earth Science Vocab

An area of permeable rock underground that holds or transmits groundwater; pumps are used to retrieve water from these areas

• Aquifer

• Groundwater

• Watersheds

• Waterbasins

All the water on Earth's surface; includes all water sources above and below the surface

• Hydrosphere

• Geosphere

• Atmosphere

• Biosphere

Water that collects in cracks and pores in underground soil and rock layers

• Aquifer

• Groundwater

• Watershed

• Waterbasin

A large body of salt water that covers most of Earth's surface

• Lakes

• Freshwater

• Oceans

• Aquifers

An area of land where the surface water and groundwater drain into a particular body of water; seperated from other watersheds by drainage divides

• Aquifer

• Groundwater

• Watershed

• Waterbasin

The constant movement of water through the land, air, oceans, and living things

• Hydrosphere

• Water Cycle

• Atmosphere

• Geocycle

The boundary between freshwater rivers and streams and saltwater ocean

• Estuary

• Aquifers

• Watershed

• Waterbasins

An ecosystem found in oceans, seas, and gulfs where the water has a salt content of at least 3.5%

• Terrestrial Ecosystems

• Freshwater Ecosystems

• Marine Ecosystems

• Grassland Ecosystems

Microscopic plants that live in aquatic environments and perform photosynthesis

• Algae

• Phytoplankton

• Zooplankton

• Spongebob

The phenomenon that occurs when wind is blown across the surface of the ocean, causing warm water to be pushed away and colder, nutrient dense water from the ocean floor to rush in and take its place.

• Ocean Currents

• Upwelling

• Downwelling

• Convection Currents