Earth Space Science Semester 1 KEY TERMS

absorption anomalies
When light is stopped by an object, heating it up. Irregularities; deviations from the normal rule.
abyssopelagic zone apogee
This bottom zone of the open ocean extends to the The furthest point in an orbit.
seafloor. aquifer
accretion disk Zone of saturation containing enough water to sustain a
A spinning disk of material that forms from a solar community.
nebula, which may form a solar system. arms
air masses In a galaxy, these are large collections of stars, planets,
Bodies of air with uniform temperature and humidity and other objects that spiral out from the core.
conditions extending and traveling for miles in the asteroid
atmosphere.
A rock that orbits the sun and contains little to no ice.
air pressure
astronomers
The force produced by air pushing on Earth.
Scientists who study outer space.
albedo
astronomical unit (AU)
The percent of light reflected from a body.
1 AU is the average distance between the Earth and the
alluvial fan sun.
A fan shaped group of deposits left as a tributary enters astronomy
the main water flow.
The study of the universe.
alluvium
atmosphere
Silt, sand, or gravel deposited by moving water.
The envelope of air that surrounds planet Earth. The
altitude gaseous envelope surrounding Earth. A layer of gases
Altitude is the distance of an object above Earth's that surrounds a planet.
surface. atmospheric pressure gradient
Alto The rate of air pressure change between areas of high
Latin word for middle or not highest. and low pressure.
amphibians axis of rotation
Cold-blooded animals that live on land and water but An object spins around an imaginary line called the axis
breed in the water. of rotation.
analog method barometer
A method for predicting weather that is based on the A tool used to measure air pressure.
idea that any day's weather can be predicted by bathypelagic zone
analyzing similar weather conditions that preceded that
date. This deep zone of the ocean is also known as the
midnight zone because there is no light.
anemometer
bed load
A tool that measures wind speed.
Large rocks gouged out by water.
benthic zone carbonates
The bottom, sediment zone of a lake. Carbons with three oxygens.
Big Bang Theory carbonation
The theory that all of the matter and energy in the The breakdown of rocks by carbonic acid.
universe was compressed into a tiny, dense ball that cardinal directions
exploded outward, creating everything we see in the
universe. The four directions on a compass - north, south, east,
and west.
bioluminescence
cartographers
The production of light by living organisms.
Cartographers are people who specialize in the art of
biosphere making maps.
All of Earth's living things and the regions occupied by cartography
those living things.
The art or technique of making maps.
black hole
causation
A point in space with a gravitational field so intense that
light can not escape. A cause-and-effect relationship in which one variable
controls the changes in another variable.
blizzard
cellular respiration
A winter storm with low temperatures, high winds,
heavy snow, and poor visibility. The process by which all living things use sugars to
produce energy for their cells. This process also
blueshift produces carbon dioxide.
The shortening of a wavelength due to the movement of chemical reaction
the light source towards the observer.
A process that rearranges the atoms in one or more
breakwaters substances to form one or more different substances
Barriers that jut out into the water from the shore to with different properties. Chemical reactions involve
protect a harbor or to prevent erosion along the breaking chemical bonds, forming bonds, or both.
shorelines. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
butterfly effect Molecules of chlorine, fluorine (both very reactive,
A theory that says slight differences in initial conditions, dangerous chemicals) and carbon.
when amplified, create very different trajectories. chromosphere
capillary action The region on the sun between the corona and the
Upward movement of water in porous areas. photosphere.
carbon cycle Cirrus
The movement of carbon atoms throughout Earth's High ice clouds. From Latin, meaning "curled."
spheres. climate
carbon dioxide The average temperature and precipitation for a
Carbon bonded to two oxygen atoms. particular region.
carbon sinks climatologists
Reservoirs for storing carbon. Scientists who study climate and related phenomena.
carbon sources climatology method
Something that releases carbon into the atmosphere. A method for predicting weather that is based on the
idea that the weather on any date will be close to the
carbon uptake
average of the weather on that date throughout the years.
The amount of carbon absorbed.
clouds convection zone
Visible collections of water droplets in the atmosphere. Area in the sun outside the radiative zone where energy
is transferred through convection.
cold front
coordinates
The transition zone where a cold air mass replaces a
warmer air mass. A set of latitude and longitude numbers that direct
someone to a specific point.
comet
core
A large block of ice and rock that orbits the sun.
