Natural science
Earth Science 13th Edition solutions
Author: Edward J. Tarbuck
Publisher: Pearson
ISBN: 9780321688507
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Glossary
Key Natural science Terms and definitions covered in this textbook
Aa flow
A type of lava flow that has a jagged, blocky surface.
Abrasion
The grinding and scraping of a rock surface by the friction and impact of rock particles carried by water, wind, or ice.
Absolute humidity
The weight of water vapor in a given volume of air (usually expressed in GRAMS/M3).
Absolute instability
Air that has a lapse rate greater than the dry adiabatic rate.
Absolute magnitude
The apparent brightness of a star if it were viewed from a distance of 10 parsecs (32.6 light-years). Used to compare the true brightness of stars.
Absolute stability
Air with a lapse rate less than the wet adiabatic rate.
Absorption spectrum
A continuous spectrum with dark lines superimposed.
Abyssal plain
Very level area of the deep-ocean floor, usually lying at the foot of the continental rise.
Abyssal zone
A subdivision of the benthic zone characterized by extremely high pressures, low temperatures, low oxygen, few nutrients, and no sunlight.
Accretionary wedge
A large wedge-shaped mass of sediment that accumulates in subduction zones. Here, sediment is scraped from the subducting oceanic plate and accreted to the overriding crustal block.
Acid precipitation
Rain or snow with a pH value that is less than the pH of unpolluted precipitation.
Active continental margin
Usually narrow and consisting of highly deformed sediments. They occur where oceanic lithosphere is being subducted beneath the margin of a continent.
Adiabatic temperature change
Cooling or warming of air caused when air is allowed to expand or is compressed, not because heat is added or subtracted.
Advection
Horizontal convective motion, such as wind.
Advection fog
A fog formed when warm, moist air is blown over a cool surface.
Aerosols
Tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere.
Aftershocks
Smaller earthquakes that follow the main earthquake.
Air
A mixture of many discrete gases, of which nitrogen and oxygen are most abundant, in which varying quantities of tiny solid and liquid particles are suspended.
Air mass
A large body of air that is characterized by a sameness of temperature and humidity.
Air pollutants
Airborne particles and gases that occur in concentrations that endanger the health and well-being of organisms or disrupt the orderly functioning of the environment.