Science "Earth's Spheres" by the Giggler

Biosphere

Living systems on land, in water, and in soil

Hydrosphere

Water in solid & liquid states. *water vapor is often referred to as a feature of the atmosphere

Geosphere

Solid portions of the Earth. Rocks, Sediment, and Soil

Particulate

Various tiny solid and liquid particles

Atmospheric pressure

The pressure exerted on a surface by the atmosphere. Applied equally in all directions

Density

How much mass is in a given space

Troposphere

Nearly al weather occurs here

Stratosphere

The protective ozone layer exists here

Mesosphere

Meteors burn here

Thermosphere

Auroras are present here

Ozone

O³

Ozone layer

Absorbs harmful UV radiation from the sun

Heat Transfer

The movement of thermal energy from one object or substance to another due to temperature differences

Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion

Conduction

The transfer of heat through direct contact between substances

Conductor

Allow heat to flow easily

Insulator

Resist heat flow

Convection

Transfer of heat through the movement of fluids

Fluid

liquids or gases

Convection Current

As the medium warms and rises, or cools and sinks

Radiation

The transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves

Medium

Material contains matter

Electromagnetic Waves

Form of radiation that do not require a medium

Global wind belts

Large air circulation patterns

Prevailing winds

Winds that flow in one main direction

Convergence

Air is moving into a particular area

Divergence

Air is moving out of a particular area

Surface winds

Wind blowing near the Earth’s surface (Parallel to Earth’s Surface)

High altitude winds

Air circulating above the Earth’s surface (Perpendicular to Earth’s surface)

Westerlies

Prevailing winds in the mid-latitudes (30 - 60 latitude)

Trade winds

Winds that flow toward the equator (30 - 0 latitude)

Polar easterlies

Cold winds near the poles (90 - 60 latitude)

Condensation

The transformation of water vapor into water droplets, this process forms clouds

Transpiration

The evaporation of water out of the leaves of plants

Infiltration

Water that moves from Earth’s surface into the ground, some water collects in pools to form groundwater

Absorption

Water in soil is taken up by plants

Precipitation

The fall of water from the sky, water can fall as liquid droplets, solid crystals, or frozen droplets

Surface Runoff

The movement of water from high to low elevations, which collects in rivers and streams that flow into lakes or the ocean

Evaporation

The transformation of liquid water into water vapor

 groundwater

Water that enters the ground filling open spaces in soil and sediment as well as openings in bedrock (Usually Freshwater)

permeability

The ability for an object to move through a substance

porosity

The ability of a material to hold water in open spaces

capillary action

The force that draws water up into tiny spaces

stream

Any flowing water (Brooks, rivers, ocean currents)

stream system

Consists of all the streams that drain a particular geographic area

watershed

The geographic area drained by a stream system

tributary

A stream that flows into another larger stream

source

Where the stream begins (High elevation)

mouth

Where the stream ends (Low elevation)

floodplains

A flat area next to a stream that may be covered by floodwater

delta

Region at the mouth of a stream that is made of sediments deposited as a stream slows down

levee

Deposits of sand and silt on land left over from a flood