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APES Vocab
Earth Systems
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| A horizon | frequently the top layer of soil, a zone of organic material and minerals that have been mixed together; also known as topsoil |
| acid precipitation | precipitation high in sulfuric acid and nitric acid from reactions between water vapor and sulfur and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere; also known as acid rain |
| acid rain | precipitation high in sulfuric acid and nitric acid from reactions between water vapor and sulfur and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere; also known as acid precipitation |
| asthenosphere | the layer of Earth located in the outer part of the mantle, composed of semi-molten rock |
| B horizon | a soil horizon composed primarily of mineral material with very little organic matter |
| base saturation | the proportion of soil bases to soil acids, expressed as a percentage |
| C horizon | the least-weathered soil horizon which always occurs beneath the B horizon and is similar to the parent material |
| cation exchange capacity (CEC) | the ability to absorb and release cations |
| chemical weathering | the breakdown of rocks and minerals by chemical reactions, the dissolving of chemical elements from rocks, or both |
| convergent plate boundary | an area where plates move toward one another and collide |
| core | the innermost zone of Earth’s interior, composed mostly of iron and nickel; it includes a liquid outer layer and a solid inner layer |
| crust | in geology, the chemically distinct outermost layer of the lithosphere |
| divergent plate boundary | an area beneath the ocean where tectonic plates move away from each other |
| E horizon | a zone of leaching, or eluviation, found in some acidic soils under the O horizon or, less often, the A horizon |
| earthquake | the sudden movement of Earth’s crust caused by a release of potential energy along a geologic fault and usually causing a vibration or trembling at Earth’s surface |
| epicenter | the exact point on the surface of Earth directly above the location where rock ruptures during an earthquake |
| erosion | the physical removal of rock fragments from a landscape or ecosystem |
| extrusive igneous rock | rock that forms when magma cools above the surface of Earth |
| fault | a fracture in rock caused by a movement of Earth’s crust |
| fault zone | a large expanse of rock where a fault has occurred |
| fracture | in geology, a crack that occurs in rock as it cools |
| horizon | a horizontal layer in a soil defined by distinctive physical features such as texture and color |
| hot spot | in geology, a place where molten material from Earth’s mantle reaches the lithosphere |
| igneous rock | rock formed directly from magma |
| intrusive igneous rock | igneous rock that forms when magma rises up and cools in a place underground |
| lithosphere | the outermost layer of Earth, including the mantle and crust |
| magma | molten rock |
| mantle | the layer of Earth above the core, containing magma |
| metal | an element with properties that allow it to conduct electricity and heat energy, and to perform other important functions |
| metamorphic rock | rock that forms when sedimentary rock, igneous rock, or other metamorphic rock is subjected to high temperature and pressure |
| mining spoils | unwanted waste material created during mining; also known as tailings |
| mountaintop removal | a mining technique in which the entire top of a mountain is removed with explosives |
| O horizon | the organic horizon at the surface of many soils, composed of organic detritus in various stages of decomposition |
| open-pit mining | a mining technique that uses a large visible pit or hole in the ground |
| ore | a concentrated accumulation of minerals from which economically valuable materials can be extracted |
| parent material | the rock material from which the inorganic components of a soil are derived |
| physical weathering | the mechanical breakdown of rocks and minerals |
| placer mining | the process of looking for minerals, metals, and precious stones in river sediments |
| plate tectonics | the theory that the lithosphere of Earth is divided into plates, most of which are in constant motion |
| reserve | in resource management, the known quantity of a resource that can be economically recovered |
| Richter scale | a scale that measures the largest ground movement that occurs during an earthquake |
| rock cycle | the geologic cycle governing the constant formation, alteration, and destruction of rock material that results from tectonics, weathering, and erosion, among other processes |
| seafloor spreading | the formation of new ocean crust as a result of magma pushing upward and outward from Earth’s mantle to the surface |
| sedimentary rock | rock that forms when sediments such as muds, sands, or gravels are compressed by overlying sediments |
| seismic activity | the frequency and intensity of earthquakes experienced over time |
| soil degradation | the loss of some or all of a soil’s ability to support plant growth |
| strip mining | the removal of strips of soil and rock to expose ore |
| subduction | the process of one crustal plate passing under another |
| subsurface mining | mining techniques used when the desired resource is more than 100 m (328 feet) below the surface of Earth |
| tailings | unwanted waste material created during mining |
| tectonic cycle | the sum of the processes that build up and break down the lithosphere |
| topsoil | frequently the top layer of soil, a zone of organic material and minerals that have been mixed together |
| transform fault boundary | an area where tectonic plates move sideways past each other |
| volcano | a vent in the surface of Earth that emits ash, gases, or molten lava |
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mmcgra1236
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