CSG 6 VC

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Printed in Mexico
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ISBN 0-02-284476-7
Vocabulary Cards
Vocabulary Cards help build word knowledge and
understanding of Science Glossary terms by:
• providing an opportunity for vocabulary preview,
review, and reinforcement
• fostering language development skills
• supporting the acquisition of academic language for
English learners
Vocabulary Cards can be placed in your classroom
Science Center.
abiotic factor
(ā’bī ot’ik fak’tәr)
© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Any nonliving part of an ecosystem,
such as water, minerals, sunlight,
air, or soil.
Living things depend upon

the abiotic factors around them
to survive.
abrasion
(ә brā’zhәn)

The process that occurs when sand,
stones, and pebbles move and
scrape across Earth’s surface,
acting like sandpaper to pit and
polish the surface.
Scraping a rock against the ground

leads to the abrasion of both the
ground and the rock.
absorption
(ab sôrp’shәn)

The process of taking in
radiant energy.
The absorption of light by green

plants powers photosynthesis.
abyssal zone
(ә bi’sәl zōn)

The part of the oceanic zone that is
found at depths greater than 2,000
meters (6,562 feet), where there is
no sunlight, it is very cold, and the
water pressure is high.
Photosynthesis does not occur in

the abyssal zone because there is
total darkness.
acidity
(ә sid’i tē)

The amount of acid in a substance.
The amount of acidity in a lemon

is higher than in a banana.
acid rain
(as’id rān)

Precipitation that contains acidic
components as a result of the
burning of coal and other fossil fuels;
harms soils and water supplies and
can weather statues and buildings.
Acid rain is a serious problem

that affects lakes in parts of
the United States.
aerial roots
(âr’ē әl rüts)

Roots that reach out above the
ground for water and sunlight
to nourish the plant.
Since aerial roots never touch the

ground, they get the moisture they
need from the air around them.
air pressure
(âr pre’shәr)

The force that air molecules exert
on the objects beneath them; has
a major effect on the weather.
Air pressure is higher at sea level

than it is on top of a tall mountain.
alkalinity
(al’kә lin’i tē)

The amount of base in a substance.
Drain cleaners have greater

alkalinity than milk.
alluvial deposit
(ә lü’vē әl di poz’it)

A fan-shaped land deposit
at the mouth of a stream.
Alluvial deposits include a wide

range of different particles.
amoeba
(ә mē’bә)

A protist found in fresh water,
salt water, and soil that uses
pseudopods to move and eat.
Amoebas are constantly

changing their shape.
amplitude
(am’pli tüd’)

The distance from the midpoint to
the crest or trough of a wave.
A sound wave with a higher

amplitude sounds louder.
anticyclone
(an’ti sī’klōn)

An area of high pressure that
usually brings fair weather.
During the summer anticyclones

bring hot, sunny days.
arroyo
(ә roi’ō)

A small, water-carved channel
with steep banks that is located
in a dry area.
Arroyos often fill with water

during a heavy rain.
asthenosphere
(as the’nә sfîr’)

The layer of semimolten mantle
rock that lies directly below
the lithosphere.
Earth’s tectonic plates rest

on the asthenosphere .
avalanche
(a’vә lanch’)

A landslide that typically occurs
in a mountain area with a thick
cover of snow.
An avalanche can pose great

danger to skiers.
bank
(bangk)

The rising ground that borders
a river or stream.
A bank is a good place to stand

and watch boats on a river.
barrier island
(bar’ē әr ī’lәnd)

A sandbar that is more than
100 meters (328 feet) wide.
Barrier islands are often at risk

when damaging storms
move onshore.
bathyal zone
(ba’thē әl zōn)

The part of the oceanic zone that
is between 200 meters (656 feet)
and about 2,000 meters
(6,562 feet) deep.
There is little light in

the bathyal zone .
beach drift
(bēch drift)

The pulling of sand particles
sideways along a beach.
Structures along shores affect

the normal movement of sand
by beach drift .
beach erosion
(bēch i rō’zhәn)

The process by which waves pick
up and deposit sand particles
along the shore.
Beach erosion caused by waves

and wind has changed the size
and shape of coastal areas.
benthos
(ben’thäs)

A wide range of organisms that
live on or near the ocean floor.
Benthos like crabs are eaten

by larger organisms.
biomass
conversion
(bī’ō mas’ kәn vûr’zhәn)

A method for changing plant
and animal materials into
high-quality fuels.
Biomass conversion helps decrease

the amount of carbon dioxide
released into the air.
biome
(bī’ōm)

