| A | B |
|---|
| atmosphere | the layers of gas that surround Earth, other planets, or stars |
| chemical weathering | the breakdown and alteration of rocks at or near Earth’s surface as a result of chemical processes |
| deposition | the process by which sediment is carried by forces (e.g., wind, rain, or water currents) and left in a certain area |
| mid-ocean ridge | a continuous, seismic mountain range extending across the floor of the world’s major oceans; area where two oceanic plates are moving away from each other; area where new crustal material may be released |
| neap tide | a twice-monthly tide of minimal range that occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are at right angles to each other, thus decreasing the total tidal force exerted on Earth |
| ocean basin | a depression on the surface of Earth occupied by water |
| pollution | any alteration of the natural environment producing a condition harmful to living organisms; may occur naturally or as a result of human activities |
| rift valley | a long, narrow valley in Earth’s crust where two continental plates are separating or between two faults |
| spring tide | the tide of increased range that occurs twice monthly at the new and full phases of the Moon |
| water cycle | the path water takes as it is being cycled through the environment, including condensation, evaporation, and precipitation |
| weathering | the natural processes that break down and change rock into soil, sand, and other materials; differs from erosion in that no transportation of those materials takes place |
