Unit 4 Vocab

Front

Albedo

Back

Ability of a surface to reflect light. Higher for snow, lower for dark soil or pavement.

Front

Asthenosphere

Back

The soft, moving layer of the mantle on which the lithosphere floats.

Front

Atmosphere

Back

A thin layer of gases surrounding Earth; mainly nitrogen and oxygen.

Front

Clay

Back

The finest size of soil particles.

Front

Climate

Back

The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time (at least 30 years).

Front

Convection

Back

The transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas, with warmer air/fluid rising.

Front

Convergent boundary

Back

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates move towards each other.

Front

Coriolis effect

Back

The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and currents, causing them to turn left in the southern hemisphere and right in the northern hemisphere.

Front

Crust

Back

The thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle.

Front

Divergent boundary

Back

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates move away from each other.