ESS Regents Flashcards
(297 cards)
1
Q
Cleavage
A
A mineral’s tendency to break along flat surfaces
2
Q
Foucault Pendulum
A
Evidence of Earth’s rotation
3
Q
Leeward
A
The side of a mountain sheltered from the wind
4
Q
Galaxy
A
A system of stars gas and dust held together by gravity
5
Q
Richter Scale
A
A scale that measures earthquake magnitude
6
Q
Transform Boundary
A
A boundary where plates slide past each other
7
Q
Big Bang Theory
A
The idea that the universe began from a single point and expanded
8
Q
Epicenter
A
The point on Earth’s surface directly above the focus
9
Q
Relative Humidity
A
The percentage of moisture in the air compared to the maximum
10
Q
Dew Point
A
The temperature at which air is saturated with water vapor
11
Q
Precipitation
A
Water that falls to Earth as rain snow sleet or hail
12
Q
Clastic Rock
A
Sedimentary rock made of fragments of other rocks
13
Q
Ozone Layer
A
Absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun
14
Q
Deposition
A
The process in which sediment is laid down
15
Q
Ecology
A
The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment
16
Q
Erosion
A
The process by which natural forces move weathered rock
17
Q
Proof of Earth’s Shape
A
Satellite images and gravity measurements confirm an oblate spheroid
18
Q
El Niño
A
A climate pattern that causes warming in the Pacific Ocean
19
Q
Humus
A
Decayed organic matter in soil
20
Q
Jet Stream
A
A narrow band of strong winds in the upper atmosphere
21
Q
Rate of Change
A
The speed at which a variable changes over time
22
Q
Air Pressure
A
The force of air molecules pushing on a surface
23
Q
Ocean Current
A
A movement of ocean water caused by wind and other factors
24
Q
Occluded Front
A
A cold front overtakes a warm front
25
Seasons
Caused by Earth's tilted axis and revolution around the sun
26
Drumlin
A smooth hill formed by glacial action
27
Zone of Saturation
The area where all pores in soil or rock are filled with water
28
Barometer
An instrument used to measure air pressure
29
Contour Line
A line on a map that connects points of equal elevation
30
Topsoil
The top layer of soil rich in organic material
31
Carbon Cycle
The movement of carbon among Earth systems
32
Asteroid
A rocky object orbiting the sun mostly in the asteroid belt
33
Meteoroid
A small rocky or metallic body in space
34
Monsoon
Seasonal wind patterns that cause wet and dry seasons
35
Isoline
A line that connects points of equal value
36
Condensation
The change of water vapor into liquid water
37
Altitude of Polaris
Equal to the observer's latitude in the Northern Hemisphere
38
Glacier
A large moving mass of ice and snow
39
Solar Angle
The angle of the sun above the horizon affects temperature
40
Crystal
A solid in which atoms are arranged in a pattern
41
Universe
All space time matter and energy
42
Lava
Molten rock on Earth's surface
43
Solar Eclipse
When the moon blocks the sun's light from reaching Earth
44
Stationary Front
A front that does not move
45
Delta
Landform created by deposition of sediment at a river mouth
46
Environmental Science
The study of the interactions between the physical chemical and biological components of the environment
47
Capillarity
The upward movement of water through small spaces
48
Greenhouse Effect
The trapping of heat in Earth’s atmosphere by gases
49
Polar Zone
Cold climate zone with low solar energy
50
Vernal Equinox
March 21 equal day and night
51
Leaching
Removal of dissolved materials from soil by water
52
Climate
The average weather conditions in an area over a long period
53
Glacier
A large moving mass of ice
54
Non-Cyclic Change
A change that does not follow a regular or predictable pattern
55
El Niño
A climate event where warm water builds up in the Pacific Ocean
56
Winter Solstice
December 21 shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere
57
Greenhouse Effect
Trapping of heat in Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases
58
Outwash Plain
A plain formed of glacial sediments deposited by meltwater
59
S-wave
A slower seismic wave that moves only through solids
60
Precipitation
Water falling from clouds as rain snow sleet or hail
61
Polar Air Mass
Cold air mass formed near the poles
62
Water Table
The upper surface of groundwater
63
Igneous Rock
Rock formed from cooled magma or lava
64
Latitude
The distance north or south of the equator
65
Carbon Dioxide
A greenhouse gas contributing to warming
66
Low Pressure System
A system with rising air that often causes clouds and precipitation
67
Dynamic Equilibrium
A state of balance between continuing processes
68
Solstice
Day when the sun reaches its greatest distance north or south of the equator
69
Storm Surge
A rise in sea level due to a hurricane or storm
70
Solar System
The sun and all objects that orbit it
71
Desert
A dry area with little precipitation
72
Landslide
Sudden movement of rock and soil down a slope
