Download Earth Systems Unit Vocabulary Earth`s Spheres: Atmosphere: the

Earth Systems Unit Vocabulary
Earth’s Spheres:
Atmosphere: the layer of gases that surround the Earth
Lithosphere: the solid part of the earth, including the earth’s crust and upper mantle
Hydrosphere: all the waters on earth’s surface, such as lakes and seas, and sometimes
water over earth’s surface including clouds
Biosphere: the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of earth that are
occupied by living organisms
Atmospheric Vocabulary:
Altitude: the height of an object above the level of the sea
Jet stream: fast, flowing air currents that generally move in a westerly direction
Ozone layer: a layer of variable gases that is a form of oxygen and is found in the stratosphere; this
layer absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
Temperature: a measure of the amount of heat in a material, such as air
Density: the mass per unit volume of matter (D = M/V)
Radiation: energy from the sun, in the form of rays and can travel through space
Conduction: energy transfer by contact
Convection: energy transfers by warm masses rising and cool masses sinking
Thermal energy: the form of energy that is created by heat, or an increase in temperature
Greenhouse gases: is a gas in the atmosphere that absorbs and emits thermal energy;
greenhouse gases include: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide.
Nitrogen: most abundant permanent gas in the atmosphere (78% of atmosphere consists of
Nitrogen)
Oxygen: second most abundant permanent gas in the atmosphere (21% of atmosphere consists of
Oxygen)
Carbon dioxide: variable gas found in the atmosphere
Oceanic currents: a continuous flow of surface ocean water in a prevailing direction and generated
by the various forces (Ex. Wind, Coriolis Effect, tides)
Atmospheric currents: is the large-scale movement of air by which heat is distributed on the
surface of the Earth
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Troposphere: the lowest layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth; most of Earth’s air is
found here and this is where weather occurs
Stratosphere: the layer above the troposphere; the ozone layer is found in this layer
Mesosphere: located above the stratosphere; this is the layer in which meteors burn up to
create shooting stars and it is also the coldest layer
Thermosphere: located above the mesosphere; not much is known about this layer, but
there is not much air in this layer
Exosphere: the outermost layer, furthest from Earth’s surface; relatively thick layer but
contains very little air. It is the transitional layer between Earth’s atmosphere and outer
space.
Air Masses:
Air mass: a large body of air that has slowed down and formed over land or water.
Maritime tropical: warm, moist air mass
Maritime polar: cold, moist air mass
Continental tropical: hot, dry air mass
Continental polar: cold, dry air mass
Continental arctic: very cold, dry air mass
Front: the boundary between different air masses; precipitation occurs along a front
Cold front: when a cooler air mass replaces a warmer air mass; storms and precipitation
occur
Warm front: when a warmer air mass replaces a cooler air mass; light precipitation occurs
Weather Vocabulary:
Weather: the condition of the atmosphere at a given time with respect to heat, pressure,
moisture, and motion.
Climate: the weather conditions prevailing in an area over a long period of time
Wind: air that is moving parallel to the ground
Coriolis Effect: the way Earth’s rotation makes winds curve
Local winds: air that is moving across a small area due to the unequal heating of Earth’s
surface
Global winds: air that moves across the entire planet
Wind direction: the compass direction (North, East, South, West) from which wind is
coming
Wind speed: the measure of how fast the air is moving past a measuring point
Humidity: the amount of water vapor in the air
Pressure: the force of air pushing down in all directions
Low pressure systems: atmospheric pressure is lower than normal in this type of system:
brings cloud cover and precipitation
High pressure systems: atmospheric pressure is higher than normal in this type of system;
fair weather occurs (with little or no cloud cover/precipitation).
Biogeochemical Cycles:
Hydrologic cycle (The Water Cycle)
Evaporation: the change of a liquid into a gas by increased heat
Condensation: the change of a gas into a liquid caused by cooling
Precipitation: a form of water, such as rain, snow or sleet that condenses from the
atmosphere and becomes too heavy to remain suspended, and falls to the Earth’s surface
Runoff: water that runs off the land and fills rivers, lakes, streams, oceans, etc.
Carbon cycle: The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged
among all of Earth’s spheres.
Nitrogen cycle: The nitrogen cycle is the process by which nitrogen is converted between its
various chemical forms.