Lithosphere
The land, rocks, and physical surfaces of the planet earth
Convergent Boundary
Where two tectonic plates are moving together
Transform boundary
where two tectonic plates are moving past each other
Divergent boundary
where two tectonic plates are moving apart
chemical weathering
the breakdown of rocks by chemical reactions
physical weathering
the breaking down of rocks by pressure, temperature, and /or water action
erosion
the wearing and removal of rock by wind, water, or glacial movement
deposition
the laying down of eroded sediment
hydrosphere
the water located in the ground, on the surface, and in the air of planet earth
atmosphere
the air located in a sphere around the planet earth
Troposhere
The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere where all weather occurs
Stratosphere
The second lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere that contains the ozone layer
biosphere
all living things that exist upon earth
geosphere
the whole of earth, containing all rocks, water, air, and life
Evaporation
the process of liquid water gaining energy and changing into a gaseous state (vapor)
condensation
the process of water vapor loosing energy and changing into a liquid state
precipitation
the process of water falling from the atmosphere to the ground
infiltration
the process of water evaporating from the leaves of plants
aquifer
underground layer of rock that contains liquid water
hydrologic cycle
the movement of water within the environment
nutrient cycle
the movement of organic and inorganic matter within the enviroment