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Chapter 4 Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| core | earths center where pressures and temperatures are very high |
| mantle | the section of earths interior that lies above the outer core and has the most mass |
| magma | liquid rock within earth |
| plate tectonics | the theory that earths crust divided into rigid plates that slowly move across the upper mantle |
| continental drift | the process by which earths plate slowly move across the upper mantle |
| rift valleys | places on earths surface where the crust stretches until it breaks |
| abyssal plains | areas of the ocean floor where rocks gradually sink because they have no supporting heat below them |
| continental shelves | areas where continental surfaces extend under the shallow ocean water around the continents |
| trench | a deep valley marking a collision of plates, where one plate slides under another |
| folds | places where rocks have been compressed into bends by colliding plates |
| faults | places where rock masses have been broken apart and are moving away from each other |
| weathering | the process by which rocks break and decay over time |
| sediment | small particles of weathered rock |
| erosion | movement of surface material from one location to another by water,wind, and ice |
| glaciers | thick masses of ice, including great ice sheets and bodies of ice that flow down mountains like slow rivers |
| plateau | an elevated flatland that rises sharply above nearby land on at least one side |
| alluvial fan | fan-shaped deposit of mud and gravel often found along the bases of mountains |
| delta | accumulation of sediment at the mouth of a river |
| desalinization | process of removing salt from ocean water |
| hydrologic cycle | movement of water through the hydrosphere |
| headwaters | first and smallest streams formed from the runoff of a mountain, eventually forming rivers |
| tributary | any smaller stream or river that flows into a larger stream or river |
| drainage basin | a region drained by a river and its tributaries |
| estuaries | semi-enclosed bodies of water,seawater, and freshwater formed where a river meets an inlet of the sea |
| wetlands | landscapes that are covered with water for at least part of the year |
| groundwater | water found below ground |
| water table | the groundwater level at which all the cracks and spaces in rock are filled with water |
| humus | broken-down plant and animal matter in soil |
| leaching | downward movement of minerals and humas on soils |
| contour plowing | plowing fields across a hill, rather than up and down the hill |
| soil exhaustion | a condition in which soil has lost nutrients and becomes nearly useless for farming |
| crop rotation | the practice of planting different crops in a field in alternating years |
| irrigation | a process in which water is artificially supplied to the land |
| soil salinization | salt buildup in the soil |
| deforestation | destruction or loss of forests |
| reforestation | the replanting of a forest |
| acid rain | polluted rain that can damage trees and kill fish in lakes |
| aqueducts | artificial channels for transporting water |
| aquifers | rock layers where grounwater is plentiful |
| fossil water | groundwater that is not replenished by rain |
| ore | mineral bearing rock |
| fossil fuels | energy resources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals including coal natural gases and petroleum |
| petrochemicals | certain products made from oil |
| hydroelectric power | electricity produced by moving water |
| geothermal energy | heat of earths interior |
Created by:
jazmrichards
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