Point on Earth's surface directly above the focus of a earthquake.

Measure of the energy released during an earthquake, which can be described using the Richter scale.

Crack in Earth's crust that occurs when stress is applied.

Place where two of Earth's tectonic plates are moving apart.

Hess's theory that new ocean crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges

Waves of energy that travel through the core of the Earth.

A shaking or trembling of a portion of the Earth caused by movement of rocks or volcanic shakes.

Place where two tectonic plates move past each other.

Point of the initial fault rupture where an earthquake originates that usually lies at least several kilometers beneath Earth's surface.

Solid particles deposited on Earth's surface that can form Sedimentary rocks by processes such as weathering, erosion, deposition, and lithification.

Occurs when sediments are laid down on the ground or sink to the bottom of a body of water;

rising and falling of molecules in a circular motion

A vent in the Earth's crust from which molten or hot rock and steam occur.

The process of adding cities; growth of cities.

The science of producing crops, and raising livestock.

The process by which rocks and minerals undergo changes in their composition as the result of chemical reactions.

The process by which rocks and minerals break down into smaller pieces.

Metamorphic rock such as schist or gneiss, whose minerals are squeezed under high pressure and arranged in wavy layers and bands.

Molten material found beneath Earth's crust

Place where two of Earth's tectonic plates are moving toward each other; is associated with trenches, island arcs, and folded mountains.

scientists consider these waves to determine the epicentral distance.

a long, relatively narrow island running parallel to the mainland-built up by the action of waves and currents and serving to protect the coast from erosion by surf and tidal surges.

Movement of weathered materials from one location to another by agents such as water, wind, glaciers, and gravity.

Removal of trees from a forested area without replacement, often using clear-cutting tools

Horizontal layering in sedimentary rock

Magma that flows onto Earth's surface.

the state of being stable; strong enough to endure

lessen the impact or intensity of

To decrease seriously

the makeup of something

A group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms

Harvesting so much of a resource that its existence is threatened.

Capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

Of or relating to production of electricity by water power.

able to be maintained at a certain rate or level

Living things. Such as, humans, dogs, cats, plants, etc.

The place or type of site where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows.

non-living things. Such as rocks, water, etc.

Number of organisms that a specific environment can support.

Process in which heavy atomic nuclei split into smaller, lighter nuclei.

The number of different species in an area

All of Earth's organisms and the environment which they live.

Heat from the Earth. Resources of the energy can be found from the shallow ground, hot water, and hot rock below the Earth's surface.

An organism or plant introduced into a new environment, where it is not native.

Obstacles that limit the growth. Helps stop overpopulation of a species.

Any precipitation with a pH of less then 5.0 that forms when sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides combine with moisture in the atmosphere to produce sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

Current state of the atmosphere; including short-term variations such as temperature and precipitation.

Boundary between two air masses of differing densities; can be cold, warm, stationary, or occluded

The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

Coal, oil, natural gas, and other fuels that are ancient remains of plants and animals.

Natural heating of Earth's surface by certain atmospheric gases, which helps keep Earth warm enough to sustain life.

increased temperature in a city due to generated and trapped heat

Large body of air that takes on the characteristics of the area over which it forms; can be described by its stability, temperature, and humidity.

CO2 dissolving in sea water and raising the acidity

Blanket of gases surrounding the Earth that contains about 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, and 1 percent other gases such as argon, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.

Huge revolving storms caused by wind blowing around a central area of low atmospheric pressure.

The amount of water vapor in the air expressed as a percentage

Also know as air pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of air over a given area of Earth's surface.

a collection of small water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air, which forms when the air is cooled and condensation occurs

The gas phase of water.

Chlorofluorocarbons from air conditioners and refrigerators that destroy the ozone layer

The change of a substance from a liquid to a gas

Permeable underground layer through which groundwater flows relatively easy.

the tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream.

water that flows over the ground surface rather than soaking into the ground

Percentage of open spaces between grains in a rock is highest in well-sorted sediments.

Gas to liquid

Flow of water from the land surface into the subsurface.

Land area drained by a stream system. (ws)

Measure of the amount of salts dissolved in seawater.

Low-lying land area, such as a bog or marsh, that is covered in water a large part of the year

Ability of a material to let water pass through,

All the water in Earth.

Process of which water is brought to dry land through artificial means.

Measure how acidic or basic a substance is. (Usually used to test water)

the number of heat units needed to raise the temperature of a body by one degree.

Lowering or collapse of the ground.

The land that water flows across or under on its way to a river.

Accumulation of sediments or dirt. Results from erosion of the land or reef.

A hydrologic process where water moves downward from surface water to ground water.

Water Quality Indicator

Water found beneath Earth's surface.

The movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers.

The movement of water out of an area of saturated soil.

Introduction of contaminations into the natural environment that causes adverse change.

A scale for showing the quality of an environment by indicating the types of lifes.

Energy transfer that occurs when molecules collide; takes place only when substances are in contact with each other.

Energy transfer through space by visible light, ultra violent radiation, and other forms or electromagnetic waves.

A form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature.

Process of plants using sunlight to produce carbohydrates.

Outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere that is located above the thermosphere and contains light gases such as helium and hydrogen.

German astronomer who first stated laws of planetary motion (1571-1630)

a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star.

The action of a celestial body going round in a orbit.

A wave that travels at the speed of light and that consists of an associated magnetic and electric effect.

The act of rotating usually on a axis.

A collection of stars, dust, and gas bound together by gravity

The change in the orientation of the rotational axis of a rotating body.

Positively charged center of an atom, made up of protons and neutrons and surrounded by electrons in energy levels;

Creation of energy by joining the nuclei of two hydrogen atoms to form helium. (stars)

A periodic variation in the inclination of Earth's axis.

A ball of hydrogen and helium with enough mass that it can sustain nuclear fusion at its core.

The common center of mass around which two or more bodies revolve.

The region within the magnetism of a given substance of particle affects other substances.

A tide with the least difference between low and high tides.

A tide with the greatest difference between low and high tides

standing out so as to be easily seen; important, well-known

to line up

Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone in the atmosphere which are involved in the greenhouse effect.

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

a volcanically active area of Earth's surface FAR from a tectonic plate boundary

A huge destructive wave (especially one caused by an earthquake)

A community of organisms and their abiotic environment