Mono Lake

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Ecosystem Noun

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[ee-koh-sis-tuhm]

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Ecosystem

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A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment, including both living and non-living components.

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Example: This image shows an ecosystem with fish, plants, and water interacting in a pond environment.

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Basin Noun

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[bey-sin]

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Basin

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A natural depression on the Earth's surface, typically one containing water, that has no outlet for drainage.

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Example: A basin collects water in a natural depression, showing how water flows into it without an outlet.

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Pleistocene Noun

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[plahy-stuh-seen]

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Pleistocene

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The geological epoch lasting from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, known as the Ice Age.

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Example: This map shows the ice sheets during the Pleistocene, highlighting the Ice Age's impact on North America.

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Remnant Noun

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[rem-nuhnt]

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Remnant

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A small remaining quantity of something that was once much larger or more extensive.

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Example: The carved wall is a remnant of an ancient civilization, showing what remains of a once larger structure.

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Volcanic Adjective

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[vol-kan-ik]

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Volcanic

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Relating to or produced by a volcano, a mountain with a crater through which lava and gas erupt.

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Example: The diagram shows a volcano with labeled parts like the crater and magma chamber, explaining volcanic eruptions.

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Cinder Cone Noun

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[sin-der kohn]

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Cinder Cone

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A steep conical hill of loose fragments, such as volcanic cinders, that has been built around a volcanic vent.

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Example: This diagram shows a cinder cone volcano with labeled parts like ash cloud and lava flow, explaining how volcanic fragments build up around a vent.

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Abiotic Factor Noun

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[ey-bahy-ot-ik fak-ter]

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Abiotic Factor

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A non-living part of an ecosystem that shapes its environment, such as temperature, light, and water.

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Example: Abiotic factors like sunlight and water are non-living parts that shape the ecosystem.

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Salinity Noun

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[suh-lin-i-tee]

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Salinity

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The measure of the total amount of dissolved salts in a body of water.

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Example: Salinity increases as water moves from freshwater sources to the ocean.

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Evaporation Noun

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[ih-vap-uh-rey-shuhn]

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Evaporation

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The process of a substance in a liquid state changing to a gaseous state due to an increase in temperature.

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Example: The sun heats a puddle, causing water to evaporate into the air.

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Dissolved Adjective

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[dih-zolvd]

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Dissolved

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Describing a solid that has been incorporated into a liquid to form a solution.

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Example: A solid (solute) is mixed into a liquid (solvent) to form a solution.