Earth Science Terms

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Atmosphere

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The relatively thin layer of gases that forms Earth’s outermost layer.

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Geosphere

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The densest parts of Earth, including the crust, mantle, and core.

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Hydrosphere

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The portion of Earth that consists of water in any of its forms, including oceans, glaciers, rivers, lakes, groundwater and water vapor.

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Cryosphere

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The portion of the hydrosphere that is frozen, including all the ice and snow on land, plus sea and lake ice.

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Biosphere

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The parts of Earth that contain living organisms.

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Energy

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The ability to do work or cause change.

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Topography

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The shape of the land determined by elevation, relief, and landforms.

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Landform

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A feature on the surface of Earth, such as a coastline, dune, or mountain.

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Mountain

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A landform with high elevation and high relief.

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Coastline

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A line that forms the boundary between the land and the ocean or a lake.