Question 1

Earth system

Accepted Answer

a way to keep track
of energy transfers into and out of the Earth system

Question 2

Geosphere

Accepted Answer

the layer of Earth made up of solid rock and other rocky materials.

Question 3

Hydrosphere

Accepted Answer

The total amount of water on a planet

Question 4

Cryosphere

Accepted Answer

Earth's ice in all its forms

Question 5

Biosphere

Accepted Answer

the region of the earth that encompasses all living organisms: plants, animals and bacteria.

Question 6

Energy budget

Accepted Answer

the balance between the amount of energy incoming to Earth from the Sun and the amount of energy outgoing from Earth back to space.

Question 7

Atmosphere

Accepted Answer

a mixture of gases that surrounds a
planet, moon, or other celestial body

Question 8

Air pressure

Accepted Answer

the measure of the force with which air 
molecules push on a surface

Question 9

Thermosphere

Accepted Answer

the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, 
in which temperature increases as altitude 
increases

Question 10

mesosphere

Accepted Answer

the strong, lower part
of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the
outer core, 2. the layer of the atmosphere between
the stratosphere and the thermosphere and in
which temperature decreases as altitude increases

Question 11

stratosphere

Accepted Answer

The layer of the atmosphere that lies between the troposphere and the mesosphere and  in which temperature increases as altitude increases; contains the ozone layer.

Question 12

troposphere

Accepted Answer

The lowest of the layer, in which temperature drops at a constant  rate as altitude increases; the part of the atmosphere where weather conditions exist

Question 13

ozone layer

Accepted Answer

The layer of the atmosphere at an altitude of 15 to 40 km, in which ozone absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation

Question 14

greenhouse effect

Accepted Answer

the warming of the surface and 
lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when water 
vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases absorb and 
reradiate thermal energy

Question 15

temperature

Accepted Answer

a measure of how hot 
or cold something is; specifically, a measure of the 
average kinetic energy of the particles in an object

Question 16

thermal energy

Accepted Answer

the total kinetic energy of a 
substance’s atoms

Question 17

thermal expansion

Accepted Answer

an increase in the size of a 
substance in response to an increase in the 
temperature of the substance

Question 18

heat

Accepted Answer

the energy transferred between objects that are 
at different temperatures

Question 19

radiation

Accepted Answer

the transfer of energy 
as electromagnetic waves

Question 20

convention

Accepted Answer

the movement of 
matter due to differences in density that are caused 
by temperature variations; can result in the transfer 
of energy as heat

Question 21

conduction

Accepted Answer

the transfer of energy
as heat through a material

Question 22

wind

Accepted Answer

the movement of air caused by differences in air 
pressure

Question 23

Coriolis effect

Accepted Answer

the curving 
of the path of a moving object from an otherwise 
straight path due to Earth’s rotation

Question 24

global wind

Accepted Answer

the movement of air 
over Earth’s surface in patterms that are worldwide

Question 25

jet stream

Accepted Answer

a narrow band of strong winds that blow in
the upper troposphere

Question 26

local wind

Accepted Answer

the movement of air over
short distances; occurs in specific areas as a result
of certain geographical features

Question 27

ocean current

Accepted Answer

a movement of ocean water that follows
a regular pattern

Question 28

surface current

Accepted Answer

a horizontal movement of ocean water 
that is caused by wind and that occurs at or near 
the ocean’s surface

Question 29

deep current

Accepted Answer

a streamlike movement of ocean water 
far below the surface

Question 30

convention current

Accepted Answer

any movement of matter that 
results from differences in density; may be vertical, 
circular, or cyclical

Question 31

up welling

Accepted Answer

the movement of deep, cold, and nutrient-
rich water to the surface

Earth systems

Unit 10

Term	Definition
Earth system	a way to keep track of energy transfers into and out of the Earth system
Geosphere	the layer of Earth made up of solid rock and other rocky materials.
Hydrosphere	The total amount of water on a planet
Cryosphere	Earth's ice in all its forms
Biosphere	the region of the earth that encompasses all living organisms: plants, animals and bacteria.
Energy budget	the balance between the amount of energy incoming to Earth from the Sun and the amount of energy outgoing from Earth back to space.
Atmosphere	a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, moon, or other celestial body
Air pressure	the measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface
Thermosphere	the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature increases as altitude increases
mesosphere	the strong, lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the outer core, 2. the layer of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere and in which temperature decreases as altitude increases
stratosphere	The layer of the atmosphere that lies between the troposphere and the mesosphere and in which temperature increases as altitude increases; contains the ozone layer.
troposphere	The lowest of the layer, in which temperature drops at a constant rate as altitude increases; the part of the atmosphere where weather conditions exist
ozone layer	The layer of the atmosphere at an altitude of 15 to 40 km, in which ozone absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation
greenhouse effect	the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases absorb and reradiate thermal energy
temperature	a measure of how hot or cold something is; specifically, a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object
thermal energy	the total kinetic energy of a substance’s atoms
thermal expansion	an increase in the size of a substance in response to an increase in the temperature of the substance
heat	the energy transferred between objects that are at different temperatures
radiation	the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves
convention	the movement of matter due to differences in density that are caused by temperature variations; can result in the transfer of energy as heat
conduction	the transfer of energy as heat through a material
wind	the movement of air caused by differences in air pressure
Coriolis effect	the curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to Earth’s rotation
global wind	the movement of air over Earth’s surface in patterms that are worldwide
jet stream	a narrow band of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere
local wind	the movement of air over short distances; occurs in specific areas as a result of certain geographical features
ocean current	a movement of ocean water that follows a regular pattern
surface current	a horizontal movement of ocean water that is caused by wind and that occurs at or near the ocean’s surface
deep current	a streamlike movement of ocean water far below the surface
convention current	any movement of matter that results from differences in density; may be vertical, circular, or cyclical
up welling	the movement of deep, cold, and nutrient- rich water to the surface

"Know" box contains:
Time elapsed:
Retries: