continent
landmasses above water on earth
solar system
the sun plus the nine know planets and other clestial bodies orbiting the sun
core
the solid metallic center of the earth
mantle
a soft layer of molten rock that floats on top of the core
crust
the thin layer of rock at the surface of the earth
magma
molten rock that is the result of the magma melting the underside of the earth's crust
atmosphere
layer of gases, including oxygen, that surrounds the earth
lithosphere
the solid rock portion of the earth's surface
hydrosphere
the water elements of the earth, including oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, and water in the atmosphere
biosphere
the part of the earth where plants and animals live
continent drift
theory that a supercontinent divided and drifted apart over time
hydrologic cycle
the continues circulation of water between the atmosphere, oceans, and earth
drainage basin
an area drained by a major river and its tributaries
ground water
water held in rock pores beneath the soil
water table
the level at which the rock is saturated
landform
naturally formed features on the earth's surface
continental shelf
the earth's surface from the edge of a continent to the edge of the deep part of the ocean
relief
the difference in elevation of a landform from the lowest point to the highest point
topography
the combination of characteristics of the landforms and their distribution in a region
tectonic plate
an enourmous moving piece that forms the earth's crust
fault
a fracture in the earth's crust
earhtquake
violent movement of the earth caused by the movement of tectonic plates
seismograph
a device that measures the size of an earthquake
epicenter
point on the earth's surface directly above an earthquake
Richter scale
a scale that measures the energy released during an earthquake
tsunami
a giant wave in the ocean caused by an earthquake
volcano
an opening in the earth's crust where magma and gases escape
lava
what magma is called when it reaches the earth's surface
Ring of Fire
a zone around the rim of the Pacific Ocean where most active volcanoes are found
weathering
physical or chemical processes that change the characteristics of rock of near the earth's surface
sediment
small pieces of rock
mechanical weathering
process that breaks down rock
chemical weathering
process that changes rock into a new substance
erosion
weathered material moved by wind, water, ice or gravity
delta
landform created when sediment is deposited as a river enters the ocean
loess
wind-blown silt and clay seidment that produces very fertile soil
glacier
a large, long-lasting mass of ice
glaciation
the changing of landorms by the movements of glaciers
moraine
a ridge of rocks left behind by a glacier
humus
organic matter in the soil
what are the layers inside the earth?
core, mantle, crust
how did the continents take shape?
continental drift
how does the motion of the ocean distribute heat?
winds get heated/cooled by ocean, then affects air on land
where is water under the ground found?
in the soil and below the soil
what landforms are found in oceans?
ridges, valleys, canyons, plains and mountain chains
what does a topographic map show?
landorms with their vertical dimensions in relation to others
how does magma move under the earth's crust?
it circulates like a conveyor belt
how do plates move?
the tectonic plates move in one of four ways:
1.sliding past each other in a shearing motion
2.subduction, or dividing uner another plate
3.convergence, or crashing into one another
4.spreading, or moving apart
three types of boundaries mark plate movements:
-Divergent boundary: plates move apart.
-Convergent boundary: plates collide with each other.
-Transform boundary: plates slide past one another.
what happens when plates meet each other?
the may cause folding and cracking of rock
how is earthquake damage caused?
by squeezing, stretching, and shearing motions in the earth's crust
what happens during a volcanic eruption?
hot lava, gases, ash, dust, and rocks pour out of cracks in the earth's surface
what are hot springs and geysers?
indicators of 'hot spots' in the earth's crust
how does climate affect rock decomposition?
they recieve greater mechanical weathering
what are three kinds of water erosion?
wind, water, glacial
where do glaciers form?
mountainous regions, regions generally covered with heavy snowfall and ice
what are five soil factors geographers study?
parent material, relief, organisms, climate, time
parent material
the chemical composition affects fertility
relief
steeper slopes erode easily and produce soil slowly
organisms
small animals such as worms and ants help loosen soil. Bacteria helps material decompose; this supplies food for plants
climate
hot and cold climates produce different soils. The same is true for wet and dry climates
time
the amount of time to produce soil vavies