Vocabulary
the average weather conditions in an area over
a long period of time
Climate
a movement of ocean water that follows
a regular pattern
Ocean Current
the boundary between air masses of different
densities and usually different temperatures
Front
how much sunlight
a surface reflects.
Albedo
the curving of the path of a moving object
from an otherwise straight path due to Earth's rotation
Coriolis Effect
movement of air
Wind
naturally occurring and usually inorganic solid
with a definite chemical composition and orderly internal structure
Mineral
process by which rock materials are broken
down by the action of physical and chemical processes
Weathering
rocks formed from cooling lava
Igneous Rock
fragments of weathered rock
Sediment
a large body of air throughout which
temperature and moisture content are similar
Air Mass
rock formed when existing rock is
exposed to large changes in temperature, pressure, or both
Metamorphic Rock
the short-term state of the atmosphere,
including temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and
visibility
process by which wind, water, ice, or gravity
transport weathered materials from one location to another
Erosion
rocks formed from sediments that are
compacted or cemented together by new new minerals
Sedimentary Rock
the movement of matter due to differences
in density; the transfer of energy due to the movement of matter
Convection
process by which eroded materials are
dropped, or laid down
Deposition
all of Earth’s water
Hydrosphere
the change of state from a solid directly to a gas
Sublimation
the layer of air surrounding Earth
atmosphere
living things and the areas of Earth where they are found
Biosphere
the continuous movement of water between the atmosphere, the land, the oceans, and living things
Water Cycle
the mostly solid, rocky part of Earth
Geosphere
is the percentage of water vapor in air
relative to the amount needed to saturate the air at the same temperature.
Relative Humidity
a narrow belt of fast-moving air that usually
forms in the upper atmosphere above global winds flowing along the boundaries between hot and cold air.
Jet Stream