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Transcript
troposphere: layer of the atmosphere in which weather occurs and we have direct contact with stratosphere: layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere containing naturally occurring ozone thermosphere: layer of the atmosphere above the mesosphere mesosphere: layer of atmosphere above the stratosphere albedo: a measure of the amount of solar radiation reflected by a surface of the earth saturation point: the maximum amount of water vapor that air can hold per given temperature adiabatic cooling: the cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands adiabatic heating: the heating effect of increased pressure on air as in sinks toward the earth and decreases in volume latent heat release: the release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water Hadley cells: atmospheric convection currents that cycle between the equator and 30º north and south Polar cells: atmospheric convection cells that form with air rising at 60º north and south and sinking at the poles (90º north and south) Intertropical Convergence Zone: area of the earth that receives the most direct solar radiation, fluctuates around the equator Coriolis effect: the deflection of an object’s path due to the rotation of the earth gyre: large-scale pattern of ocean surface currents; clockwise in the northern hemisphere, counterclockwise in the southern upwelling: the upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents thermohaline circulation: deep ocean currents that start in the poles with the sinking of cold and salty dense water El Nino-Southern Oscillation: periodic changes in trade winds and ocean currents in the Pacific Ocean that affect weather patterns globally rain shadow: region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of coastal mountain ranges magma: molten rock asthenosphere: the layer of the mantle in which convection current of semi-molten rock move the lithospheric plates above lithosphere: the uppermost layer of the mantle and the crust oceanic crust: crust that is made mostly of basaltic rock and is very dense continental crust: crust that is made mostly of granitic rock and is less dense than the other type of crust hot spots: places where molten material rises from the asthenosphere and reaches the lithosphere seafloor spreading: the formation of new oceanic crust as a result of divergent lithospheric plates volcano: a vent in the earth’s surface that emits ash, gases, or molten lava earthquake: the sudden movement of earth’s crust caused by a release of energy along a fault line mineral: a solid chemical substance with a uniform and often crystal structure intrusive igneous rock: rock that forms when magma rises up from the asthenosphere and cools underground in the lithosphere extrusive igneous rock: rock that forms when magma cools above the earth’s surface sedimentary rock: rock that forms when muds, sands, or gravels are compressed by overlying sediments metamorphic rock: rock that forms when other rocks are subjected to high temperature and pressure physical weathering: the mechanical breakdown of rocks and minerals chemical weathering: the chemical breakdown of rocks and minerals through reactions or dissolving erosion: the physical removal of rock fragments or soil from a landscape or ecosystem parent material: rock underlying soil from which the inorganic components of soil originate humus: partially decomposed organic material O horizon: when present, the top layer of soil composed of leaf litter and other recognizable organic components topsoil: the A horizon in a soil profile, composed of humus and inorganic material E horizon: the zone of leaching that forms under either the O or A horizon in acidic soils subsoil: the B horizon in a soil profile, composed mainly of inorganic mineral materials from the C horizon and nutrients that have leached from the O and A horizons soil texture: the ratio of particles of clay, silt, and sand in soil soil degradation: the loss of some or all of a soil’s ability to support plant growth loam: a mixture of 20% clay, 40% silt, and 40% sand base saturation: the proportion of bases to acids in soil cation exchange capacity: the ability of a soil to absorb and release cations windbreak/shelterbelt: border of trees around agricultural fields to limit erosion of topsoil by wind contour planting: planting with the contours of a hilly landscape terracing: cutting flat ledges into hilly landscapes for farming agroforestry: planting crop rows with alternating rows of trees to decrease erosion crop rotation: the alternation of crops with groundcover plants to decrease off-season erosion