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Earth Science Vocab
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Earth Science | the scientific study of Earth and the universe around it |
| Enviromental Science | the study of the ways in which humans interact with the environment |
| Energy Budget | the transfer of energy between Earth's spheres |
| Internal Energy Sources | the heat generated by radioactive decay within Earth's interior |
| External Energy Sources | energy sources that come from outside Earth's spheres |
| System | a complex whole formed from related parts |
| Open System | a system in which both energy and matter are exchanged with the surroundings |
| Closed System | a system in which energy, but not matter, is exchanged with the surroundings |
| Earth System | the closed system consisting of the planet Earth and its atmosphere |
| Biosphere | the part of the Earth where life exists; includes all of the living organisms on Earth |
| Atmosphere | the blanket of gasses that surrounds the Earth |
| Hydrosphere | the portion of the Earth that is water |
| Geosphere | the mostly solid part of the Earth |
| Climatology | the study of past and present climates |
| Oceanography | the scientific study of the ocean |
| Hydrology | the scientific study of the properties, distribution, use, and circulation of the water on Earth |
| Hydrogeology | the branch of geology that studies the movement of subsurface water through rocks and the effect of moving water on rocks, including their erosion |
| Geology | the study of the origin, history, processes, and structure of the solid Earth |
| Meteorology | the scientific study of Earth's atmosphere |
| Astronomy | the study of the universe beyond Earth |