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ES Regents Vocab
Glossary of terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Abrasion | The act of rock particles scraping or wearing away against other rock. |
| Absolute Dating | Using radioactive decay to determine the exact age of a rock, fossil, or event. |
| Agents of Erosion | Forces that are set in motion by gravity that causes sediments to move. |
| Air Currents | The rising or sinking movement of air perpendicular to the ground. |
| Air Mass | Characteristics of the air identified by temperature and moisture. |
| Air Pressure | The force exerted on a unit of area by the air that is exerted equally in every direction. |
| Altitude | The angular distance measured above the horizon in degrees. |
| Anemometer | An instrument used to measure the speed of the wind. |
| Asthenosphere | A partially melted layer that allows for parts of the lithosphere to move. |
| Asteroid Belt | A region between Mars and Jupiter where most of the asteroids are found orbiting the Sun. |
| Astronomy | The study of Earth’s motions and celestial objects in outer space. |
| Atmosphere | Layer of gases that surround Earth or any other planet. |
| Azimuth | Angular distance along the horizon measured from due north. |
| Banding | Type of foliation where pressure separates minerals into alternating light and dark layers. |
| Barometer | An instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure. |
| Big Bang | Leading theory of the origin of the Universe as observed from the expanding Universe. |
| Bioclastic | Sedimentary rock type that forms from the remains of plants and animals. |
| Celestial Object | Natural objects that can be seen in the sky that is above Earth’s atmosphere. |
| Cementation | The act or process of holding sediment or pieces of rock together. |
| Chemical Weathering | The breakdown of rock through a change in mineral or chemical composition. |
| Circle | A perfect geometric figure with one center point. |
| Continental Drift | The theory that Earth’s continents are moving. |
| Clastic | Sedimentary rock type that forms from the fragments or pieces of other rocks. |
| Continental Glacier | Huge sheets of ice that cover entire land masses. |
| Cleavage | The tendency of a mineral to break along zones of weakness and form flat or parallel surfaces. |
| Contour Index | Lines that are bolder and have an elevation labeled. |
| Climate | Overall view of a regions weather conditions over a long time span. |
| Contour Interval | The difference in elevation between two side by side contour lines. |
| Climatology | The study of Earth’s weather variables and patterns over long periods of time. |
| Contour Line | Lines drawn on a map that connect equal points of elevation. |
| Clinometer | An instrument that is used to measure an incline. |
| Convection | Driving force of plate movement. |
| Cold Front | A boundary where more dense cold air advances under less dense warm air pushing it up. |
| Convergent Boundary | Boundary where two lithospheric plates are coming together. |
| Colloid | A small particle that remains suspended indefinitely. |
| Coordinate System | A system which uses one or more numbers to locate a position. |
| Compaction | The consolidation of sediments resulting from the weight of overlying deposits. |
| Coriolis Effect | The tendency of particles to be deflected from a straight line. |
| Condensation | The process which atmospheric water vapor turns into precipitation [gas to a liquid]. |
| Correlation | The process of showing that rocks or geologic events from different places are similar in age. |
| Contact Metamorphism | Localized metamorphism resulting from the heat of an igneous intrusion. |
| Crescent Moon | Figure of the moon resembling a segment of a ring tapering to points at the ends. |
| Crystalline | A naturally occurring solid that is formed as and composed of crystals. |
| Cyclic Change | A repeating pattern that occurs over and over again |
| Density | The degree of compactness of a substance which is the ratio of mass to its volume. |
| Eccentricity | The degree of flatness or “ovalness” of an ellipse. |
| Ecology | The study of how living things interact with their environments. |
| Electromagnetic Energy | Energy that is radiated through space in the forms of transverse waves. |
| Dependent Variable | The variable that is measured and affected in an experiment. |
| Element | A substances that cannot be separated into simpler substances by chemical means. |
| Deposition | The process by which sediments are released from erosion. |
| Elevation | The vertical distance or height above or below sea level. |
| Depression Contours | Contour lines marked with hachured lines that signify a depression. |
| Ellipse | Special geometric shape with two center points and is the oval shape of a planet’s orbits. |
| Dewpoint | The temperature at which air must be cooled for water vapor to condense. |
| Eon | A longest division of geologic time that is further subdivided. |
| Direct Relationship | When the x-axis and y-axis increase. |
| Epicenter | Location on the surface directly above the focus. |
| Divergent Boundary | Boundary where two lithospheric plates are moving apart. |
| Epoch | A division of time that is a subdivision of a period that is based on fossil records. |
| Drumlin | A low oval mound consisting of glacial till. |
| Equator | The horizontal main reference line of latitude [0°]. |
| Earthquake | A natural shaking of the lithosphere caused by a release of energy stored in rocks. |
| Era | A major division of time that is a subdivision of an eon and is based on fossil records. |
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