A region with a particular climate
that contains certain types of
plants and ecosystems.
Grassland or desert biomes are

found in different parts of the world.
biotic factor
(bī ot’ik fak’tәr)

Any living thing that is part
of an ecosystem.
Lions and tigers are biotic factors

in some ecosystems.
body wave
(bod’ē wāv)

A seismic wave that travels through
the interior of Earth; the two types
are P waves and S waves.
Scientists study body waves

in order to determine the origin
of an earthquake.
breaker
(brā’kәr)

A wave that breaks into foam
against the shore and washes back
into the ocean at another angle.
Susan observed a breaker that was

larger than the other waves.
buoyancy
(boi’әn sē)

An upward force that a liquid or gas
has on an object or a substance
with lower density.
Buoyancy is clearly seen in

an object’s ability to float.
California
Current
(kal’ә fôr’nyә kûr’әnt)

An ocean current that carries cold
water toward the equator along the
western coast of the United States,
keeping the climate of the
northwest cool.
Much of California’s climate is due

to the California Current .
calorie
(kal’ә rē)

One calorie is the amount of energy
needed to raise the temperature of
1 gram of water by 1°C at normal
air pressure.
It takes more calories to heat a liter

of water than a glass of water.
cambium
(kam’bē әm)

A layer of plant cells that
sometimes separates the
xylem and the phloem.
The cambium is a layer of cells

from which new xylem and
phloem are produced.
canopy
(kan’ә pē)

The second-highest layer of the rain
forest that shades the rain forest
with a thick blanket of foliage.
The canopy of the rain forest

shelters much of what is below
it from direct rainfall.
capillary action
(kap’ә ler’ē ak’shәn)

One force that pulls water up into
plants by water molecules’ sticking
to one another and to other
substances.
In plants, capillary action moves

water up the stem of the plant
against the force of gravity.
carbon cycle
(kär’bәn sī’kәl)

The process in which carbon is
recycled between the atmosphere
and living things.
The carbon cycle is an essential

process for life on Earth.
carnivore
(kär’nә vôr’)

A secondary or tertiary consumer;
an animal that eats other animals.
Cheetahs are carnivores that can

run as fast as 65 miles (104 km)
per hour to catch their prey.
Central Valley
(sen’trәl val’ē)

An area of low land bordered by the
Sierra Nevada to the east and the
Coast Ranges to the west.
California’s Central Valley is

mostly flat land that can
produce good crops.
chaparral
(shap’ә ral’)

A dry region with a thick growth of
brush and small trees found in the
foothills of California’s southern
mountain ranges, in the Sierra Nevada,
and along the California coast.
In the chaparral , plants typically

grow no more than 10 feet
(3 meters) in height.
chemical
reaction
(kem’i kәl rē ak’shәn)

A change in matter that produces
new substances with properties
different from those of the
original substances.
An example of a chemical reaction

is the bonding of hydrogen and
oxygen atoms to form water.
chemical
weathering
(kem’i kәl weth’әr ing)

The process that changes the
composition of rock, forming new
minerals that have properties
different from those of the
original rock.
The chemical weathering of rocks

helps add minerals and other
nutrients to soil.
chemosynthesis
(kē’mō sin’thә sәs)

A chemical reaction that bacteria
living near hydrothermal vents
use to produce food.
Chemosynthesis can occur near

deep sea vents where the
sun’s rays never reach.
chlorophyll
(klôr’ә fil’)

A green substance in plants that
absorbs energy from sunlight in
order to produce food.
Chlorophyll appears green

because it reflects green
light back to our eyes.
chloroplast
(klôr’ә plast’)

A structure that contains chlorophyll
and is found in the cells of leaves
and stems of green plants.
Chloroplasts are the sites of

photosynthesis in a plant’s leaves.
cilia
(sil’ē ә)

Small, hairlike projections extending
from the outsides of some protists’
cells; used for movement and for
capturing food.
In some organisms, cilia move fluid

or materials past the cell.
ciliate
(sil’ē әt)

Any protist that has small, hairlike
projections, or cilia, extending from
the outside of its cell.
Ciliates such as paramecium use

their cilia to move and feed.
cinder cone
volcano
(sin’dәr kōn’ vol kā’nō)

A volcanic landform made up of
small rock particles, or cinders,
which pile up around the vent to
form a small cone with steep sides.
Cinder cone volcanoes are the most

common type of volcano.
climate
(klī’mit)

The average weather pattern
of a region.
The climate of a desert and a

wetland are very different.
coal
(kōl)