73
Density
Mass per unit volume of a substance
74
Eruption
The release of magma gases and ash from a volcano
75
Greenhouse Effect
The trapping of heat by gases in Earth’s atmosphere
76
Ash Fall
Tiny volcanic rock particles falling from an eruption
77
Perihelion
Point in orbit closest to the sun
78
Intrusive Igneous Rock
Igneous rock formed beneath Earth's surface
79
Till
Unsorted glacial sediment
80
Tropical Zone
Warm climate zone near the equator
81
Infiltration
Water soaking into the ground
82
Tsunami
A large wave caused by underwater disturbance
83
Geology
The study of Earth's solid materials and structures and the processes that create them
84
Meteorite
A meteoroid that survives passage and lands on Earth
85
Transpiration
The release of water vapor from plants
86
Stationary Front
When two air masses meet and do not move
87
Wegener
The scientist who proposed continental drift
88
Hurricane
A large rotating storm system with strong winds and heavy rain
89
Isotherm
A line on a map connecting points of equal temperature
90
Drumlin
An elongated hill formed by glacier deposition
91
Coriolis Effect
The deflection of moving objects caused by Earth's rotation
92
High Pressure System
A weather system with sinking air that brings clear skies
93
Solar Noon
The time when the sun is at its highest point in the sky
94
Convection
Transfer of heat by the movement of fluids
95
Gradient
The rate of change in value over a distance
96
Natural Hazard
A natural event that causes damage or loss
97
Convergent Boundary
A boundary where plates move together
98
Creep
Slow movement of soil down a slope
99
Seafloor Spreading
The process of new oceanic crust forming at mid-ocean ridges
100
Watershed
An area of land that drains into a river or stream
101
Foliated Rock
Metamorphic rock with a layered appearance
102
Upwelling
The rise of cold nutrient-rich water to the surface
103
Cloud
A collection of water droplets or ice crystals in the air
104
Erosion
The movement of sediment from one place to another
105
Topographic Map
A map showing elevation and surface features using contour lines
106
Bedrock
The solid layer of rock beneath the soil
107
Kepler's Second Law
A planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times
108
Jovian Planets
Gas giants farther from the sun
109
Radiation
Transfer of energy through space by electromagnetic waves
110
Extrusive Igneous Rock
Igneous rock formed from lava on Earth's surface
111
Luminosity
The total amount of energy emitted by a star per second
112
U-shaped Valley
A valley formed by glacier movement
113
Ocean Currents
Large streams of ocean water that move heat
114
Prime Meridian
The line of longitude designated as 0°
115
Weather
The condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a given time and place
116
Shadow Length
Shortest at solar noon longest at sunrise and sunset
117
Lunar Eclipse
When Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the moon
118
Infiltration
Water soaking into the ground
119
Altitude
Height above sea level
120
Geocentric Model
Model of the universe with Earth at the center
121
Porosity
The amount of open space in soil or rock
122
Phases of the Moon
Changes in appearance due to its position relative to Earth and the sun
123
Focus
One of two fixed points used to define an ellipse
124
Latitude
The distance north or south of the equator
125
Modified Mercalli Scale
A scale that measures earthquake intensity
126
Mass Movement
The downhill movement of rock and soil due to gravity
127
Kettle Lake
A depression formed by a melting block of glacial ice
128
Anticyclone
A system of winds rotating outward from a high-pressure center
129
Zone of Aeration
The area above the water table where soil is not saturated
130
Meteorology
The study of weather and the atmosphere
131
Density
Mass divided by volume
132
Altitude
Height above sea level
133
Glacial Till
Unsorted rock and debris left behind by a glacier
134
Front
A boundary between two air masses
135
Humidity
The amount of water vapor in the air
136
Inference
A conclusion based on observations
137
Cold Front
A cold air mass pushes under a warm air mass causing storms
138
Tundra
A cold treeless region with permafrost
139
Global Warming
A rise in Earth’s average temperature
140
Kepler's First Law
Planets orbit the sun in ellipses with the sun at one focus
141
Isotherm
A line connecting points of equal temperature
142
Conduction
Transfer of heat through direct contact
143
Taiga
A cold forest region dominated by coniferous trees
144
Meander
A curve or bend in a river
145
P-wave
A fast-moving seismic wave that travels through solids and liquids
146
Tectonic Plate
A large piece of Earth’s lithosphere that moves
147
La Niña
A climate pattern that causes cooling in the Pacific Ocean
148
Jet Stream
A fast flowing current of air high in the atmosphere
149
Rift Valley
