Essential Vocabulary for Earth Science
Ch. 1
Vocabulary Term
Atmosphere
Definition
A whole layer of air that surrounds Earth
Altitude
Distance above sea level
Density
The amount of mass in a given volume of
a substance.
Cycle
Processes that repeat over and over
Carbon Cycle
Air Pressure
Carbon dioxide & oxygen constantly
circulate among plants, animals, and the
atmosphere
Different forms of nitrogen cycle among
the atmosphere, the soil, & living
organisms
Different forms of water cycle between
Earth’s surface and the atmosphere
Force of air molecules pushing on an area
Barometer
An instrument that measures air pressure
Temperature
A measure of how hot or cold an object is
Troposphere
Layer of the atmosphere nearest to
Earth’s surface
Stratosphere
A clear, dry layer above the Troposphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
The third layer which houses the thinnest
air
The hottest layer of the atmosphere
Exosphere
Outer space
Ozone
A gas made up of 3 oxygen atoms
Nitrogen Cycle
Water Cycle
Ch. 1
&2
Concept
Earth’s atmosphere makes life
on Earth possible.
Air becomes thinner as
altitude increases
The decrease of density with
greater altitude means that
most of the mass of the
atmosphere is close to Earth’s
surface.
Carbon, nitrogen, & water are
transferred into and out of the
atmosphere.
Continuous cycling of matter
Continuous cycling of matter
Continuous cycling of matter
Air molecules move in all
directions & air pressure
pushes in all directions
Measures the air pressure
differences that set air in
motion
Air’s temperature changes
with altitude
Supports life:
Water vapor
Warmed by Earth
Right amount of oxygen
Contains the ozone layer to
protect life from solar
radiation
The layer where meteors burn
up
So hot it feels cold to your skin
because the molecules are so
spread out
Sometimes known as the 5th
layer
helpful or harmful depending
on which layer it is located in