Download Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes in Earth and Space Science Unit 1

Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes in Earth and Space Science
Root/Prefix/Suffix
-al
carb
cent
cycl
deci
graph
hydr, hygr
-ist
kilo
meter
-ology
sphere
Unit 1: Introduction to Earth Space Science
Meaning & Examples
relating to: geological, astronomical, terrestrial
carbon: carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, carbon cycle
hundred: centimeter, centigram, percent
circle, cycle: cyclone, nitrogen cycle, anticyclone
tenth: decibel, decimal, deciliter
writing, drawing: geography, oceanography, photography, topography
water: hydroelectric, hydrate, hydrothermal, hydrosphere
one who studies: meteorologist, geologist, environmentalist
thousand: kilogram, kilometer
measure: barometer, thermometer, diameter
study of; seismology, meteorology, climatology
ball: lithosphere, asthenosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere
Root/Prefix/Suffix
alt
anti
baro
calor
clud, clus
iso
nimb
therm
Unit 2: Weather
Meaning & Examples
high: altocumulus, altitude, altostratus
against, opposite: anticline, anticyclone
pressure: barometer, bar, barometric pressure, hyperbaric chamber
heat: calorimeter, calorie, kilocalorie
to close: occluded front, exclude, conclude, cluster
equal: isobar, isotherm, isocline
rain: nimbus, cumulonimbus
heat: thermal, geothermal, thermometer
Root/Prefix/Suffix
circ
eco
halo
micro
trans
Unit 3: Climate
Meaning & Examples
ring, around: circumference, circular, circulate
environment: ecology, ecosystem, ecocline
salt: halite, halogens, halocline
small: microclimate, microwave
across: transfer, transpiration
Root/Prefix/Suffix
crust
epi
flu, fluc
glaci
-ion
meso
rupt
sub
volcan
Unit 4: Forces that Shape the Earth
Meaning & Examples
shell: crust, encrusted, crustal
upon, above: epicenter, epicycle
flowing: fluid, fluctuate, magnetic flux
ice: glacier, glacial, glaze
process: erosion, conservation, decomposition
middle, between: mesosphere, Mesozoic
break: eruption, erupt, disrupt
under, below: subsoil, submerge, subduction
fire: volcano, volcanologist, volcanism
Root/Prefix/Suffix
aqu
benth
clin
mar
Unit 5: Surface Features
Meaning & Examples
water; aquifer, aqueous, aquarium, aquaculture
bottom of the sea: benthos, benthic, zoobenthos
slope: incline, clinometer, decline, halocline, thermocline
sea: marine, marsh, maritime
Root/Prefix/Suffix
cosm
e, ec, ex
equi
-oid
Unit 6: Planetary Formation
Meaning & Examples
universe, world: cosmic dust, cosmos, cosmic rays
out, without, from: eclipse, eccentric, ecliptic, exothermic
equal: equinox, equilateral, equator
like, form: metalloid, asteroid, meteoroid
Root/Prefix/Suffix
acceler
dia
grav
kine
nox, noc
ultra
Unit 7: Planetary Physics
Meaning & Examples
faster: accelerate, centripetal acceleration
through, across: diameter, diagonal, diagram
heavy: gravity, gravitational
motion: kinetic energy, kinetics
night: nocturnal, equinox
beyond: ultraviolet, ultrasound
Root/Prefix/Suffix
bi
fus
helio
lu, lum
nov
solar
Unit 8: The Stars and Our Sun
Meaning & Examples
two: binary star, bimetallic
melt, join: fusion, fuse, nuclear fusion
Sun: heliograph, heliocentric, heliosphere
light: luminous, translucent, luster
new: nova, supernova, novice
sun: solar wind, solar cell, solar system
Root/Prefix/Suffix
chron
geo
paleo
Unit 9: Earth’s History
Meaning & Examples
time: geochronology, chronic, synchronize
Earth: geothermal, geology, geography
ancient: paleontology, Paleozoic, paleomagnetism
Root/Prefix/Suffix
bio
herb
macro
photo
Unit 10: Biology Crossover
Meaning & Examples
life: biology, biome, biosphere
plants: herbivore, herbs, herbarium
large: macromolecule, macroscopic
light: photography, photosynthesis
Adapted from The Sourcebook for Teaching Science, Grades 6-12 (2008)