Earth Science Ch.13: Climate Comprehensive Vocabulary
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Created by:
kkirschner on March 22, 2012
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281 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 atoll | ring-shaped coral reef around a lagoon |
| barrier reef | coral reef that forms around a sunken volcanic island |
| continental shelf | part of a continent that slopes gently away from the shoreline |
| continental slope | part of a continent between the continental shelf and the ocean floor |
| coral | small animals found in warm, shallow ocean waters |
| Coriolis effect | bending of Earth's winds and ocean currents by Earth's rotation |
| crest | highest point on an ocean wave |
| current | stream of water flowing in the oceans |
| density current | stream of water that moves up and down in ocean depths |
| ebb tide | outgoing, or falling tide |
| flood tide | incoming, or rising tide |
| fringing reef | coral reef that is directly attached to a shore |
| guyot | flat-topped, underwater seamount |
| lagoon | shallow body of water between a reef and the mainland |
| nodule | mineral lump found on the ocean floor |
| oceanography | study of Earth's oceans |
| ooze | ocean sediment that contains the remains of many ocean organisms |
| salinity | amount of dissolved salts in ocean water |
| seamount | volcanic mountain on the ocean floor |
| sonar | echo-sounding system that bounces sound waves off the ocean floor |
| submersible | underwater research vessel |
| thermocline | layer of ocean water in which the temperature drops sharply with depth |
| tide | regular change in the level of Earth's oceans |
| trench | deep canyon on the ocean floor |
| trough | lowest point of an ocean wave |
| wave | regular up-and-down movement of water |
| world ocean | body of salt water covering much of Earth's surface |
| condensation | changing of a gas to a liquid |
| evaporation | changing of a liquid to a gas |
| geyser | heated groundwater that erupts onto Earth's surface |
| groundwater | water that collects in pores in soil and sinks into the ground |
| kettle lake | lake formed by a retreating glacier |
| lake | low spot in Earth's surface filled with still water |
| meander | loop in a mature river |
| oxbow lake | curved lake formed when a bend in a river is cut off at both ends |
| pond | body of water similar to a lake but usually smaller and shallower |
| pore | tiny hole or space |
| precipitation | water that falls to Earth's surface from the atmosphere |
| rapids | part of a river where the current is swift |
| reservoir | artificial lake |
| spring | natural flow of groundwater to Earth's surface |
| water cycle | repeated pattern of water movement between Earth and the atmosphere |
| waterfall | steep fall of water, as of a stream, from a height |
| water table | upper layer of saturated rock and soil |
| well | hole dug below the water table that fills with groundwater |
| abrasion | wearing away of rock particles by wind and water |
| cave system | series of connected underground caves |
| deflation | removal of loose material from Earth's surface by wind |
| delta | triangular deposit of sediment located at the mouth of a river |
| deposition | process by which material carried by erosion is dropped in new places |
| drumlin | oval-shaped mound of till |
| erosion | process by which weathered material is removed and carried from a place |
| erratic | boulder left behind by a retreating glacier |
| floodplain | flat area on the side of a river where sediments are deposited during floods |
| glacier | moving river of ice and snow |
| hanging valley | small glacial valley above a main valley |
| iceberg | large piece of a glacier that enters the ocean |
| ice cap | large sheet of ice found near Earth's poles |
| karst topography | land that has sinkholes, caverns, and underground rivers |
| kettle lake | lake formed by a retreating glacier |
| loess | thick deposits of windblowen dust |
| longshore current | movement of water parallel to a shoreline |
| mass erosion | downhill movement of weathered materials caused by gravity |
| moraine | ridge of till deposited by a melting glacier |
| runoff | water from rain or snow that flows into streams and rivers from surface areas |
| sand bar | long, offshore underwater deposit of sand |
| sea arch | gap formed when waves cut completely through a section of rock |
| sea stack | column of rock remaining after the collapse of a sea arch |
| sediment | rock particles carried and deposited by water, wind, or ice |
| sinkhole | large hole in the ground formed when the roof of a cavern collapses |
| spit | long, narrow deposit of sand connected at one end to the shore |
| talus | pile of rocks and rock particles that collects at the base of a slope |
