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62 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
process by which certain bacteria convert organic nitrogen into ammonia and ammonium salts during decompostition
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ammonification
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process by which plants or animals convert nutrients into usable organic compounds, such as proteins
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assimilation
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the layer immediately surrounded the lower mantle; composed of molten rock
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asthenosphere
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the study of the universe beyond the earth
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astronomy
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the gaseous layer of a planet, usually retained by its gravity
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atmosphere
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the living organisms of earth
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biosphere
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the part of the earth's crust that forms landmasses
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continental crust
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theory proposed by Alfred Wegener that the continents once formed a single supercontinent that broke up and drifted apart
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continental drift
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process of heat transfer by the circulation or movement of gas, liquid or plastic material
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convection
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area where tectonic plates meet and push against each other
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convergent boundary
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innermost layer of the earth; divided into an inner and outer core
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core
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the outermost layer that forms the surface of the earth; upper part of the lithosphere
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crust
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the frozen water or ice system of a planet
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cryosphere
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bacteria and fungi that break down dead matter
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decomposers
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process by which certain bacteria converts nitrates into nitrogen gas
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dentrification
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process by which sediment flows into a reservoir
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deposition
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a process creating different compositions of a planet
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differentiation
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area where tectonic plates are moving away from each other
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divergent boundary
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two opposing forces in balance or when two opposite processes occur at equal rates
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equilibrium
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area along plate boundaries and ridges where the crust of the lithosphere is fractured
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fault line
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line of plants and animals that shows the order in which organisms are eaten
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food chain
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a diagram that shows the connections of food chains in an ecosystem
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food web
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a scientist who studies topics related to the structure and composition of earth
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geologist
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the study of the structure of the earth and the physical forces that continuously impact the structure of Earth itself
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geology
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all the layers of earth's interior and crust
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geosphere
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ancient, extinct plant species found on the continents of South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica
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glossopteris
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a natural and continuous cycle of Earth that recycles and distributes Earth's water; often called the water cycle
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hydrologic cycle
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the water system of Earth; solid, liquid, and gas phases
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hydrosphere
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innermost region of earth; solid, liquid and gas states
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inner core
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related to or possessing motion
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kinetic
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the cool, rigid shell that includes the crust and uppermost mantle; composed of plates that move around on the underlying, plastic asthenosphere
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lithosphere
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innermost layer of the two mantle layers; composed of rock and cooler than the core
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lower mantle
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middle layer of Earth; composed of an upper and lower mantle
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mantle
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small, extinct land reptile whose fossil remains have been found in western Africa and eastern South America
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Mesosaurus
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process of intense heat and pressure which changes igneous or sedimentary rock into metamorphic rock
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metamorphism
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a scientist who studies the changes in atmospheric conditions that produce different weather and climate patterns
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meteorologist
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the study of Earth's atmosphere and the processes that produce weather and climate conditions
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meteorology
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process by which certain bacteria convert ammonium into nitrates
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nitrification
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process by which certain bacteria in the soil convert nitrogen gas into ammonia and ammonium
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nitrogen fixation
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the part of Earth's crust located beneath the oceans and seas
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oceanic crust
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a scientist who studies the oceans of Earth using the scientific disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics, and geology
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oceanographer
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study of the earth's oceans
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oceanography
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layer immediately outside the inner core; composed of liquid iron and sulfur
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outer core
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meaning "all lands"; name of the supercontinent that is theorized to have contained all of the current continents in a single landmass
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pangaea
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meaning "all seas"; name of the single, large ocean that surrounded Pangaea
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panthalassa
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process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the Sun into sugars
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photosynthesis
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ability of a solid to flow
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plasticity
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the theory that the lithosphere is broken into pieces that float on the asthenosphere
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plate tectonics
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something possible; ability to go into action or perform work
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potential
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organisms that eat producers
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primary consumers
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process by which living cells produce usable energy from food
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respiration
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natural and continuous cycle of Earth that recycles Earth's minerals
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rock cycle
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process by which the earth's lithospheric plates pull apart from each other, creating gaps that are filled with magma from the asthenosphere
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seafloor spreading
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organisms that eat primary consumers
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secondary consumers
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area where an oceanic plate sinks into the asthenosphere under another plate
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subduction zone
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natural and continuous cycle of Earth that recycles Earth's lithospheric plates
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tectonic cycle
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predator that eats secondary consumers
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tertiary consumers
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the study of energy and its transformations
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thermodynamics
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area where tectonic plates slide sideways past each other
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transform boundary
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the process by which plants give off water vapor
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transpiration
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outermost layer of the two mantle layers; includes the asthenosphere and lower lithosphere; composed of solid rock, most of which flows due to convection currents within the mantle
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upper mantle
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process that breaks down rock through physical and chemical changes
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weathering
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