The center of an astronomical body; it may be solid,
compass
liquid, or even orbiting black holes.
A compass is an instrument used to determine direction
Coriolis effect
by means of a magnetic needle that points to the
magnetic north. The way moving water and air appears to curve because
of Earth's rotation.
compass rose
corona
A design on a map that shows direction.
The sun's outer atmosphere.
condensation
coronal mass ejection (CME)
The process by which a gas loses heat and changes to a
liquid. A sudden release of particle from the corona of the sun.
conduction correlation
The transfer of energy by direct contact. A close relationship between two variables in an event
or situation.
conductivity
cosmic microwave background radiation
How easily an electrical current moves through water.
Leftover heat thought to be a result of the Big Bang.
continental Related to the land.
crest
continental shelf
The top of a wave.
The submerged, relatively flat land at the edge of a
shoreline where a continent meets the ocean crust. crustaceans
continental slope Hard-shelled animals that have several pairs of jointed
The steeply sloping land that reaches from the legs.
continental shelf down to the ocean floor. cryosphere
contour lines The sphere of Earth that consists of frozen freshwater
and saltwater.
Lines on a topographic map connecting points of equal
elevation. Cumulus
control group Low, heaped-up fluffy white clouds. From Latin
meaning "heap."
A group in a lab experiment that is not exposed to the
tested variable. currents
convection Parts of a fluid body moving in a certain direction
continuously.
A process in which heat is transferred through a
material, resulting in different densities. A transfer of cylindrical projection
energy via the movement of particles within a liquid or A model of Earth where the meridians are equally
gas. spaced vertical lines, the parallels are equally spaced
convection cell horizontal lines, and the meridians and parallels are
perpendicular to each other.
A circular movement created by the transfer of heat
energy.
dams Huge walls standing in the way of rising waters. energy transfer
delta The alluvial deposit at the mouth of a river. The movement, passing, or flow of energy from one
object or place to another.
density The amount of mass per unit volume.
epipelagic zone
dependent variable
A condition or factor which is affected by another factor This top zone of the ocean is also known as the sunlit or
euphotic zone.
or factors.
equator
dew point
The temperature at which condensation begins for an air The line at zero degrees latitude. All other latitude lines
are measured from this starting point.
sample.
equilibrium
diurnal cycle
A condition in which all forces are balanced by others,
The daily cycle of heating and cooling due to Earth's
resulting in a stable system.
rotation.
equinoxes
doldrums
The two days of the year with exactly 12 hours of
The region, usually near the equator, where the trade
daylight.
winds converge, also called the Intertropical
Convergence Zone. erosion
Doppler effect The wearing away of land by water or wind; when soil
and rock is moved from its original location.
A change in the frequency of a wave that happens when
the source and the observer are changing distance from eutrophication
each other. A buildup of nitrogen in a water source, causing
drought A time period of little or no rain. excessive plant growth.
ecliptic The flat plane that an elliptical orbit lies in. evaporation
ecosystem The slow vaporization of water from surfaces (such as
soil and ocean surfaces).
A system formed by the interaction of a community of
living organisms with their nonliving physical evapotranspiration
environment. The evaporation of water from the soil and from plants
El Niño into the atmosphere.
The wind-driven movement of warm water in the Pacific experimental group
shifts, causing extreme disruptions to weather systems A group in a lab experiment that is exposed to the tested
all over the globe. variable.
electromagnetic radiation extrapolating
Energy made up of electromagnetic waves, which can To estimate values or information based on known
travel through space or matter. values or information.
elevation The height above sea level. extrasolar planet
Ellipse oblong circle that has 2 foci to define its shape. A planet that is outside of our solar system.
elliptical galaxy galaxy that has the shape of a football. fetch
elliptical orbits The distance over which wind blows without
All orbits have elliptical shapes, with the object being interruption.
orbited at one focus of the ellipse. flash floods
energy Heavy rains from slow-moving thunderstorms that cause
The capacity to do work, like lifting an object or the flooding within minutes or hours.
heating of water.
flood plain gradient
A strip of flat land lying next to a river that is covered Height between high and low points of the ground.
with water when the river floods. gravity An attractive force exerted by all matter.
floods Deluges caused by overflowing rivers. greenhouse effect
foci A phenomenon in which carbon dioxide and other gases
Plural of focus; each ellipse has two foci that define the trap solar radiation in the atmosphere, causing global air
shape of the ellipse. temperatures to rise.
focus ground clutter
A focus is one of the parameters of an ellipse that Radar echoes that don't come from weather events but
defines the shape; each ellipse has two foci. from buildings, birds, or other objects.
forecast To calculate or predict a future event. groundwater
fossil fuels Water that has seeped into the ground from
precipitation.