| till | rock material deposited by a glacier |
| tribuitary | smaller stream that flows into the main stream of a river system |
| wave-cut terrace | flat section of rock formed by the erosion of a sea cliff |
| acid rain | rain containing acids produced by water chemically combined wtih certain gases |
| bedrock | soild rock that lies beneath the soil |
| carbonation | chemical reaction that occurs when carbonic acid reacts with certain minerals |
| chemical weathering | weathering that changes the chemical makeup of rocks |
| horizon | soil layer |
| humus | decaying remains of plants & animals |
| hydrolysis | chemical reaction that occurs when minerals with little water content react with water |
| ice wedging | mechanical weathering caused by the freezing & melting of water |
| leaching | removing or washing away the minerals in soil |
| mechanical weathering | weathering in which the chemical makeup of rocks does not change |
| oxidation | chemical change that occurs when oxygen reacts with another substance |
| residual soil | soil remaining on top of the bedrock from which it formed |
| soil | mixture that includes silt, sand, and clay |
| soil profile | all the layers that make up the soil in an area |
| texture | size of soil particles |
| transported soil | soil moved away from the bedrock from which it was formed |
| weathering | breaking down of rocks and other materials on Earth's surface |
| continental drift | theory that the continents were at once one or more times a single landmass that broke apart and eventually moved into the positions they are in today. |
| convection current | movement of a gas or a liquid caused by changes in temperature. |
| hot spot | place where magma reaches the surface of a tectonic plate. |
| magma chamber | underground pocket of molten rock. |
| mid-ocean ridge | an ocean-floor feature resembling a mountain ridge on land. |
| Pangaea | single, giant landmass, or continent, that later broke apart. |
| plate boundary | place where two plates meet. |
| rift valley | flat area between two ridges that is formed by spreading plates. |
| seafloor spreading | process that forms new seafloor. |
| subduction zone | place where old oceanic crust is forced back down into an ocean trench. |
| tectonic plate | large, solid piece of Earth's surface. |
| theory of plate tectonics | theory that Earth's crust is broken into plates that float on the upper part of the mantle. |
| trench | deep canyon on the ocean floor. |
| anticline | upward fold of a mountain. |
| caldera | large hole that forms when the roof of a magma dome collapses. |
| cinder cone | volcanic cone made up of rock particles, dust, and ash. |
| composite cone | volcanic cone made up of alternating layers of lava and rock particles. |
| crater | pit at the top of a volcanic cone. |
| dome mountain | mountain formed when upfolds in rocks created a rounded structure that looks like a bowl turned upside down. |
| earthquake | sudden, strong movement of Earth's crust. |
| elevation | height of a point on Earth above or below sea level. |
| epicenter | place on Earth's surface directly above the focus. |
| fault | break in Earth's crust along which movement occurs. |
| fault-block mountains | mountain formed when normal faults uplift a block of rock. |
| focus | point beneath Earth's surface where an earthquake starts. |
| folded mountain | mountain formed by the folding of rock layers. |
| fracture | break in a rock. |
| L-wave | surface wave. |
| landform | physical feature of Earth's solid surface. |
| lava | magma that reaches Earth's surface. |
| P-wave | fastest earthquake wave. |
| plain | large, flat area just above sea level. |
| plateau | large, flat area at a high elevation. |
| Richter scale | scale that measures the energy released by an earthquake. |
| Ring of Fire | major earthquake and volcano zone that almost forms a circle around the Pacific Ocean. |
| S-wave | second earthquake wave to be recorded at a seismograph station. |
| seismic wave | earthquake wave. |
| seismograph | instrument that detects and measures earthquakes. |
| shield cone | volcanic cone made up of layers of hardened lava. |
| summit | highest point on a mountaintop. |
| syncline | downward fold of a mountain. |
| tsunami | large ocean wave caused by an earthquake. |
| vent | volcano opening from which lava flows. |
| volcanism | movement of magma inside Earth. |
| volcano | vent and the volcanic material around it. |
| absolute age | true age of a rock or fossil |
| amber | hardened tree sap |
| cast | mold filled with hardened sediments |
| coprolite | fossilized dung or the stomach contents of ancient animals |
| fossil | remains or traces of an organism that lived long ago |
