Earth’s Layers
This is the rigid outer shell made of the crust and upper mantle
What is the lithosphere
Plates moving away from each other form this boundary
What is a divergent boundary
This is a mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, and air
What is soil
This gas makes up 78% of Earth’s atmosphere
What is nitrogen
Incoming solar radiation is called this
What is insolation
This “plastic” layer allows tectonic plates to move.
What is the asthenosphere?
Plates colliding create this type of boundary.
What is a convergent boundary
This soil type is ideal for plant growth due to balanced texture
What is loam
This layer is where weather and clouds form
What is the troposphere
This line of latitude gets the most direct sunlight
What is the equator
This is the thickest Earth layer made of flowing rock
What is the mantle
Plates sliding past each other form this boundary
What is a transform boundary
The removal of fertile topsoil by erosion is called this
What is soil degradation
This layer contains the ozone layer
What is the stratosphere
Earth’s tilt causes this phenomenon
What are seasons
This layer is mostly iron and nickel and has a liquid outer portion
What is the core
This horseshoe-shaped volcanic zone surrounds the Pacific Plate
What is the Ring of Fire
This process returns nutrients to the soil by breaking down organic matter
What is nutrient recycling
Meteors burn up in this coldest layer
What is the mesosphere
This measures how reflective a surface is
What is albedo
This outermost solid layer is divided into continental and oceanic types
What is the crust
These stationary mantle plumes create volcanic island chains
What are hotspots
This occurs when soil is compressed, reducing air and water movement
What is compaction
This effect causes winds to curve due to Earth’s rotation
What is the Coriolis effect
Dry conditions on the leeward side of mountains are called this
What is a rain shadow