A hard, black substance formed
from plants that lived about
300 million years ago.
Mostly composed of carbon,

coal can be used as fuel.
collection
(kә lek’shәn)

A process in which water soaks
into the ground and is stored
as groundwater.
Collection of rainfall refills

Earth’s groundwater.
community
(kә mū’ni tē)

All the populations living in an area.
Within a community , various

populations may interact
in different ways.
composite
volcano
(kәm poz’it vol kā’nō)

A landform made up of layers of
lava flows alternating with layers of
ash, cinders, and rocks; shaped like
a symmetrical cone with steep sides
that are concave, or curving inward.
The tallest volcanoes are

usually composite volcanoes .
composting
(kom’pōs ting)

The process in which decomposers
break down organic matter so it can
be used as a natural fertilizer for
gardening or farming.
Composting leaves is a process

that helps provide the nutrients
plants use to grow.
compound leaf
(kom’pound lēf)

A leaf with two or more blades
attached to the same leaf stalk.
Mountain ash, black walnut,

and palmate are trees that
have compound leaves .
compound light
microscope
(kom’pound līt mī’krә skōp’)

A microscope that uses two or
more lenses and a light source
to magnify objects.
A compound light microscope

magnifies a sample so that very
small details can be observed.
compression
wave
(kәm presh’әn wāv)

A wave that moves back and forth
in the same direction as the
molecules of matter in the wave.
Sound waves are an example

of compression waves .
concrete
(kon’krēt)

A mixture of sand, gravel,
and pebbles in a binding
material such as mortar.
The strength of concrete makes

it an ideal building material.
condensation
(kon’den sā’shәn)

The process in which a gas
changes into a liquid.
An example of condensation
is when water vapor is cooled
to form water droplets.
conduction
(kәn duk’shәn)

The movement of energy
through direct contact.
Warming one’s hands by holding a

cup of hot chocolate is an example
of using conduction .
conductor
(kәn duk’tәr)

An object or substance that
absorbs heat and distributes
it evenly, such as metal.
Metals are excellent conductors and

are often used to make cookware.
conifer
(kon’ә fәr)

An evergreen that produces seeds
in special structures called cones.
A pine tree is a common conifer

in many ecosystems.
conservation
(kon’sәr vā’shәn)

Using natural resources wisely by
limiting their use to times of need.
Using recycled paper is a way you

can practice conservation .
consumer
(kәn sü’mәr)

An organism that gets energy
by feeding directly on producers
or by eating animals that feed
on producers.
All living things that do not produce

their own food are consumers .
continental
crust
(kon’tә nen’tәl krust)

The material that makes up Earth’s
land; made up mostly of a relatively
lightweight rock called granite.
Continental crust is still

being formed today.
continental
drift
(kon’tә nen’tәl drift)

The idea that a past supercontinent
split apart into separate continents,
which drifted over time to their
present locations.
The affects of continental drift

can only be measured over a
long period of time.
convection
(kәn vek’shәn)

The transfer of energy by the
flow of a liquid or a gas.
Warm air carrying heat upwards

as cooler air sinks down is an
example of convection .
convection
current
(kәn vek’shәn kûr’әnt)

The circulation of hot and cold fluids
due to differences in temperature
and resultant changes in density.
Convection currents move air

above land or oceans.
convective flow
(kәn vek’tiv flō)

The continuous circular pattern of
fluids as they are heated and cooled.
Although convective flow may not

be seen directly, it is recognized
through the effects it has on
the weather.
convergent
boundary
(kәn vûr’jәnt boun’dә rē)

A boundary between plates that
are moving toward each other,
or colliding.
The Himalaya mountains are found

along a convergent boundary that
forms a border between India and
the rest of Asia.
core
(kôr)

The central part of Earth that lies
beneath the mantle and is made up
of an outer, liquid part and an
inner, solid part.
Scientists believe the core of Earth

is made of iron and nickel.
Coriolis effect
(kôr’ē ō’lәs i fekt’)

The shift in wind direction to
the right or left caused by
Earth’s rotation.
The Coriolis effect causes liquids

or gases to move counter-clockwise
in the Northern Hemisphere
and clockwise in the
Southern Hemisphere.
cost-
effectiveness
(kôst’ i fek’tiv nes)

A measure determined by
comparing the costs and the
consequences of different ways
of doing something.
Cost effectiveness increases

when you purchase a single large
container of juice instead of many
smaller containers.
crater
(krā’tәr)

