Earth Spheres

The rock and minerals on Earth's surface and below it. Includes the crust, mantle, and core.

• hydrosphere

• geosphere

• atmosphere

• biosphere

Earth's outer layer of rock. A thin layer of cool rock that covers the Earth both on dry land and underwater.

• crust

• mantle

• inner core

• outer core

Below the crust, layer of hot rock, semi-solid is called the _____________.

Made of the crust and the top layer (the cooler part) of the mantle. The lithosphere is broken into large pieces that are called tectonic plates. The lithosphere is moved around by the movements of the asthenosphere layer below it.

• lithosphere

• asthenosphere

• crust

• outer core

The___________is the part of Earth where living things interact with nonliving things. This is the part of the Earth that overlaps with the geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Gases such as carbon dioxide and methane protect the Earth from the cold of space helping to keep the Earth warm enough for life. The amount of these gasses in the atmosphere can be impacted by human behavior.

• Greenhouse gasses

• atmospheric gasses

• carbon

• hydrocarbons

Water moves through the rocks and soil and is stored underground in an aquifer (an area of rock that holds water).

• freshwater

• lake

• groundwater

• salt water

The movement of water through different parts of the biosphere, geosphere, and atmosphere.

• water cycle

• carbon cycle

• nitrogen cycle

Moving from liquid water (ex. rivers, lakes, oceans) to gaseous water (water vapor) in the atmosphere

• transpiration

• translocation

• evaporation

• condensation

Water moving along the surface of the Earth, flowing towards bodies of water like lakes, rivers, or oceans.

• condensation

• transpiration

• evaporation

• runoff