Questions and Answers
What is the outer layer of Earth called?
What is the layer of very hot but mostly solid rock below the crust?
Mantle
What is the part of Earth beneath the mantle?
Core
What is a large section of lithosphere that moves over Earth's surface?
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What do we call a mountain, island, continent, or other feature that forms above and beneath the ocean's surface?
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What is the process of depositing eroded soil at a new location called?
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What is the conversion of a substance from a liquid to a gas?
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What is the release of water vapor through the leaves of plants called?
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What is water that returns from the atmosphere to Earth's surface called?
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What is the change in state from a gas to a liquid called?
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What is a layer of rock and soil that holds water underground called?
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What do we call fresh water found underground?
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What is the term for all the rocks and minerals on or below Earth's surface?
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What are areas where molten rock pushes tectonic plates apart called?
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What are areas where tectonic plates slip and grind alongside each other called?
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What are areas where tectonic plates move toward each other called?
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What gas is made up of oxygen molecules that each have three oxygen atoms?
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How do greenhouse gases affect our environment?
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What is the upper limit of fresh water stored underground called?
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What percent of Earth's water is salt water in oceans and salt lakes?
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What percent of Earth's water is fresh water, with three quarters of it as ice?
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How much of Earth's fresh water can be used for drinking or watering crops?
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Describe two human activities that can affect the water cycle.
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Which of the following are characteristics of the geosphere? (Select all that apply)
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Which of the following are characteristics of the atmosphere? (Select all that apply)
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Which of the following are characteristics of the biosphere? (Select all that apply)
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Which of the following are characteristics of the hydrosphere? (Select all that apply)
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Study Notes
Earth's Spheres
- Crust: The outer layer of Earth, cool and rocky, present on land and beneath oceans.
- Mantle: A hot, mostly solid rock layer beneath the crust, plays a role in plate tectonics.
- Core: Earth's innermost part, located below the mantle, consists of iron and nickel.
Tectonic Plates and Landforms
- Tectonic Plate: Large sections of the lithosphere that move on Earth's surface, influencing geological activity.
- Landform: Features like mountains, islands, and continents created above and below sea level.
- Divergent Plate Boundaries: Locations where molten rock forces tectonic plates apart.
- Transform Plate Boundaries: Areas where tectonic plates slide against each other.
- Convergent Plate Boundaries: Zones where tectonic plates collide.
Water Cycle Processes
- Deposition: Process where eroded soil is dropped at new locations.
- Evaporation: Transition from liquid water to vapor, contributing to the water cycle.
- Transpiration: Release of water vapor from plant leaves, part of the water cycle.
- Precipitation: Water returning to Earth's surface from the atmosphere, including rain and snow.
- Condensation: Change from gas to liquid, forming clouds in the atmosphere.
Water Resources
- Aquifer: Underground layers of rock and soil that store usable water.
- Groundwater: Fresh water located beneath Earth's surface.
- Water Table: The highest level of underground fresh water.
- Water Distribution: 97.5% of Earth's water is salt water; only 2.5% is fresh water, with a majority locked in ice.
Fresh Water Availability
- Fresh Water Use: Only 0.5% of Earth's fresh water is accessible for drinking and irrigation.
- Human Impact on Water Cycle: Clearing vegetation increases runoff and erosion, while excessive water use can deplete groundwater supplies.
Characteristics of Earth's Spheres
- Geosphere: Comprises the crust, mantle, and core; includes rocks and minerals. Plate tectonics shape landforms and influence habitats.
- Atmosphere: Contains essential gases like oxygen and ozone, acts as a protective layer, and regulates Earth's temperature.
- Biosphere: Encompasses living organisms, influencing atmospheric gas composition through respiration and photosynthesis.
- Hydrosphere: Consists of all water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, and atmospheric moisture; facilitates water cycling across other spheres.
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Description
Test your knowledge of Earth's layers with these flashcards. Learn key terms such as crust, mantle, core, and tectonic plates. This quiz will help you understand the structure of our planet's geosphere.