Earth's Systems and Interactions

These flashcards cover key concepts related to Earth's systems, their interactions, and cycles.

Geosphere

The solid part of the Earth, including rocks, minerals, and the inner and outer core.

Biosphere

The zone of life on Earth, where every living organism exists.

Hydrosphere

All the water on Earth, including rivers, lakes, oceans, streams, and even moisture in the air.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding the Earth, composed mainly of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide.

Lithosphere

The crust and upper part of the mantle of the Earth, constantly changing due to tectonic plate movement.

Troposphere

The layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth's surface, where most of the weather occurs.

Stratosphere

The layer of the atmosphere that contains high levels of ozone and is stable, with no weather occurring.

Mesosphere

The layer where most meteors burn up, characterized by low gas concentration.

Thermosphere

The layer that absorbs X-rays from the sun, causing temperature to increase with altitude.

Exosphere

The thin outer part of the atmosphere, representing the edge of space with very few particles.

Carbon cycle

The cycle in which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Rock cycle

The continuous process by which rocks are formed, broken down, and reformed in different types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

Water cycle

The cycle of water movement between the Earth and the atmosphere through processes like evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Renewable energy

Energy from sources that won’t run out, such as sunlight, wind, and water.

Non-renewable energy

Energy from sources that can run out, like coal, oil, and gas.