Earth Cycles Flashcards
Extrusive Igneous Rock
When magma breaks through the Earth’s surface and cools quickly, it makes igneous rock.
Forms when lava erupts on the surface and cools quickly
Subduction
the movement of one tectonic plate under another along a convergent boundary. This pulls rocks down with it, but not far enough to melt them in the mantle.
Nitrogen Cycle
the process by which nitrogen circulates between the earth and the atmosphere
Nitrogen Fixation
the process by which lightning or bacteria change nitrogen gas in the air into a form that plants can use.
Water Cycle / Hydrologic Cycle
the process by which water circulates between the earth and the atmosphere
Rock Cycle
the process by which rock changes form and cycles through the earth’s mantle and crust
Denitrification
the process of turning nitrogen-containing molecules in the soil back into nitrogen gas
Percolate
to travel from the surface to groundwater through the spaces between soil and rock particles
Surface Runoff
water which flows over the surface of the earth to a body of water
Precipitation
water which falls to the earth due to gravity
Condensation
a phase change from the gas state to the liquid state
Algal Bloom
when ocean algae develop rapidly. It can happen naturally or by farms pouring fertilizer into waterways.
Humidity
a number that tells how much water is in the air
Intrusive Igneous Rock
igneous rock formed when magma stays below Earth’s surface
Magma takes a long time to cool and solidify
