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Atmosphere | The gaseous envelope of air surround Earth, made up of a mixture of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases and water vapor; one of the four spheres of the Earth system. |
Biosphere | All living organisms in the Earth system and their environments; one of the four spheres of the Earth system. |
Carbon Cycle | The biogeochemical circulation of carbon through the Earth system. |
Closed System | A system in which energy can enter or leave, but matter cannot. |
Cycle | The physical or chemical processing of Earth materials that repeats over time, for example, the water cycle, carbon cycle, and rock cycle. |
Earth System Science | The study of Earth materials and processes subdivided into a group of four interconnected spheres of activity: atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. |
Energy Cycle | The movement of energy into and out of the Earth system. |
Evapotranspiration | The rapid cycling of water vapor into the atmosphere by evaporation from Earth's surface or traspiration from plant leaves. |
Geosphere | The rocks, mountains, lithospheric plates, and other physical features of Earth except for water; one of the four spheres of the Earth system. |
Geothermal Energy | Heat energy that originates from within Earth and drives the movement of Earth's tectonic plates. |
Hydrosphere | All water in the Earth system - gaseous (water vapor), solid (snow and ice), and liquid (rain and water); one of the four spheres of the Earth system. |
Model | A simplified representation of an object, process, or phenomenon, used as the basis for further study or investigation. |
Open System | A system in which there is a free exchange of both energy and matter between the system and its surroundings. |
Solar Energy | The energy emitted by the sun. |
System | A naturally occurring group of objects or phenomena that share matter and energy, for example, the four spheres of the Earth system. |
Tidal Energy | Energy created by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon on the Earth's oceans. |
Water Cycle | The continuous circulation of water through the hydrosphere as solid, liquid, or gas. |