Hydrocarbon-based fuels, such as coal, petroleum, and
natural gas. Gulf Stream
freezing The process by which a liquid becomes a solid. A warm ocean current in the North Atlantic Ocean
flowing from the Gulf of Mexico northeast along the
front A boundary between air masses.
U.S. coast.
Fujita Scale
gyres
A scale for measuring tornadoes devised by scientists
Circular currents in the world's major oceans.
Tetsuya Theodore Fujita and Allan Pearson.
hadalpelagic zone
funnel cloud
Named for the god of the underworld, this zone is found
A funnel-shaped column of air and clouds that indicates
in deep-sea trenches and canyons even deeper and more
a tornado may be forming.
forbidding than the ocean floor.
fusion
hailstones
The merging together of atoms that results in a massive
Precipitation in the form of pellets of ice.
release of energy.
halo
galaxy A large collection of stars and planets.
A sparse area that surrounds a galaxy containing older
gas giants
stars.
Planets much larger than Earth that are composed
headwater The water source for a river.
primarily of gas.
heat
gas giants
Energy that flows between two things of different
Planets composed primarily of gas.
temperatures.
geology
heat capacity
The study of the origin, history, and structure of Earth.
The amount of energy required to raise the temperature
geosphere of something.
The portions of Earth made up of rock. heat wave prolonged period of excessively hot weather.
The part of Earth made up of rock and the minerals that heliocentric model
form rock.
The model of the solar system that states that the planets
geysers Bursts of steam and water from underground. orbit the sun.
Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram
A navigational system that uses satellite signals to The amount of light given off by an object in space,
determine a location on Earth. such as a star or galaxy.
horizon irregular galaxy A galaxy that can have any shape.
The horizon is the apparent junction between earth and irrigation
sky from any observer's position. The controlled use of water for agricultural purposes.
hot springs isobars
Springs whose water is heated underground by molten Lines drawn on a map around areas with the same
rock. pressure readings to indicate Highs and Lows.
humidity The amount of water vapor in the air.
isotherms
hurricanes Lines on a map that connect areas with the same surface
A collection of thunderstorms spinning over a body of temperature.
water. jet stream
hydrocarbons Carbon bonded to hydrogens. A river of fast-moving air high above the surface of the
hydrology planet.
The study of the movement and distribution of water Jovian planets Another name for the gas giant planets.
and ice on Earth. kinetic energy The energy associated with motion.
hydrosphere knots Units of speed. 1 knot is 1 nautical mile per hour.
All oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, and ice on Earth's Kuiper Belt
surface.
A belt of comets that lies on the outer boundary of our
hydrosphere solar system.
All of Earth's water, including its oceans, surface bodies land breeze
of freshwater, and groundwater, as well as clouds and
water vapor in the atmosphere. A wind blowing out to the ocean during the night.
hygrometer A tool that uses hair to measure humidity. landfall The time when a hurricane arrives on land.
hypothesis latitude
An educated guess that is tested with data. The second Lines that run east to west on a map or globe that give
step in the scientific method. information about the distance north or south of the
equator.
ice age A period of widespread glaciation.
leap year
impermeable rock
The year in which a day gets added to the end of
Underground rock layer that has no empty spaces. February in order to account for the difference in the
independent variable calendar versus Earth's period of revolution.
The condition or factor which can be manipulated in an leeward
experiment and which influences another factor. The side of an object turned away from the wind.
infiltration legend A list of symbols used on a map.
The movement of water from the surface of the ground levees
into the soil.
Embankments meant to block rising waters from
infrared overflowing.
Light that is redder than the red visible to humans. This light pollution
wavelength of light transfers heat energy.
Light that scatters in the atmosphere and interferes with
insolation The amount of sunlight striking a surface. the view of outer space.
ionized lightning
Particles that are changed to have a positive or negative An electric current cutting through clouds or air.
charge.
limnetic zone mesosphere Third and coldest layer of the atmosphere.
