Earth's Systems

Unit One

conduction

the transfer of energy between objects that are touching; causes energy to move from the warmer object to the cooler object

convection

the transfer of energy caused by the circulation of matter due to differences in density

core

Earth’s hot, dense, innermost rock layer, located below the mantle

crust

Earth’s thin, cool, and rigid outermost rock layer

density

a property of matter that is equal to the amount of mass in a certain volume of matter

mantle

Earth’s hot, middle rock layer, located between the crust and the core

radiation

the transfer of energy as light through space or transparent objects

deposition

the accumulation of eroded rock material transported from another location

erosion

the removal of rock material by wind, water, ice, or gravity

uniformitarianism

the idea that any natural processes we can observe today happened in the same way in the past and will also happen in the same way in the future

uplift

the upward movement of large areas of Earth’s crust caused by forces deep beneath the surface

weathering

the physical or chemical breakdown of rock on Earth’s surface

geothermal energy

energy from Earth’s hot interior

natural resource

a useful source of material or energy that comes from nature

nonrenewable resource

a natural resource that is used up faster than it is replenished, or exists in a limited supply

ore

a rock that contains a large amount of valuable elements; can be mined for a profit

per capita consumption

the average amount of a certain resource consumed by a single person in a certain area on Earth

petroleum

a liquid that formed millions of years ago from the burial of marine organisms; can be used as a source of energy

renewable resource

a natural resource that is replenished faster than it is used up, or exists in such great supply that it cannot be depleted

soil

a mixture of rock and mineral particles, living and once

sustainable

the use of natural resources in a way that ensures their availability to future generations of humans

total consumption

the total amount of a certain resource consumed by all the people in a certain area on Earth