Earth's Spheres Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the outer layer of Earth called?

  • Core
  • Mantle
  • Geosphere
  • Crust (correct)

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?

<p>Tectonic plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do we call a mountain, island, continent, or other feature that forms above and beneath the ocean's surface?

<p>Landform</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of depositing eroded soil at a new location called?

<p>Deposition</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the conversion of a substance from a liquid to a gas?

<p>Evaporation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the release of water vapor through the leaves of plants called?

<p>Transpiration</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is water that returns from the atmosphere to Earth's surface called?

<p>Precipitation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the change in state from a gas to a liquid called?

<p>Condensation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a layer of rock and soil that holds water underground called?

<p>Aquifer</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do we call fresh water found underground?

<p>Groundwater</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for all the rocks and minerals on or below Earth's surface?

<p>Geosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are areas where molten rock pushes tectonic plates apart called?

<p>Divergent plate boundaries</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are areas where tectonic plates slip and grind alongside each other called?

<p>Transform plate boundaries</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are areas where tectonic plates move toward each other called?

<p>Convergent plate boundaries</p> Signup and view all the answers

What gas is made up of oxygen molecules that each have three oxygen atoms?

<p>Ozone</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do greenhouse gases affect our environment?

<p>They keep Earth warm enough to support life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the upper limit of fresh water stored underground called?

<p>Water table</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percent of Earth's water is salt water in oceans and salt lakes?

<p>97.5 percent</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percent of Earth's water is fresh water, with three quarters of it as ice?

<p>2.5 percent</p> Signup and view all the answers

How much of Earth's fresh water can be used for drinking or watering crops?

<p>0.5 percent</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe two human activities that can affect the water cycle.

<p>Clearing plants from Earth's surface increases runoff, erosion, and evaporation, and decreases transpiration. Unrestrained use of fresh water for farming and industry depletes groundwater.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are characteristics of the geosphere? (Select all that apply)

<p>Composed of rocks and minerals (A), Contains the crust, mantle, and core (B), Plate tectonics create various landforms (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are characteristics of the atmosphere? (Select all that apply)

<p>Keeps Earth warm enough to support life (A), Contains oxygen (B), Acts as a global sunscreen (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are characteristics of the biosphere? (Select all that apply)

<p>Affects the composition of gases in the atmosphere (B), Contains living or once-living organisms (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are characteristics of the hydrosphere? (Select all that apply)

<p>Contains all of Earth's water (A), Perpetuates water cycles through different spheres (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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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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