Earth Science Vocabulary

nonliving factors in an environment

• biotic

• abiotic

• Temperature

• Humidity

living factors in an environment

• abiotic factors

• biotic factors

• Natural resources

• Weather patterns

the parts of Earth that include some form of water

• biosphere

• geosphere

• Lithosphere

• Hydrosphere

the parts of Earth where life exists

• atmosphere

• Hydrosphere

• Lithosphere

• Biosphere

the part of Earth that includes soil, rocks, dirt, mountains, etc.

• hydrosphere

• geosphere(lithosphere)

• Biosphere

• atmosphere

the layers of gases that surround the Earth

• atmosphere

• stratosphere

• hydrosphere

• lithosphere

massive slabs of solid rock that make up Earth's crust

• mantle

• tectonic plates

• Core

• Sediment

fraction in Earth's crust along which movement occurs

• continental shelf

• Oceanic trench

• fault

• volcano

theory that states that parts of Earth's crust float upon the mantle

• Theory of Gravity

• Theory of Relativity

• Theory of Evolution

• Theory of Continental Drift

theory that explains changes in Earth's crust by internal forces

• Theory of Plate Tectonics

• Theory of Inertia

• Theory of Volcanic Activity

• Theory of Earth's Core Dynamics