Question | Answer |
core | earths center, where pressures and temps are very high |
mantle | section of earths interior that lies above the outer core and has the most mass |
magma | liquid rock within earth |
plate tectonics | the theory that Earth's crust is divided into rigid plates that slowly move across the upper mantle |
continental drift | process by which earth's plates slowly move across the upper mantle |
rift valleys | places on earths surface where the crust stretches until it breaks |
abyssal plains | areas of the ocean floor where rocks graudally sink because they have no supporting heat below them, the worlds flattest and smoothest regions |
continental shelves | where continental surfaces extend under the shallow oceans water around the continent |
faults | plates where rock masses have been broken apart and are moving away from each other |
weathering | process by which rocks break and decay over time |
sediment | small particles of weathered rock |
erosion | movement of surface material from one location to another by wind, water, and ice |
glaciers | thick masses of ice, including great ice sheets and bodies of ice that flow down mountains like slow rivers |
plateau | an elevated flat area that rises sharply above nearby land on at least one side |
alluvial fan | fan shaped deposit of mud and gravel often found along the bases of mountains |
delta | accumulation of sediment at the mouth of a river |
desalinization | process of removing salt from ocean water |
hydrologic cycle | movement of water through the hydrosphere |
trubutary | any smaller stream or river that flows into another stream or river |
drainage basin | a region drained by its river and its tributaries |
estauries | semi enclosed bodies of water, sea water, and fresh water where a river meets an inlet of the sea |
wetlands | landscapes that are covered with water for at least one part of the year |
humus | broken down plant and animal matter |
soil exhaustion | condition where soil has lost nutrients and becomes nearly useless for farming |
reforestation | replanting of a forest |
acid rain | polluted rain that can damage trees and kill fish in lakes |
fossil fuel | energy resources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals including coal, natural gas and pertroleum |
petrochemical | certain products made from oil |
hydrologic power | electricity produced by moving water |
geothermal energy | heat of earths interior |