Catastrophic
Events
A powerful force of
nature that changes
the earth’s surface and
atmosphere.
Meteorology
The study of Earth’s
atmosphere.
Meteorologist
Geology
Geologist
A person who studies
the Earth’s
atmosphere, or
meteorology.
The study of the
Earth’s history and
structure as it is
recorded in rocks.
A person who studies
the Earth’s history
using rocks.
Seismology
The study of
earthquakes.
Seismologist
A person who studies
earthquakes.
Vortex
The movement of
liquids or gases in a
spiral around a central
axis.
Thunderstorm
A disturbance in the
atmosphere that has
some or all of the
following: thunder
lightening, gusty
winds, heavy rain, hail.
Tornado
A rotating column of
air that forms over
land when moist,
warm air meets cool,
dry air head on.
Hurricane
Massive rotating
storms. They form
when warm, moist air
rises over tropical
waters.
Air Masses
Large bodies of air that
take on the
characteristics of the
surface that they form
over.
Atmosphere
The thin blanket of
gases that surrounds
the Earth.
Convection
Current
A circulating flow of air
or water resulting from
temperature
differences.
Weather
Front
A boundary that forms
when air masses meet
that they have
different temperature,
pressure, and humidity
conditions.
Cold Front
The leading edge of a
cold air mass.
Warm Front
The leading edge of a
warm air mass.
The Water
Cycle
The movement and
exchange of water
between the earth’s
land, atmosphere, and
oceans.
Evaporation
When a liquid changes
to a gas.
Condensation
When a gas changes to
a liquid.
Earthquake
Vibrations in the earth
caused by the sudden
release of energy,
usually as a result of
the movement of rocks
along a fault.
P-wave
Primary earthquake
wave; faster than the
S-wave
(compressional).
S-wave
Secondary earthquake
wave; travels slower
than primary waves.
Epicenter
Stratosphere
The point on the
surface of the earth
directly above the
focus of an
earthquake.
The layer of the
atmosphere that is
above the
troposphere. This is
where the ozone layer
forms.
Troposphere
The layer of the
atmosphere closest
the earth. This is
where most of the
earth’s weather takes
place.
Air Pressure
The weight of air.
Fault
A fracture in the
earth’s surface, along
which blocks of rock on
opposite sides of the
fracture move.
Focus
The location where the
rupture of an
earthquake begins and
energy is released.
Plate
Tectonics
A theory that the earth
is broken into pieces
that are always
moving.
Credit: Nate Kepler, Lenore Wilson, Katie Brown, Shuksan Middle School