Question 1

Earth Systems

Accepted Answer

The Earth system is all of the 
matter, energy, and processes within Earth’s boundary

Question 2

Geosphere

Accepted Answer

geosphere is the mostly solid, rocky part of Earth

Question 3

hydrosphere

Accepted Answer

the portion of Earth that is water

Question 4

cryosphere

Accepted Answer

one of Earth’s spheres 
where water is in solid form, including snow cover, 
floating ice, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, and 
frozen ground permafrost

Question 5

atmosphere

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

biosphere

Accepted Answer

the part of Earth where life exists; includes
all of the living organisms on Earth

Question 7

energy budget

Accepted Answer

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

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

he strong, lower part
of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the
outer core

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 layer of the atmosphere, in 
which temperature drops at a constant rate as 
altitude increases

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

convection

Accepted Answer

the movement of 
matter due to differences in density that are caused 
by temperature variations

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 patterns 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 stream like movement of ocean water 
far below the surface

Question 30

convection current

Accepted Answer

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

Question 31

upwelling

Accepted Answer

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

Earth Systems+patter

Unit 10

Question	Answer
Earth Systems	The Earth system is all of the matter, energy, and processes within Earth’s boundary
Geosphere	geosphere is the mostly solid, rocky part of Earth
hydrosphere	the portion of Earth that is water
cryosphere	one of Earth’s spheres where water is in solid form, including snow cover, floating ice, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, and frozen ground permafrost
atmosphere	a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, moon, or other celestial body.
biosphere	the part of Earth where life exists; includes all of the living organisms on Earth
energy budget	a way to keep track of energy transfers into and out of the Earth system
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	he strong, lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the outer core
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 layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature drops at a constant rate as altitude increases
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
convection	the movement of matter due to differences in density that are caused by temperature variations
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 patterns 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 stream like movement of ocean water far below the surface
convection current	any movement of matter that results from differences in density; may be vertical, circular, or cyclical
upwelling	the movement of deep, cold, and nutrient- rich water to the surface

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