Environmental Science Vocabulary List

What is the term for the solid part of the Earth?

• lithosphere

• atmosphere

• hydrosphere

• biosphere

What is the term for the regions of the Earth where living organisms exist?

• biosphere

• lithosphere

• atmosphere

• hydrosphere

What is the term for the transmission of heat, electricity, or sound?

• conduction

• reflection

• absorption

• diffusion

What is the term for the transfer of heat caused by molecular motion in a liquid or gas?

• convection

• radiation

• conduction

• insulation

What is the term for the atmospheric layer between the troposphere and the mesosphere?

• stratosphere

• exosphere

• ionosphere

• thermosphere

What is the term for the formation of compounds in plants aided by radiant energy?

• photosynthesis

• respiration

• transpiration

• fermentation

What is the term pertaining to the structure or movement of the Earth's crust?

• tectonic

• volcanic

• sedimentary

• erosional

What is the term characterized by the interdependence of living organisms?

• ecological

• geological

• chemical

• mechanical

What is the term for the relative proportion of salt in a solution?

• salinity

• viscosity

• density

• alkalinity

What is the term for relating to a coastal or shore region?

• littoral

• arid

• montane

• inland