A valley formed at a divergent boundary
150
Weathering
The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces
151
Autumnal Equinox
September 23 equal day and night
152
Isobar
A line on a weather map connecting points of equal pressure
153
Contour Interval
The difference in elevation between adjacent contour lines
154
Oceanography
The study of Earth's oceans and oceanic phenomena
155
Mountain Range
A series of mountains connected by high ground
156
Front
The boundary between two air masses
157
Deep Current
An ocean current caused by differences in density
158
Meteor
A meteoroid that burns up in Earth's atmosphere
159
Trench
A deep valley formed at a subduction zone
160
Fracture
How a mineral breaks when it does not split evenly
161
Time Zones
24 divisions of the Earth based on Earth's 15° per hour rotation
162
Volume
The amount of space an object occupies
163
Revolution
Earth's orbit around the sun 365.26 days
164
Tropical Air Mass
Warm air mass formed near the equator
165
Climate
The average weather conditions in an area over time
166
Neutron Star
The small dense remains of a high-mass star
167
Air Pressure
The force of air pushing down on Earth
168
Volcano
A vent where magma reaches the surface
169
Eccentricity
A measure of how elliptical an orbit is
170
Isotherm
A line connecting points of equal temperature
171
Nonfoliated Rock
Metamorphic rock with no layers
172
Spring Tide
Highest tides when Earth moon and sun are aligned
173
Temperate Zone
Climate zone with moderate temperatures
174
Maritime Air Mass
Air mass that forms over water and is moist
175
Pyroclastic Flow
A fast-moving cloud of hot gas and volcanic material
176
Barometer
An instrument that measures air pressure
177
Lake Effect Snow
Snow created when cold air moves across warmer lake water
178
Sedimentary Rock
Rock formed from compressed sediments
179
Apparent Motion
The way celestial objects appear to move due to Earth's motion
180
Aquifer
A layer of rock or sediment that holds water
181
Rock Cycle
The continuous transformation of rock types
182
Ozone Layer
A layer of gas that protects Earth from UV radiation
183
Water Vapor
The most abundant greenhouse gas
184
Biome
A large region with specific climate and life forms
185
Fossil Fuels
Natural fuels like coal oil and gas formed from ancient organisms
186
Evaporation
The process of liquid water becoming water vapor
187
Physical Weathering
Breaking rock by physical forces like freezing and thawing
188
Windward
The side of a mountain facing the wind
189
Focus
The location within Earth where an earthquake begins
190
Carbon Cycle
The movement of carbon among Earth’s systems
191
Earth's Shape
Oblate spheroid slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator
192
Black Hole
A region of space with gravity so strong not even light escapes
193
Soil Profile
A vertical section of soil showing different horizons
194
Stratosphere
Layer above the troposphere contains the ozone layer
195
Permeability
How easily water can pass through soil or rock
196
Milky Way
The spiral galaxy that contains our solar system
197
Rotation
The spinning of Earth on its axis 24 hours
198
Aphelion
Point in orbit farthest from the sun
199
White Dwarf
A small hot dim star that is the leftover center of an old star
200
Rain Shadow
A dry area on the leeward side of a mountain
201
Subduction
One tectonic plate sinking beneath another
202
Stream
A channel through which water is continually flowing
203
Mass
The amount of matter in an object
204
Astronomy
The study of objects and phenomena beyond Earth's atmosphere
205
Erratic
A large boulder transported and left by a glacier
206
Climate Zone
An area with distinct average temperature and precipitation
207
Runoff
Water that flows over the land surface
208
Occluded Front
A front where a warm air mass is caught between two cold ones
209
Nuclear Fusion
Process by which stars produce energy by combining nuclei
210
Pangaea
A supercontinent that existed about 300 million years ago
211
La Niña
A climate event where cold water dominates the Pacific
212
Subsoil
The layer beneath topsoil with less organic matter
213
Terrestrial Planets
Rocky planets closest to the sun
214
Runoff
Water that flows over the ground surface to streams
215
Moraine
A deposit of glacial debris
216
Longitude
The distance east or west of the prime meridian
217
Cyclone
A system of winds rotating inward to a low-pressure center
218
Soil Horizon
A layer of soil that differs from the layers above and below
219
Giant Star
A large bright star with a low surface temperature
220
Seismograph
A device that records earthquake waves
221
Urban Heat Island
An area in a city that is warmer than surrounding rural areas
222
Climate
The average weather conditions of an area over a long period
223
Global Warming
A rise in Earth’s average temperature due to greenhouse gases
224