The zone in the middle of a lake where plankton live. meteor A meteoroid that enters Earth's atmosphere.
littoral zone meteorite meteor; falls all the way to Earth's surface.
The top zone of a lake, which is exposed to the sun. meteoroids
longitude Chunks of comets or asteroids that fly through outer
Lines that run north to south on a map or globe that give space.
information about the distance east or west of the prime meteorologist
meridian. An Earth scientist who studies the atmosphere in order
longshore current to predict the weather and learn about global climate
change.
A current that flows parallel to the shore.
meteorology study of Earth's atmosphere and weather.
longshore drift
microclimate
The movement of sediment and sand parallel to the
shore. The climate of a small environment such as a garden,
town, or forest.
luminosity
Milky Way galaxy where our solar system is located.
The amount of light given off by an object in space,
such as a star or galaxy. mountain breeze
lunar cycle A breeze moving down the sides of a slope at night.
The changes in the moon's appearance from Earth over NASA
the course of a month. NASA is an acronym for the National Aeronautics and
lunar eclipse Space Administration, an agency headquartered in
Washington, D.C., which conducts research and
When the moon enters Earth's shadow.
development on space and flying.
main asteroid belt
neap tides
A doughnut-shaped ring of asteroids that lies between
The smallest tides, which occur during the first and last
the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
moon quarters.
maritime Related to the sea.
near-earth asteroid
marshes
An asteroid that comes closer than 1.3 au to Earth.
Wetlands characterized by grasses and other similar
nebula
plant life.
mass measurement of the amount of matter in an object. A large mass of gas or dust, sometimes referred to as a
star nursery.
matter Something that takes up space.
neutron star An ultra-dense remnant of a star.
meanders River curves.
Nimbus Latin word for rain.
mercury
nitrogen fixation
A poisonous silvery metal that is a liquid at room
Breaking up a nitrogen molecule so it can used by plants
temperature. The chemical symbol is Hg.
and animals.
meridians
nonpoint source pollution
Lines that run north to south on a map or globe that give
information about the distance east or west of the prime Pollution from farms, urban runoff, and other sources
that can't be pinpointed.
meridian.
nuclear fusion
mesopelagic zone
When two atoms combine to form a larger atom, usually
This middle zone of the ocean is also known as the
releasing energy in the process.
twilight zone because of the amount of light it receives.
nuclear fusion phases of the moon
When two atoms combine to form a larger atom, usually The various shapes the moon has over the course of a
releasing energy in the process. lunar cycle.
nuclear reaction photons Energy particles.
Any process in which atomic nuclei combine or split to photosphere The surface of the sun.
form different types of nuclei. photosynthesis
numerical models
The process by which plants turn water and carbon
A method that uses equations to predict weather. dioxide into sugar using energy from the sun.
occluded front occurs when warm air is overtaken by a photosynthesis
cold front. The process by which plants turn water and carbon
oceanographers dioxide into sugar and oxygen using energy from the
sun.
Scientists who study the oceans, their chemistry, and
their inhabitants. phytoplankton
Oort Cloud Microscopic plants that form the base of the ocean food
chain.
A hypothetical sphere of comets that envelopes our
entire solar system. planar projection
organic Anything containing carbon. The conversion of a three-dimensional globe into a two-
dimensional map.
oscillate To go back and forth.
planetary nebula
oxbow lake
A large collection of expanding gas that has a hot, blue-
U-shaped lake formed when the main channel of a river
white star at the center.
is cut off.
planimetric map
ozone
A map that shows the geographic location of features on
A gas made of three oxygen atoms. A layer of ozone
a horizontal plane but does not show the elevation.
exists in the stratosphere and protects Earth from
harmful ultraviolet radiation. plant respiration
paradigm Breaking down a sugar molecule and releasing energy.
A unifying concept that forms the basis of scientific plasma A charged gas.
investigation in a particular field. polar Related to the North or South Pole.
parallels polar easterlies
Lines that run east to west on a map or globe that give The winds that blow from the polar regions to the
information about the distance north or south of the subpolar lows.
equator.
polar front area between polar easterlies & westerlies
particle accelerators
poles northernmost & southernmost points on the globe.
