Earth Systems Unit Vocabulary

Front 1

Atmosphere

Back 1

The layer of gasses that surrounds the Earth.

Front 2

Lithosphere

Back 2

The solid part of the earth, including the earth's and upper mantle.

Front 3

Hydrosphere

Back 3

All the waters on the earth's surface such as lakes and seas, and sometimes water over earth's surface including clouds.

Front 4

Biosphere

Back 4

The regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth that are occupied by living organisms.

Front 5

Altitude

Back 5

The height of an object above the level of the sea.

Front 6

Jet Stream

Back 6

Fast, flowing air currents that generally move in a westerly direction.

Front 7

Ozone layer

Back 7

A layer of variable gasses that is a form of oxygen and is found in the stratosphere; this layer absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Front 8

Temperature

Back 8

A measure of the amount of heat in a material, such as air.

Front 9

Density

Back 9

The mass per unit volume of matter [D= M/V]

Front 10

Radiation

Back 10

Energy from the sun, in the form of rays and can travel through space.

Front 11

Conduction

Back 11

Energy transfer by contact.

Front 12

Convention

Back 12

Energy transfers by warm masses rising and cool masses sinking.

Front 13

Thermal Energy

Back 13

The form of energy that is created by heat, or an increase in temperature

Front 14

Greenhouse Gas

Back 14

Is a gas in the atmosphere that absorbs and emits thermal energy; greenhouse gasses include; carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide.

Front 15

Nitrogen

Back 15

Most abundant permanent gas in the atmosphere

Front 16

Oxygen

Back 16

Second most abundant permanent gas in the atmosphere

Front 17

Carbon Dioxide

Back 17

Variable gas found in the atmosphere

Front 18

Oceanic Currents

Back 18

A continuous flow of surface ocean water in a prevailing direction and generated by the various forces [EX: Wind, Coriolis, Effect, Tides]

Front 19

Atmosphere currents

Back 19

is the large scale movement of air.

Front 20

Troposphere

Back 20

The lowest layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth.

Front 21

Stratosphere

Back 21

The layer above troposphere; The ozone layer is found here

Front 22

Mesosphere

Back 22

Located above the stratosphere; This layer is where meteors burn up in.

Front 23

Thermosphere

Back 23

Located above the mesosphere; not much is known about this layer;

Front 24

Exosphere

Back 24

The outermost layer, Furthest from Earth's surface. Contains very little air.