Continental Air Mass
Air mass that forms over land and is dry
225
Chemical Rock
Rock formed from minerals precipitating from a solution
226
Esker
A ridge of sediment deposited by a stream under a glacier
227
Soil
A mixture of weathered rock organic matter water and air
228
Magma
Molten rock beneath Earth's surface
229
Cold Front
A front where cold air moves under warm air
230
Coriolis Effect
The deflection of moving objects due to Earth’s rotation
231
Supernova
A gigantic explosion in which a massive star collapses
232
Main Sequence
Stage in a star's life where it fuses hydrogen to helium
233
Warm Front
A front where warm air moves over cold air
234
Mid-Ocean Ridge
An underwater mountain range formed by divergent plates
235
Field
A region of space with a measurable quantity at every point
236
Alluvial Fan
A fan-shaped deposit formed where a stream leaves a mountain
237
Interface
A boundary between two different materials or systems
238
Evaporation
The change of liquid water into vapor
239
Organic Rock
Rock formed from remains of living things
240
Isobar
A line on a weather map that connects points of equal pressure
241
Paleomagnetism
The record of Earth’s magnetic field in rocks
242
Condensation
Water vapor cooling and changing into liquid
243
Moon
A natural satellite orbiting a planet
244
Water Cycle
The continuous movement of water on above and below Earth’s surface
245
Luster
The way a mineral reflects light
246
Rainforest
A warm area with high rainfall and dense vegetation
247
Slump
A downward slide of soil or rock along a curved surface
248
Floodplain
Flat land along a river formed by floods
249
Metamorphic Rock
Rock changed by heat and pressure
250
Tides
The regular rise and fall of ocean levels due to the moon's gravity
251
Clouds
Tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air
252
Albedo
The amount of sunlight reflected by a surface
253
Surface Current
An ocean current that flows on the surface caused by wind
254
Avalanche
A mass of snow ice and rocks falling rapidly down a slope
255
Kepler's Third Law
The farther a planet is from the sun the longer its period of revolution
256
Magnetic Reversal
A switch in Earth's magnetic field direction
257
Precipitation
Any form of water falling from clouds
258
Isobar
A line connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure
259
Urban Heat Island
A city area that is warmer than its surroundings
260
Measurement
A comparison to a known standard
261
Earthquake
A sudden shaking of Earth’s surface
262
Hardness
A mineral’s resistance to being scratched
263
Model
A representation of an object or system
264
Neap Tide
Lowest tidal range when moon and sun are at right angles
265
Tornado
A rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground
266
Weather
The condition of the atmosphere at a given place and time
267
Streak
The color of a mineral’s powder
268
System
A group of parts that work together as a whole
269
Star
A ball of gas undergoing nuclear fusion
270
Observation
Information collected using the five senses
271
Heliocentric Model
Model of the solar system with the sun at the center
272
Hess
The scientist who proposed seafloor spreading
273
Comet
A body of ice and dust that orbits the sun
274
Moraine
A ridge of sediment left by a glacier
275
Latitude
The distance north or south of the equator
276
Summer Solstice
June 21 longest day in the Northern Hemisphere
277
Red Shift
Light from distant galaxies is stretched showing universe is expanding
278
Striations
Scratches on rock caused by glacier movement
279
Hot Spot
A stationary area where magma melts through the crust
280
Equinox
Day when day and night are equal in length spring and fall
281
Plate Boundary
The edge where tectonic plates meet
282
Cyclic Change
A change that repeats in a predictable pattern
283
Continental Drift
The hypothesis that continents move across Earth's surface
284
Elliptical Orbit
An oval-shaped path that planets follow around the sun
285
Warm Front
A warm air mass moves over a cold air mass bringing light rain
286
Divergent Boundary
A boundary where plates move apart
287
Deposition
The dropping of sediment by wind water or ice
288
Air Mass
A large body of air with uniform temperature and moisture
289
Chemical Weathering
The breakdown of rocks by chemical reactions
290
Ozone Layer
A layer of ozone in the stratosphere that absorbs UV radiation
291
Troposphere
The lowest layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs
292
Kettle Lake
A lake formed when a block of ice melts in glacial sediment
293
Atmosphere
The layer of gases surrounding Earth
294
Island Arc
A chain of volcanic islands formed above a subduction zone
295
Mineral
A naturally occurring inorganic solid with a crystal structure
296
Equator
An imaginary line around the Earth halfway between the poles
297
Mohs Scale
A scale ranking mineral hardness from 1 to 10