A device used to accelerate charged particles to a higher
energy. porosity The number of spaces in the soil.
perigee The closest point in an orbit. potential energy
permafrost Permanently frozen soil just below the The energy of matter derived from its position.
surface. precession movement of an object's axis of rotation.
permeability The ability of soil to let water through. precipitation
persistence method Rain, snow, hail, or any other water that forms via the
A method for predicting weather that is based on the condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere and falls
idea that tomorrow's weather will be the same as today's. to Earth.
pressure gradient radiosondes
A difference in pressure. In the atmosphere, pressure Instruments on weather balloons that transmit data by
gradients cause winds to blow from higher to lower radio waves.
pressures. rain gauge
prevailing winds A large cylinder with a funnel and a smaller measuring
Winds that come most frequently from a particular tube inside it; used to measure the amount of rainfall.
direction. rainmaker
prime meridian Someone who attempts to produce rain by artificial
The line at zero degrees longitude. All other longitude means. In business, a rainmaker is someone who can
lines are measured from this point. ensure success.
profundal zone red giant
The deeper zone in the lake, where very little light A very large star that is relatively cool.
reaches. redshift
projection The lengthening of a wavelength due to the movement
The conversion of a three-dimensional object into a two- of the light source away from the observer.
dimensional object. reflection
prominences When light bounces off an object.
Large arcs of gas extending from the sun's surface. reflectivity
psychrometer The ability of a radar target to return energy; used to
A tool that uses thermometers to measure humidity. estimate precipitation intensity and rainfall rates.
Ptolemaic model refraction
The astronomical model that states that Earth is the The bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to
center of the universe. another.
quantitative relative humidity
Able to be recorded in numbers. The ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air to the
Example: "The apple has a mass of 100 g" is a maximum amount that the air can hold at that
quantitative observation. temperature.
radiation relief
Energy transmitted as a particle in the form of rays or The difference in elevation between the high and low
waves. points of a landscape.
radiation transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves. remote sensing
radiation The process of gathering information about land and
The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves as they water through images taken at a distance.
travel through space or matter. reservoir
radiation balance net amount of energy entering Earth. An artificial lake where water is stored.
radiative zone revolution
Area of the sun directly outside the core where energy is The motion of an object orbiting around something else.
radiated outward. rock cycle
radio telescopes The sequence of events and processes that change one
Telescopes that are able to receive radio wavelengths type of rock into another type of rock.
(the same type of wavelength that is transmitted to your rotation motion of an object spinning around an axis.
radio).
Saffir-Simpson Scale A scale for measuring hurricanes. spring tides
salinity Concentration of dissolved salts. The highest and lowest tides, which occur during a full
moon and new moon.
sandbagging Piling sand bags.
standard atmospheric pressure
scale
A chosen value used to represent the force of air
The ratio of the distance on the map to the actual
pressure at sea level.
distance between locations.
stationary front
scientific method
A front that occurs when cold and warm air masses
A series of steps that scientists use to guide their
meet, but neither is moving.
reasoning while conducting science.
stellar equilibrium
sea breeze
The balancing act between the energy exploding out
A wind blowing in from the ocean during the day.
from the fusion in the core and the gravitational
seasonal cycle attraction of the star's mass.
The seasonal temperature cycle due to the tilt of Earth's stellar mass Equivalent to the mass of the sun.
axis.
storm surge
sediment Material that settles on the bottom of water.
Domes of water produced by the action of cyclonic
sextant winds during a hurricane.
An instrument used in navigation to measure angular stratosphere
distances, especially of celestial objects, to determine
Second layer of the atmosphere (moving away from
latitude and longitude.
Earth), which blocks most of the harmful radiation of
solar eclipse When the moon blocks out the sun's light. the sun.
solar flares Big explosions on the surface of the sun. Stratus
solar nebula Low to medium-height gray clouds. From Latin
A large cloud of gas and dust that can collapse to form meaning "spread out."
an accretion disk. sublimation
solar radiation Light energy from the sun. Gas changing directly into a solid or a solid changing
solar system planets or other objects that orbit a star. directly into a gas without passing through the liquid
state.
solution When a mineral dissolves in water.
subpolar low
sounding process used to measure the depth of water.
The low pressure zone at 60 degrees latitude.
source regions Areas where air masses form.
summer solstice
Southern Oscillation
The day of the year with the most daylight.
Changes in air pressure over the equatorial Pacific
during El Niño. sunspots

speed of light Temporary disturbances on the suns photosphere.

The speed that light is able to travel in a vacuum (about supercells

300,000 km or 186,000 miles per second). Turbulent thunder clouds with strong updrafts of wind.
speed of light supernova The explosion of a star.
