Vocabulary
Earth Science
Constructive Processes
Deposition
a
process of
dumping sediment,
dirt, rocks, or
particles in on
place.
Earthquakes
 Caused
by
movements in
Earth’s crust that
releases energy
and shakes the
ground
Divergent Boundary
 two
tectonic plates
that are moving
away from each
other
Convergent Boundary
 Tectonic
plates
move toward one
another and
collide
Transform Boundary
 Tectonic
plates
slide pass each
other
Volcanoes
 Mountains
and ash
of lava
Lava
 Molten
rock that
comes out of
volcanoes during
an eruption
Magma
 Molten
rock that
forms Earth’s
surface
Mountains
 Formed
when
tectonic plates
that makes up
Earth’s crust push
upward, fold, or
crack.
Sand Dunes
A
hill made of sand
made by wind
blowing the sand
to make a hill
Deltas
A
new land that
forms where a river
empties into the
ocean
 The river deposits
sediment that
overtime builds up
into land
Beaches
 an
expanse of sand
or pebbles along a
shore.
 the part of the shore
of an ocean, sea,
large river, lake, etc.,
Washed by the tide or
waves.
Barrier Islands
a
broadened barrier
beach, habitable in
places, that provides a
measure of protection
for the mainland, as
during hurricanes and
Tidal waves.
Moraine
a
ridge, mound, or irreg
ular mass of unstratified
glacial drift, chiefly
boulders, gravel, sand,
and clay.
 a deposit of such
material left on the groun
d by a glacier.
Destructive Processes
Canyon
a
deep valley with
steep sides, often with
a stream flowing
through it.
Valley
 an
elongated
depression
between uplands,
hills, or mountains,
especially one
following the
course of a stream.
Erosion
 The
movement of
sediment, such as
soil, sand, or
weathered pieces
of rock
Weathering
 Rock
or other
materials are worn
away
 Wind, water, plant
roots are some
causes of
weathering
Sinkhole
A
large hole that is
the result of
underground
erosion
 Water carves out a
cave near surface,
then the surface
collapses in
Human Intervention
Dam
a
barrier to
obstruct the flow of
water, especially
one of earth,
masonry, etc., built
across a stream or
river.
Levee
 an
embankment
designed to
prevent the
flooding of a river.
Contour Plowing
 the
practice of
plowing and/or
planting across a
slope following its
elevation contour
lines.
Jetty
a
pier or structure
of stones, piles, or
the like, projecting
into the sea or
other body of
water to protect a
harbor, deflect the
current, etc.
Terracing
a
raised level with
a vertical or sloping
front or sides faced
with masonry, turf,
or the like,
especially one of a
series of levels rising
one above
another.
Beach Nourishment
 describes
a
process by which
sediment (usually
sand) lost through
longshore drift or
erosion is replaced
from sources
outside of the
eroding beach.