A bowl-shaped depression.
Craters can clearly be seen

on the Moon.
crust
(krust)

The thin layer of solid rock that
makes up the outermost
part of Earth.
Folds and shifts in the crust

can cause mountains and
valleys to form.
cuticle
(kū’ti kәl)

A waxy coating secreted by cells
of a plant’s epidermis to prevent
water from leaving the plant.
The cuticle helps prevent a plant

from drying out and can give
it a glossy shine.
cyanobacteria
(sī’ә nō’bak tîr’ē ә)

Prokaryotic producers that
produced the oxygen that first
made Earth inhabitable for
other living things.
Cyanobacteria , such as blue-green

algae, release oxygen into the air.
cycle
(sī’kәl)

A series of events that happen in the
same order, over and over again.
The four seasons are part of a cycle .

cyclone
(sī’klōn)

A huge mass of spinning air
that forms when an area of low
pressure is surrounded by high
pressure on all sides.
A hurricane is a type of cyclone .

dam
(dam)

A barrier constructed to control
a flow of water or to raise a
water level.
The Oroville Dam in California helps

control the flow of the Feather River.
deciduous
(di sij’ü әs)

Belonging to the class of trees
or forests that lose their leaves
when winter comes.
After having lost their chlorophyll

and changed color, the leaves of
most deciduous trees fall off the
tree before the winter season.
decomposer
(dē’kәm pō’zәr)

An organism that breaks down dead
organisms into simpler substances.
Bacteria and fungi are decomposers

which break down dead matter
into useful material that plants
can use to grow.
delta
(del’tә)

The triangular-shaped deposit of soil
particles that forms where a stream
enters a larger body of water.
The fertile soil of the Nile delta in

Africa has been farmed for more
than five thousand years.
density
(den’si tē)

The measure of how much material
there is in a given amount of space.
Oil floats on water because it has

a lower density than water.
deposition
(dep’ә zish’әn)

The process by which eroded soil
and rock are put down in new
places, reshaping the landscape.
During the last ice age glaciers

caused deposition of rocks far
away from their origin.
deuterium
(dü tîr’ē әm)

One of the two forms of hydrogen
used in the process of
nuclear fusion.
Deuterium has twice the mass

of a normal hydrogen atom.
dew point
(dü point)

The temperature at which
condensation occurs.
The dew point is the temperature

at which water vapor turns to fog.
diatom
(dī’ә tom’)

A small, photosynthetic protist
that lives in either salt water
or fresh water.
The cell wall of a diatom

forms intricate patterns.
dinoflagellate
(dī’nō fla’jә lәt)

Animal-like protists that have a
flagellum that encircles the body.
Dinoflagellates can produce toxins.

divergent
boundary
(di vûr’jәnt boun’dә rē)

are moving away from each other,
or pulling apart.
The active volcanoes of the

Galapagos Islands lie above
a divergent boundary called
the Galapagos Rise.
dormant
(dôr’mәnt)

A term used to describe a volcano
that is temporarily inactive.
When a volcano remains inactive

for a long period of time it can
then be considered dormant .
earthquake
(ûrth’kwāk’)

The shaking of the ground that
occurs when tectonic plates
shift and change positions.
Most earthquakes occur at the

edges of Earth’s tectonic plates.
ecology
(ē kol’ә jē)

The study of organisms and how
they interact in an ecosystem.
The ecology of Australia changed

dramatically when European settlers
introduced new species to
the continent.
ecosystem
(ē’kō sis’tәm)

The living and nonliving things in an
area that interact with one another.
There are many different

ecosystems on Earth.
eddy
(ed’ē)

A small, spinning air current
that often develops when wind
flows over buildings, mountains,
or other obstructions.
An eddy often causes gusts of wind

that spin between buildings in
a large city.
efficiency
(i fish’әn sē)

The amount of usable energy given
off by an energy conversion
compared to the total amount of
energy used in the conversion.
Putting oil in a motor increases

its efficiency by lowering the
amount of friction that occurs
between moving parts.
electromagnetic
spectrum
(i lek’trō mag net’ik spek’trәm)

The wide range of electromagnetic
radiation ordered by wavelength;
consists of radio waves, microwaves,
infrared rays, visible light, ultraviolet
light, X rays, and gamma rays.
The human eye can see only a small

portion of the waves in the
electromagnetic spectrum .
electromagnetic
wave
(i lek’trō mag net’ik wāv)

A wave that is made up
of alternating electric and
magnetic fields created by
vibrating electric charges.
Electromagnetic waves are used

to heat food in microwave ovens.
electron
microscope
(i lek’tron mī’krә skōp’)

