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Earth Systems- TEST

Terms in this set (27)

Atmosphere
air, wind, greenhouse gasses, oxygen...
Hydrosphere
oceans, rivers, groundwater, glaciers...
Lithosphere
rocks, minerals, volcanoes, sand...
Biosphere
plants, animals, fungi, microbes...
Cryosphere
all the frozen water in, on, and around the earth
Matter
that which has mass and occupies space (stuff)
Energy
the ability to do work
System
a group of parts that work together for a specific purpose.
Open System
A system in which matter and energy enter and leave.
Closed System
A system in which only energy enters and leaves but matter does not.
Fluid
a substance that tends to flow and takes the outline of its container: a liquid or a gas
Density
The amount of matter in a given space
Runoff
Water that flows across the surface of the earth
Evaporation
When a liquid gains thermal energy and changes into a gas
Transpiration
The loss of water vapor from the leaves of plants
Condensation
When water vapor loses thermal energy and changes into a liquid
Precipitation
The falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist)
Melting
The process whereby a solid gains thermal energy and changes to a liquid when heated.
Freezing
The process whereby a liquid loses thermal energy and changes to a solid when cold.
Sublimation
The process of changing directly from a solid into a vapor without melting
Ground Water
Water below the surface of the earth
Rain
A form of precipitation that falls from the clouds when the temperature is above 32˚F
Snow
A form of precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals.
Sleet
A form of precipitation falling from clouds as rain that freezes on the way to the ground.
Hail
A form of precipitation falling from clouds as layers of ice
Humidity
The amount of moisture in the air.
Dew Point
The temperature to which air must cool to be completely saturated.
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