| fossil fuel | natural fuel that was formed from the remains of living things, such as: coal, oil, or natural gas |
| gastrolith | stone used to grind food |
| geologic time scale | outline of the major divisions in Earth's history |
| half-life | length of time it takes for one-half the amount of a radioactive element to change into a stable element |
| index fossil | fossil used to help determine the relative age of rock layers |
| law of superposition | states that each undisturbed sedimentary rock layer is older than the layer above it |
| mold | imprint or hollow in rock that is shaped like and made by an organism |
| relative age | age of an object compared to the age of another object |
| clastic rock | sedimentary rock made up of fragments of rock |
| cycle | series of events that happen over and over again |
| foliated | texture of a metamorphic rock that has mineral crystals arranged in bands |
| igneous rock | rock formed by the crystallization of hot melted rock or minerals |
| lava | magma that reaches Earth's surface |
| magma | molten rock inside Earth |
| metamorphic rock | rock formed when existing rocks are changed by heat and pressure |
| molten rock | melted minerals |
| nonclastic rock | sedimentary rock made up of dissolved minerals or the remains of living things |
| nonfoliated | texture of metamorphic rock that does not have mineral crystals arranged in bands |
| pluton | large body of igneous rock that can form into different shapes when magma cools inside Earth's crust |
| rock | mixture of minerals, generally cemented together |
| rock cycle | series of natural processes by which rocks are slowly changed from one kind of rock to another kind of rock |
| sediment | rock particles carried and deposited by water, wind, or ice |
| sedimentary rock | rock formed from pieces of other rocks that are pressed together |
| texture | size of crystals in an igneous rock |
| acid test | test that helps to identify minerals containing calcium carbonate |
| atom | smallest part of an element that can be identified as that element |
| chemical formula | formula that shows the elements that make up a compound |
| chemical symbol | shorthand way of writing the name of an element |
| cleavage | tendency of some minerals to split along smooth, flat surfaces called planes |
| compound | substance made up of two or more elements that are chemically combined |
| crystal | solid substance with its atoms arranged in a regular, three-dimensional pattern |
| crystallization | formation of minerals caused by processes such as cooling and evaporation |
| density | amount of matter in a given volume |
| element | simple substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means |
| evaporation | process by which a liquid changes into a gas |
| fracture | tendency of some minerals to break into pieces with uneven surfaces |
| gem | stone that has been cut and polished |
| hardness | property of a mineral that relates to how much the mineral resists being scratched |
| luster | how a mineral's surface reflects light |
| magnetism | force of attraction or repulsion assoicated with magnets |
| mineral | naturally occurring, inorganic solid formed from elements or compounds and having a definite chemical makeup and regular atomic structure |
| molecule | smallest part of a substance that has all the properties of that substance |
| ore | mineral that is mined because it contains useful metals or nonmetals |
| physical property | observable characteristic that describes an object |
| precipitation | process that occurs when elements and compounds leave a solution and crystallize out as solids |
| solution | mixture in which the particles of one substance are evenly mixed with the particles of another substance |
| streak | color of the powder left by a mineral |
| subscript | number in a chemical formula that shows how many of each atom are in one molecule of a compound |
| atmosphere | envelope of gases surrounding Earth |
| contour interval | difference in elevation between one contour line and the next |
| contour line | line drawn on a map that connects all points having the same elevation |
| core | innermost region of Earth |
| crust | solid, thin outer layer of Earth |
| distortion | error in shape, size, or distance |
| earth science | study of Earth and its history |
| elevation | height of a point on Earth above or below sea level |
| globe | three-dimensional model of Earth's surface |
| hydrosphere | part of Earth that is water |
| latitude | distance in degrees north or south of the equator |
| legend | list of map symbols and their meanings |
| lithosphere | solid part of Earth |
| longitude | measurment in degrees east or west of the prime meridian |
| mantle | thick layer of Earth below the crust |
| map | flat model of Earth's surface |
| map projection | drawing of Earth's surface, or part of it, on a flat surface |
| meridian | line on a map or a globe running fron the North Pole to the South Pole along Earth's surface |
| parallel | horizontal line on a map or globe that circles Earth from east to west at intervals starting at the equator |
| scale | feature that relates distances on a map to actual distances on Earth's surface |
| specialist | person who studies or works on only one part of a subject |
| sphere | round, three-dimensional object |
| symbol | drawing on a map that represents a real object |
| topography | general form and shape of the land on Earth's surface |
| data | information you collect when you observe something |
| model | tool scientists use to represent an object or process |
| simulation | computer model that usually shows a process |
| unit | amount used to measure something |
| meter | basic unit of length or distance |
| mass | amount of matter in something |
| gram | basic unit of mass |
| volume | amount of space an object takes up |
| liter | basic unit of liquid volume |
| meniscus | curve at the surface of a liquid in a thin tube |
| temperature | measure of the amount of heat energy something contains |
| communication | sharing information |
| infer | to form a conclusion |
| predict | to state ahead of time what you think is going to happen |
| hypothesis | suggested answer to a question or problem |
| theory | set of hypotheses that have been supported by testing over and over again |
| variable | anything that can affect the outcome of an experiment |
| constant | something that does not change |
| controlled experiment | experiment in which all the conditions except one are kept constant |
| air current | up-and-down movement of air |
| anemometer | instrument that measures wind speed |
| atmosphere | envelope of gases surrounding the Earth |
| barometer | instrument used to measure air pressure |
| cellular respiration | process by which a cell releases energy from food molecules |
| conduction | transfer of heat through matter by direct contact |
| convection | transfer of heat within a liquid or a gas |
| matter | anything that has mass and volume |
| mesosphere | third layer of the atmosphere |
| monsoon | wind that changes direction within the seasons |
| newton | metric unit of force |
| pressure | amount of force per unit of area |
| radiant energy | energy given off by the Sun that can travel through empty space |
| radiation | movement of the Sun's energy through empty space |
| stratosphere | second layer of the atmosphere |
| thermosphere | upper layer of the atmosphere |
| troposphere | lowest layer of the atmosphere |
| wind | horizontal movement of air |
| wind vane | instrument that indicates wind direction |
| air mass | large volume of air with about the same temperature and amount of moisture throughout |
| capacity | amount of material something can hold |
| cirrus cloud | light, feathery cloud |
| cold front | forward edge of a cold air mass, formed when a cold air mass pushes under a warm air mass |
| condensation | changing of a gas to a liquid |
| cumulus cloud | big, puffy clouds |
| dew point | temperature to which air must be cooled to reach saturation |
| evaporation | changing of a liquid into a gas |
| front | boundary between air masses of different densities |
| frost | ice formed from condensation below the freezing point of water |
| humidity | amount of water vapor in the air |
| hurricane | tropical storm with very strong winds |
| isobar | line on a weather map that connects points of equal air pressure |
| isotherm | line on a weather map that joins places that have the same temperatures |
| millibar | unit of measurement for air pressure |
| polar air mass | air mass that forms over cold regions |
| precipitation | water that falls to Earth from the atmosphere |
| psychrometer | instrument used to find relative humidity |
| rain gauge | device used to measure precipitation |
| relative humidity | amount of water vapor in the air compared with the amount of water vapor the air can hold at capacity |
| saturated | filled to capacity |
| specific humidity | actual amount of water in the air |
| station model | record of weather information at a weather station |
| stratus cloud | sheetlike cloud that forms layers across the sky |
| thunderstorm | storm with thunder, lightning, and often heavy rain and strong winds |
| tornado | small, very violent funnel-shaped cloud that spins |
| transpiration | process by which plants give off water vapor into the air |
| tropical air mass | air mass that forms over warm regions |
| warm front | forward edge of a warm air mass, formed when a warm air mass pushes over a cold air mass |
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