of human activities like pollution, habitat destruction, and resource extraction.

Human Impact on Ecosystems

Reduction of water in aquifers due to excessive extraction for various uses.

Groundwater Depletion

The ability of an ecosystem to maintain balance despite environmental changes.

Stability of Ecosystems

Release of methane from agriculture and industrial activities, a potent greenhouse gas.

Methane Emissions

A pollutant produced by industrial processes, contributing to acid rain.

Sulfur Dioxide

Air pollutants from combustion processes that lead to smog and acid rain.

Nitrogen Oxides

Large areas of ice located at Earth's poles, crucial for global climate regulation.

Polar Ice Caps

The frequency and intensity of earthquakes in a given area.

Seismic Activity

Organisms, mostly plants, that convert light energy into chemical energy.

Photosynthetic Organisms

Cycles involving biological, geological, and chemical processes in ecosystems.

Biogeochemical Processes

The decline in groundwater levels due to over-extraction.

Aquifer Depletion

Contamination of water bodies due to improperly disposed plastic materials.

Pollution from Plastic Waste

The variety of species living in marine ecosystems.

Marine Biodiversity

Processes that cycle oxygen and carbon dioxide between organisms and the atmosphere.

Photosynthesis, Respiration, and Gas Exchange

The movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter.

Nutrient Cycling

A region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Ozone Layer

The process of carbon dioxide moving through the atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere.

Carbon Dioxide Cycle

Mechanisms by which the Earth's climate is stabilized, including the greenhouse effect.

Temperature Regulation

Geothermal processes that contribute to mineral deposition and ecosystem dynamics.

Hydrothermal Activity

Energy waves produced by earthquakes that travel through Earth's layers.

Seismic Waves

Long-term alterations in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions.

Climate Change

The presence of essential nutrients in an ecosystem that supports plant growth.

Nutrient Availability

The range of different species and ecosystems present in a particular habitat.

Diversity of Life Forms

Climate change caused by anthropogenic emissions and land-use changes.

Human-Induced Climate Change

Natural substances formed from ancient organic matter, burned for energy.

Fossil Fuels

A stable state in an ecosystem where species populations are maintained.

Ecological Balance

Human activities that deplete natural resources and harm ecosystems.

Unsustainable Practices

The interactions and relationships among organisms and their environments.

Ecosystem Dynamics

The continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere.

Hydrological Cycle

The ecological zone at the lowest level of a body of water, including sediments.

Benthic Zone

The upper layer of the ocean where enough light penetrates for photosynthesis.

Epipelagic Zone

The layer of the ocean between 200 to 1000 meters deep with limited light.

Mesopelagic Zone

The deep sea layer from 1000 to 4000 meters with complete darkness.

Bathypelagic Zone

The deep oceanic zone from 4000 to 6000 meters deep characterized by high pressure.

Abyssopelagic Zone

The trench zone in the ocean, extending from 6000 meters to the ocean floor.

Hadalpelagic Zone

Processes that occur repeatedly over time, such as the carbon and nitrogen cycles.

Cyclic Processes

Involves sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen.

Photosynthesis Inputs and Outputs

Ecosystemswhere water covers the soil for extended periods, supporting diverse organisms.

Wetlands

Areas where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean.

Estuaries

Marine structures made from coral polyps; critical for marine biodiversity.

Coral Reefs

Networks of flowing water bodies that are vital for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

River Systems

Coastal areas between low and high tides, supporting specialized ecosystems.

Intertidal Zones

Methane and other greenhouse gases released from agricultural practices.

Emissions from Livestock

Environmental phenomena that can cause harm, including earthquakes and floods.

Natural Hazards

The study of populations and their changes over time due to births and deaths.

Population Dynamics

Benefits that humans derive from healthy aquatic ecosystems, such as clean water.

Aquatic Ecosystem Services

The physical and chemical makeup of soil, including minerals and organic materials.

Soil Composition

The impact of solar energy on atmospheric and biological processes.

Solar Radiation Affects

Processes that amplify or dampen climate system responses to changes.

Climate Feedback Mechanisms

The sustainable use and protection of natural resources to prevent degradation.

Natural Resource Management

A timeline that divides the history of Earth into different segments.

Geological Time Scale

Body waves (P and S waves) and surface waves, each traveling through Earth in different ways.

Seismic Waves Types

Metrics such as pH and dissolved oxygen that determine the health of water bodies.

Water Quality Indicators

Species at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and environmental changes.

Endangered Species

Methods that meet current needs without compromising future generations.

Sustainable Practices

Regions with significant levels of biodiversity that are under threat from human activities.

Biodiversity Hotspots

The large-scale movement of ocean currents that distribute heat globally.

Ocean Conveyor Belt

The environmental impact of human activities on ecosystems and natural resources.

Human Footprint

The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.

Ecological Succession

The role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem.

Niche

The process where toxic substances accumulate in larger concentrations in organisms.

Biomagnification

A complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem.

Food Web

The decrease in populations of species that pollinate plants, affecting food security.

Pollinator Decline