Earth Systems and Layers - Fill-in-the-Blank Flashcards

A set of fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering Earth systems, layers, lithosphere, mantle, core, plate tectonics, oceans, atmosphere, and biosphere.

The Earth system is all of the matter, energy, and within Earth's boundary.

processes

A system is a group of related objects or parts that work together to form a .

whole

Earth is a complex system made of living and nonliving things, and matter and energy continuously through the smaller systems.

cycle

Earth is a closed system. A closed system is a system in which there is only an exchange of heat or energy and no exchange of .

matter

The major Earth subsystems include Solar Energy, Lithosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, and .

Atmosphere

The crust is the outer layer of the Earth’s structure and is separated from the mantle by the Moho .

discontinuity

Continental crust is located beneath land masses and under shallow seas and is very thick between 30 and 60 km; it is less dense and made of .

granite

Oceanic crust is located beneath deep ocean and is very thin (about 5–8 km) and denser, made of .

basalt

The boundary between the mantle and the outer core is the Gutenberg .

discontinuity

The Earth's core is divided into the outer and inner .

core

The Lehman Discontinuity lies between the outer core and the core.

inner

The lithosphere is the rigid outer shell that includes the crust and the uppermost solid .

mantle

The mantle contains convection currents due to temperature .

changes

The boundary between crust and mantle is the Moho .

discontinuity

The layer beneath the lithosphere that is plastic and allows plate motion is the .

asthenosphere

The Greek meaning of Lithosphere is .

rock

The lithosphere includes the crust and the uppermost solid .

mantle

The thickness of the continental crust is between 30 and km.

60

Oceanic crust thickness is about km (5–8 km).

5–8

Plate tectonics margins include Divergent, Convergent, and .

Transform

Divergent margins are constructive and feature a topography of a /Rift.

Ridge

Convergent margins are destructive and often produce a volcanic .

arc

Transform margins involve lateral sliding and are called the margin.

Conservative

The Hydrosphere includes all water on Earth; major subsystems include Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and .

Atmosphere

Epipelagic Zone is the Sunlight Zone where photosynthesis occurs; it includes organisms like sharks, seaweeds, tuna, and .

turtles

Mesopelagic Zone is the Twilight Zone; it is slightly penetrated by light and includes organisms such as eel, cuttlefish, and .

octopus

Bathypelagic Zone is the Midnight Zone with no light; organisms include jellyfish, vampire squid, and lantern fish. The Bathypelagic Zone is also known as the Zone.

Midnight

Abyssopelagic Zone is the Abyss Zone; water pressure is high and organisms include sea cucumbers and shrimps. It is called the Zone.

Abyss

Hadalpelagic Zone is named after the Greek god of the underworld, .

Hades

Atmosphere is about 78 percent , 21 percent oxygen, and 1 percent other gases.

nitrogen

Exosphere is the outermost layer of the atmosphere; the region beyond it lies outer .

space

The layer that contains the OZONE and protects Earth from ultraviolet radiation is the .

Stratosphere

The layer where meteors start to burn is the .

Mesosphere

The Ionosphere traps ions and can affect signals; it is located in the phere.

Thermosphere

The magnetosphere is the region where Earth’s magnetic field and the Sun’s charged particles meet. It is the phere.

magnetosphere

The biosphere is made up of living things and areas of Earth where they are .

found

Organisms usually need or carbon dioxide to carry out life processes.

oxygen

Lithosphere is derived from the Greek word LITHOS meaning .

rock

The lithosphere includes the crust and the uppermost solid .

mantle

Mantle convection currents are driven by changes in .

temperature

The boundary between the mantle and outer core is the Gutenberg .

discontinuity

The boundary between the outer core and inner core is the Lehman .

discontinuity

The boundary between the crust and mantle is the Moho .

discontinuity