Earth Science Key Terms and Concepts

Condensation

• The change from solid to liquid.

• The change from gas to liquid.

• The change from liquid to gas.

• The change from gas to solid.

asthenosphere

• The outermost layer of the Earth that is solid and rigid.

• The thin layer of the Earth upon which tectonic plates move around.

• The layer of the Earth that is primarily composed of liquid iron and nickel.

• The layer of the Earth that contains the majority of its mass.

asthenosphere

• The asthenosphere is the mantle layer located below the lithosphere.

• The asthenosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth.

• The asthenosphere is a layer of solid rock that is rigid and unyielding.

• The asthenosphere is a layer of the atmosphere that contains weather patterns.

ocean currents

• Ocean currents are primarily caused by the gravitational pull of the moon.

• Without landmasses to deflect them, ocean currents would flow freely around the world.

• Ocean currents are only found in the Atlantic Ocean.

• Ocean currents have no impact on global climate.

Stratosphere

• The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere.

• The stratosphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere.

• The stratosphere contains weather phenomena.

• The stratosphere is where commercial airplanes fly.

conduction

• Conduction is the transfer of heat through a material without the movement of matter.

• Conduction is the movement of matter from one place to another.

• Conduction is the process of cooling a material by removing heat.

• Conduction is the transfer of heat through radiation.

Nitrogen

• Nitrogen is a greenhouse gas.

• Nitrogen is not a greenhouse gas.

• Nitrogen contributes to global warming.

• Nitrogen is essential for photosynthesis.

Biosphere

• The thin layer at Earth’s surface where life exists.

• The layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs.

• The region of space beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

• The solid outer part of the Earth.

evaporation

• Liquid water turns into gaseous water vapor in a process called evaporation.

• Liquid water freezes into ice in a process called freezing.

• Gaseous water vapor condenses into liquid water in a process called condensation.

• Solid ice melts into liquid water in a process called melting.

evaporation

• The process of changing from gas to liquid.

• The change from solid to liquid.

• The change from liquid to gas.

• The process of changing from liquid to solid.