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vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Earth system | Earth system is the unified, interactive combination of all living things, matter, energy, and physical processes that make up our planet. |
| geosphere | The solid, non-living part of Earth. |
| hydrosphere | All the liquid water found on, above, and below Earth's surface. |
| cryosphere | The frozen water component of the Earth system. |
| atmosphere | The envelope of gases surrounding the planet. |
| biosphere | The global sum of all ecosystems; the zone of life on Earth. |
| energy budget | Earth's energy budget is the balance between the incoming solar energy received from the Sun and the outgoing thermal infrared energy radiated back into space. |
| Air pressure | Air pressure drops steadily as you climb higher through the atmosphere, which is divided into unique layers based on temperature changes. |
| thermosphere | Thermosphere is the second-highest layer of Earth's atmosphere, located directly above the mesosphere and below the exosphere. |
| mesosphere | Extending from 12 km up to 50 km (31 miles). Unlike the troposphere, temperature increases with altitude here. It is a highly stable layer where commercial jets fly to avoid turbulence. |
| stratosphere | Spanning from 50 km to 85 km (53 miles). This is the coldest layer of the atmosphere, with temperatures dropping down to -90°C (-130°F). It acts as a shield where most meteors burn up upon entry. |
| troposphere | The lowest layer, spanning from the surface up to about 12 km (7.5 miles). It holds 75% to 80% of the atmosphere's total mass and almost all water vapor. This is where all weather occurs and where we live. |
| ozone layer | A region of high ozone (\(O_{3}\)) concentration located entirely within the lower stratosphere. It absorbs 97% to 99% of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, protecting life on Earth from severe cellular damage. |
| greenhouse effect | greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms Earth's surface to a life-sustaining temperature. |
| temperature | Temperature is a physical property that measures the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance, perceived as how hot or cold it is. |
| thermal energy | Thermal energy is the total kinetic energy produced by the random movement, vibration, and collision of atoms and molecules within a matter or system. |
| thermal expansion | Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change in size, area, or volume in response to a change in its temperature. |
| heat | Heat is the transfer of thermal energy between substances or systems due to a difference in temperature. |
| radiation | Radiation is energy that travels from a source through space or matter as waves or tiny particles. |
| convection | Convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of heated fluids like liquids or gases. |
| conduction | Conduction is the process where heat, electricity, or sound moves through a substance via direct physical contact or particle collisions. |
| wind | Wind means a natural movement of air across the surface of the earth. |
| Coriolis effect | The Coriolis effect is an apparent, or pseudo, force caused by the Earth's Rotation that makes long-distance moving objects, wind, and water curve instead of traveling in a straight line. |
| global wind | Global winds are steady, large-scale air currents that blow continuously across long distances around the Earth. |
| jet stream | A jet stream is a fast-flowing, narrow river of strong wind high in the Earth's atmosphere |
| local wind | Local winds are small-scale air movements that blow over a limited area and are shaped by local geography and uneven heating of the Earth's surface. |
| ocean current | Ocean currents are continuous, predictable, and directed movements of seawater that flow along set paths across the globe like rivers in the ocean. |
| surface current | A surface current is a continuous, horizontal movement of ocean water in the upper layer of the sea (typically the top 400 to 1,000 meters) driven primarily by global wind friction. |
| deep current | Deep currents are continuous, slow-moving flows of water far below the ocean surface. |
| convection current | Convection currents are continuous circular loops of fluid motion driven by temperature and density differences. |
| upwelling | Upwelling is an oceanographic process where strong winds and Earth's rotation push warm surface water away from an area, causing deep, cold, and nutrient-rich water to rise up and replace it. |
Created by:
arianna dillon