| Term | Definition |
|---|
| continent | one of the seven large landmasses on the earth |
| solar system | sun, planets, and all the other objects that revolve around the sun |
| core | the central part of the Earth |
| mantle | the layer of the earth between the crust and the core |
| magma | molten rock beneath the earth's surface |
| crust | the outer layer of the Earth |
| atmosphere | a mixture of gases that surrounds Earth |
| lithosphere | the solid, outer rock layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle |
| hydrosphere | the watery layer of the earth's surface |
| biosphere | part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere |
| continental drift | the hypothesis that the continents slowly move across Earth's surface |
| Francis Bacon | first to develop the theory of a super continent |
| Alfred Wegener | Proved that the continents drifted coined the term "Pangaea" |
| hydrologic cycle | the natural process by which water is purified and made fresh through evaporation and precipitation. |
| drainage basin | an area drained by a major river and its tributaries |
| ground water | underground water that is held in the soil and in pores of rocks |
| water table | The "top" level of underground water where it reaches saturation |
| landform | A natural land shape or feature |
| continental shelf | a gently sloping, shallow area of the ocean floor that extends outward from the edge of a continent |
| relief | changes in elevation over a given area of land |
| topography | the configuration of a surface of the earth and the relations among its natural features |
| volcano | opening in earth's surface where gas and lava erupt |
| Strait | A narrow channel of water connecting two large bodies of water |
| Island | body of land surrounded by water |
| Delta | Triangular area formed at mouth of river where silt deposits |
| Flood Plain | Flat land near edges of river where flood waters move to |
| Swamp | lowland region saturated with water |
| Marsh | transitional area between river and solid land |
| River Mouth | place where river empties into larger body of water |
| Harbor | sheltered bay that is deep enough for ships to dock |
| Sea Level | level of oceans surface |
| Prairie | large area of land with little or no trees |
| Steppe | treeless plain with short grasses |
| Mountain | land form with steep sides, higher than a hill |
| Valley | low areas between hills or mountains |
| Oasis | fertile area in desert fed by underwater springs or streams |
| Butte | a flat topped rock or hill formation with steep sides |
| Mesa | broad, flat-topped land form with steep sides; smaller than a plateau |
| Plateau | a large area of flat land elevated high above sea level |
| Cliff | the steep, almost vertical, edge of a hill, mountain, or plain |
| Canyon | a deep valley with steep sides often carved from the earth by a river |
| Cataract | series of step like waterfalls |
| Glacier | a large ice mass that moves slowly down a mountain or over land |
Combine with other sets
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