Earth Systems Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key Earth Systems terms and definitions directly from the lecture text.

Atmosphere

A thin layer of gases surrounding Earth

Biosphere

all life on Earth and all the places where life exists

Compaction/Cementation

the process where sediments are pressed and fused together by the weight of everything above it.

Condensation

The change from a gas to a liquid

Convection

The transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas

Crystallization

The process in which mineral crystals form as molten rock cools

Deposition

The process in which material is laid down

Erosion

Processes by which rock, sand, and soil are broken down and carried away

Evaporation

The change of a liquid to a gas

Extrusive

Igneous rock that forms when magma cools quickly at or near Earth's surface with no visible crystals

Foliation

The metamorphic rock texture in which mineral grains are arranged in planes or bands.

Geosphere

all the rock at and below Earth's surface

Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous circulation of water among the atmosphere, the oceans, and the earth. (Also called the Water Cycle)

Hydrosphere

All the water at and near the surface of the earth, $97\%$ of which is in oceans

Igneous

Rock that forms from the cooling of molten rock at or below the surface

Intrusive

A type of igneous rock that cools slowly below the Earth's surface creating large crystals

Lava

Molten rock that reaches Earth's surface

Magma

Molten rock beneath the earth's surface

Metamorphic

A type of rock that forms from an existing rock that is changed deep in the Earth by heat and pressure

Non-Renewable Resources

Any natural resource that takes a significant amount of time to replenish itself

Percolation

The downward movement of water through soil and rock due to gravity.

Petroleum (Oil)

A fossil fuel that originally came from ancient sea life that has been transformed by heat and pressure.

Precipitation

Water that falls to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail

Renewable Resources

Any natural resource that can replenish itself in a relatively short period of time

Rock Cycle

Processes on the surface and inside Earth that slowly change rocks from one kind to another

Run-Off

water that flows over the ground surface rather than soaking into the ground

Sediment

Small, solid pieces of material that come from rocks or living things

Sedimentary

A type of rock that forms when sediment from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together

Solar Energy

energy that comes from the sun

Transpiration

Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant

Water Vapor

water in the form of a gas