LEOC VOCABULARY
Earth History
eon longest unit of geologic time
epoch subdivision of a period
era subdivision of an eon
extinct dying out
geographic isolation separation of a
population of organisms from the
rest of its species due to a physical
barrier
land bridge stretch of land that
connects two continents that were
previously separated by water
mass extinction dying out of many
species on Earth within a short
period of time
period subdivision of an era
scale series of marks or points at
known intervals
Cenozoic era youngest era of the
Phanerozoic eon
coal swamp oxygen-poor
environment where, over time,
plant material changes into coal
inland sea body of water formed
when ocean water floods
continents
Mesozoic era middle era of the
Phanerozoic eon
Paleozoic era oldest era of the
Phanerozoic eon
supercontinent ancient landmass
that separated into present-day
continents
dinosaur dominant Mesozoic
vertebrate that walked with legs
positioned directly below its hips
evaporated changed from liquid to
gas
plesiosaur Mesozoic marine reptile
with a small head, long neck, and
flippers
pterosaur Mesozoic flying reptile
with large, bat-like wings
glacial groove gouge made by rocks
carried in glaciers
Holocene epoch most recent epoch,
which began 10,000 years ago
hypothesize to make an assumption
about something that is not
positively known
ice age time when much of Earth’s
surface is covered by glaciers
mega-mammal large mammal of the
Cenozoic era
Pleistocene epoch first epoch
of the Quaternary period
NATURE OF SCIENCE VOCAB
Model
constant
Qualitative
Quantitative
Observation
law
Theory
variable
hypothesis
test variable
control group
experimental group
controlled experiment outcome variable
EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE
radiation
emission
thermal energy
conduction
reflection
infrared energy
convection
absorption
density
sea breeze
trade winds
air pressure
land breeze
doldrums
current
troposphere
biosphere
hydrosphere
stratosphere
geosphere
cyrosphere
atmosphere
WEATHER
weather
high pressure
climate
low pressure
front
precipitation
ocean current
condensation
hydrosphere
air mass
relative humidity
jet stream
Maritime
continental
Tropical
polar
Dew point
Gulf Stream
ozone
EARTH HISTORY
Principle
decay
Correlation
ratio
relative age
index fossil
absolute age
daughter atom
geologic time half-life
radiometric dating
superposition
ASTRONOMY
eclipse
rotate
Axis
ultraviolet radiation
stratosphere greenhouse effect
lunar
revolve
tide
Elliptical
heliocentric
Solstice
equinox
ellipse
PLATE TECTONICS
solar
phase
gravitation
mass/massive
focus/foci
universe
converge
mantle
boundary
Period
spherical
diverge
Crust
convection
Satellite
probe
transform
Core
Comet
meteorite
Astronomical unit
asteroid
galaxy
dwarf planet
magnetosphere tectonic plates
continental rift
lithosphere
mid-ocean ridge
Light year
volcanic arc
Radio waves
visible light
folded mountains
Space telescope
flyby
subduction zone
asthenosphere ocean basin
seismic
erosion
uplift
wetlands
deposition
delta
coastline
crystallization
dune
glacier
physical
weathering
igneous
desertification
chemical
weathering
sedimentary
deforestation
compaction
metamorphic urbanization
cementation
geocentric
optical telescope
electromagnetic
gamma rays
orbit/orbiter