The speed that light is able to travel in a vacuum (about suspended load Small rocks carried by a river.
300,000 km or 186,000 miles per second).
swamps Wetlands with trees and other plant life.
spiral galaxy
system A group of connected interacting parts.
A galaxy that has arms that form a spiral shape.
temperature tropical Located around the equator.
A degree of hotness or coldness measured on a definite tropical cyclones
scale. A measure of how hot or cold something is. Low-pressure weather systems characterized by circular
Temperature is also a measure of the average kinetic wind motion that rotates counter-clockwise in the
energy of the particles in a substance. Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern
terrarium Hemisphere.
A sealed, clear container in which plants (and sometimes tropical depression
animals) are kept in order to model an ecosystem. A storm system with wind circulation around a center,
terrestrial planets with sustained winds from 23 to 39 mph.
The four planets closest to the sun, which are made of tropical disturbance unorganized mass of
rock; also called the rocky planets. thunderstorms
thematic map tropical storm
A map that conveys specific information about an area, A storm system with wind circulation around a center,
usually with colors, patterns, or symbols. with maximum sustained winds from 40 to 74 mph.
thermometer troposphere
An instrument for determining temperature. Layer of the atmosphere closest to the ground, where all
the weather happens.
thermosphere
trough The lowest point between two crests.
The fourth and outer layer of the atmosphere.
tsunami
thunder The sound produced by lightning.
A giant wave caused by an underwater volcano eruption
thunderstorms
or earthquake. From the Japanese word meaning "harbor
Storms accompanied by lightning and thunder. wave."
topographic map typhoon
A map depicting the features and elevation of the land A tropical cyclone in the western Pacific Ocean or off
surface. the coast of China.
topography The features and elevation of the land updrafts
surface.
Rising air currents; most updrafts comprise warm moist
tornadoes air that rises through cooler air.
Violently rotating, funnel-shaped clouds in contact with valley breeze
the ground.
A breeze moving up the sides of a slope during the day.
trade winds
vapor The gaseous state of a substance.
The winds that blow from the horse latitudes toward the
vaporization processes by which liquid changes to a gas
equator.
variable A condition or factor involved in an
transmission When light goes through an object.
experiment.
transpiration
visible light
The process by which water is carried through plants,
Light that we can see with our eyes.
from roots to leaves, then released as water vapor into
the atmosphere. waning
trench A deep, narrow valley in the ocean floor. Period of the lunar cycle where the moon appears
smaller and smaller.
trends method
warm front
A method for predicting weather that uses the starting
variables of an event to predict its final destination. The transition zone where a warm air mass replaces a
cold air mass.
tributaries Streams.
water cycle force of gravity and that cools over the next billion years
or so.
The sequence of conditions through which water passes
in the atmosphere and on Earth's surface. white dwarf
water cycle A hot dense core of a star after it runs out of fuel and the
outer layers escape into space that contracts under the
The sequence of conditions through which water passes
force of gravity and that cools over the next billion years
in the atmosphere and on Earth's surface.
or so.
water pressure
wind shear
The force of water upon itself.
A change in speed and direction of the wind at different
water table altitudes.
The boundary between the zone of aeration and the zone wind sock
of saturation.
A cone-shaped fabric tube with an open end that
water vapor indicates wind direction and speed.
Water in its gaseous form. windward
watershed The side of an object closest to or facing the wind.
An area of land from which water flows into a river, winter solstice
stream, lake, or ocean.
The day of the year with the least daylight.
wave base
working theory
Half the wavelength.
A scientific idea supported by evidence but not
wave period necessarily proven.
The time it takes for two crests to pass a fixed point. zone of aeration
wavelength Underground layer containing empty spaces and spaces
The distance between the two crests in a wave. filled with water.

waxing zone of saturation

Period of the lunar cycle where the moon appears larger Underground layer whose empty spaces are filled with
and larger. water.

weather
The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place.
weather systems
Disturbances in the atmosphere in which clouds,
precipitation, and winds are present.
weather vane
A tool used to show wind direction.
westerlies
The winds that blow from the horse latitudes to the
subpolar lows.
wetlands
Areas in which the ground is saturated with water.
white dwarf
A hot dense core of a star after it runs out of fuel and the
outer layers escape into space that contracts under the