Download Chapter 32 Section 1 Vocabulary

Chapter 3 Vocabulary- The Dynamic Earth
Section 1- The Geosphere
1. Geosphere- the solid part of the Earth that consists of all rock, as well as the soils and loose rocks on
Earth’s surface
2. Crust- Earth’s thin, outer layer
3. Mantle- layer beneath the crust
4. Core- innermost layer
5. Lithosphere- Earth’s outer layer
6. Asthenosphere- layer beneath the lithosphere and made of tectonic plates
7. Tectonic plate- outermost layer of Earth is divided into pieces
8. Erosion- removal and transport of surface material
Section 2- The Atmosphere
1. Atmosphere- mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth
2. Troposphere- extends 18km above Earth’s surface
3. Stratosphere- extends from 18km-50km above Earth’s surface
4. Ozone- molecule made up of three oxygen atoms
5. Radiation- transfer of energy across space and in the atmosphere
6. Conduction- flow of heat from a warmer object to a colder object when the objects are placed in direct
physical contact.
7. Convection- transfer of heat by air currents
8. Greenhouse effect- Gases trap heat near the Earth
Section 3- The Hydrosphere and Biosphere
1. Water cycle- continuous movement of water into the air, onto the land, and then back to water
2. Evaporation- process by which water is heated and rises into the atmosphere as water vapor
3. Condensation- water vapor forms water droplets
4. Precipitation- rain, snow, sleet, hail
5. Salinity- concentration of dissolved salts in water
6. Freshwater- 3% of Earth’s water is fresh; little salt
7. Biosphere- narrow layer around Earth’s surface in which life can exist
Chapter 3 Review- The Dynamic Earth
Section 1 The Geosphere
 The solid part of the Earth that consists of all rock, and the soils and sediments on Earth’s surface, is the
geosphere.
 Earth’s interior is divided into layers based on composition and structure.
 Earth’s surface is broken into pieces called tectonic plates, which collide, separate, or slip past one
another.
 Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building are all events that occur at the boundaries of
tectonic plates.
 Earth’s surface features are continually altered by the action of water and wind.
Section 2 The Atmosphere
 The mixture of gages that surrounds the Earth is called the atmosphere.
 The atmosphere is composed almost entirely of nitrogen and oxygen.
 Earth’s atmosphere is divided into four layers based on changes in temperature that take place at
different altitudes.
 Heat is transferred in the atmosphere by radiation, conduction, and convection.
 Some of the gases in Earth’s atmosphere slow the escape of heat from Earth’s surface in what is known
as the greenhouse effect.
Section 3 The Hydrosphere and Biosphere
 The hydrosphere includes all of the water at or near Earth’s surface.
 Water in the ocean can be divided into three zones- the surface zone, the thermocline, and the deep
zone- based on temperature.
 The ocean absorbs and stores energy from sunlight, regulating temperatures in the atmosphere.
 Surface currents in the ocean affect the climate of the land they flow near.
 The biosphere is the narrow layer at the surface of the Earth where life can exist.
 Earth is a closed system because energy enters and leaves Earth, but matter does not.