Earth Science Vocabulary

weathering- the process of wearing away or otherwise changing Earths surface by exposure to natural forces erosion- the gradual wearing away of rock or soil by water, wind, or ice continental drift- the slow process of Earths continents moving as Earths plates shift ridge- a long, narrow hilltop, usually bordered by steep slopes trench- a crack in the seafloor; a long ditch fault- a crack in Earths crust along with movement occurs

tectonic plate- the large sheets of rock that make up Earths crust crust- the thin outer layer of Earths surface mantle- the semi-solid layer of Earth that lies between the crust and the core magma- melted, liquid rock beneath the Earths surface lava- melted, liquid rock that reaches Earths surface glacier- a large body of accumulated ice and compacted snow that is found year round and that slowly moves downhill volcano- a place in Earths crust where gases, ash, and lava spew onto the surface

earthquake- the shaking of Earths crust caused by underground vibrations deposition- the act or process by which wind or water sets down sediment tsunami- a large, destructive ocean wave caused by an underwater earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption sediment- particles of dirt and rock that are carried by water, wind, or ice and deposited elsewhere landform- a natural formation on Earths surface, such as a valley, plateau, mountain, plain, or hill seismograph- a device that makes electrical signals when the ground moves; detects earthquakes and measures and records their magnitude