Changing Earth's Surface

Atmosphere

The layer of gases that surround the Earth. Atmosphere. The atmosphere is a blanket of air around the Earth that we breathe and which protects us from the sun.

Core

The central part of the Earth, below the mantle. core. The core is the Earth's innermost layer, made mostly of iron and nickel.

Crust

The thin rocky outer layer of Earth, above the mantle. Crust is Earth's outermost layer where we live and walk.

Deposition

The process of dropping sediment by water or wind is called deposition. Deposition is when materials like sand or soil are left behind by water or wind, creating new landforms.

Earthquake

A sudden shaking of rock in the Earth's crust. Earthquake. An earthquake is the shaking of the ground caused by movements of the Earth's plates.

Epicenter

The point directly above the focus of an earthquake, on Earths surface. Epicenter. The epicenter is where the earthquake's shaking is usually felt the strongest.

Erosion

The process in which rock is worn away and transported by water, wind or ice. Erosion is when natural forces like water, wind, or ice gradually wear away and move rocks and soil.

Fault

A break in Earth's crust along which rocks move. Faults are fractures in the Earth's crust where sections have shifted due to tectonic forces.

Focus

The underground point where an earthquake starts. Focus. The focus is the exact location beneath the Earth's surface where the earthquake begins.

Glacier

A large mass of slow moving ice and snow. Glacier. A glacier is a big, slow-moving river of ice that forms from compacted snow in cold regions.

Hydrosphere

All the water on Earth. Hydrosphere. The hydrosphere includes all the water on Earth's surface, underground, and in the atmosphere.

Lava

Molten rock that reaches the Earth's surface is called lava. Lava is hot, liquid rock that flows from a volcano during an eruption.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of Earth made up of the crust and upper mantle. Lithosphere. The lithosphere is the solid, outer part of Earth that includes the crust and the uppermost mantle.

Magma

Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface. Magma. Magma is hot, liquid rock found beneath the Earth's crust.

Mantle

The layer of rock between Earth's crust and core. mantle. The mantle is a thick, hot layer of rock inside the Earth that sits between the crust and the core.

Plate

One of the large sections of crust and upper mantle that fit together and cover the Earth. Plate. In simple terms, a plate is a huge, moving slab of rock that makes up the Earth's surface.

Plate tectonics

The theory that Earth's crust is made of moving plates. Plate tectonics. It's the idea that Earth's surface is divided into large pieces that float and move on the molten layer beneath them.

Volcano

A mountain through which lava flows to Earths surface. Volcano. A volcano is an opening in the Earth's surface that allows hot molten rock, ash, and gases to escape from below.

Weathering

The processes which break down rocks weathering. Weathering is when rocks are broken into smaller pieces by natural forces like wind, water, and temperature changes.