A powerful microscope that uses
a beam of electrons, rather than a
light source, to magnify samples.
More powerful than standard

microscopes, electron microscopes
can magnify extremely small
objects.
emergent layer
(i mûr’jәnt lā’әr)

The uppermost rain-forest layer,
made up of the tops of very tall
trees that emerge from the forest
below into the sunlight above.
Trees in the emergent layer often

have a waxy layer on their leaves
to protect them from rain,
sun, and wind.
emission
(i mish’әn)

The process of giving off absorbed
electromagnetic waves.
Scientists cite the emission of X rays

from blackened areas of space as
evidence that black holes exist.
energy
(en’әr jē)

The ability to bring about
changes or to do work.
Energy is never created or

destroyed, it is simply changed
from one form to another.
energy
conversion
(en’әr jē kәn vûr’zhәn)

The process in which energy
changes from one form into another.
A light bulb can change electrical

energy to light energy by
energy conversion .
energy pyramid
(en’әr jē pir’ә mid’)

A model that shows how energy
moves through a food chain.
In an energy pyramid , primary

producers are located at the base,
where the greatest amount of
energy is found.
energy source
(en’әr jē sôrs)

The origin of the light, heat, or
electrical energy that is used.
The Sun is the primary

energy source for Earth.
ENSO/El Niño/
Southern Oscillation
(el nēn’yō suth’әrn os’ә lā’shәn)

The disruption of the ocean-
atmosphere system in the Pacific
Ocean and the impact that it has
on weather around the globe.
El Niño is one of the most powerful

forces that affects global weather.
epicenter
(e’pi sen’tәr)

The point on Earth’s surface directly
above the focus of an earthquake;
the place where the strongest shocks
are felt and where the greatest
damage usually occurs.
Scientists can calculate the epicenter

of an earthquake by studying the
seismic waves that were produced.
epidermis
(ep’i d ûr’mis)

The outermost part of a leaf.
The epidermis of a plant is

translucent and allows light energy
to reach the chloroplasts.
erosion
(i rō’zhәn)

The wearing away of Earth’s
surface by the breakdown and
transportation of rock and soil.
Water in all its forms is the

primary cause of erosion .
estuary
(es’chü er’ē)

The part of a river where fresh
water meets the sea and is
affected by tides.
Many animals lay their

eggs in an estuary .
ethanol
(eth’ә nôl’)

A type of alcohol that can be
mixed with gasoline and used
as a fuel to run cars.
When yeast carry on fermentation,

they produce ethanol and
carbon dioxide.
eukaryote
(yü’ker’ē ōt’)

An organism with a membrane-
bound nucleus in each cell; more
complex than a prokaryote.
Eukaryotes are much larger than

prokaryotes and have a variety of
cellular organelles, or small organs.
evaporation
(i vap’ә rā’shәn)

The process in which a liquid
changes into a gas.
A cup of grape juice will become

darker and thicker as the water in
the juice undergoes evaporation .
evergreen
(ev’әr grēn’)

A tree that has leaves all year.
Unlike other trees, which lose

all their leaves during the winter
season, evergreens keep growing
their foliage all year long.
extinct
(ek stingkt’)

Describes a volcano that has not
erupted within recorded history and
shows no signs of activity.
Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest

mountain in Africa, is considered to
be an extinct volcano because it has
not erupted in thousands of years.
fault
(fôlt)

A break, or crack, in the rocks of the
lithosphere along which movements
take place; usually located along the
boundaries between tectonic plates.
Movement along the San Andreas

fault in California caused the great
San Francisco earthquake of 1906.
fault zone
(fôlt zōn)

An area where there are many
interconnected faults; usually
located along the boundaries
between tectonic plates.
Japan is located where three

tectonic plates intersect and
therefore has many fault zones .
feldspar
(feld’spär’)

The name of a group of minerals that
makes up almost 60% of Earth’s crust.
Sodium, calcium, potassium, and
oxygen are some elements important
in the composition of feldspars.
Feldspars are used in creating

ceramics, porcelain, and tiles.
fibrous roots
(fi’brәs rüts)

Roots that do not grow deep but
branch out into a network of thin,
hairy roots and can form thick mats.
The fibrous roots of grass collect

water near the upper layer of soil.
fission
(fish’en)

The splitting of atoms into pieces.
In nuclear fission , a single nucleus

is split, releasing energy
in the process.
flagella
(flә jel’ә)

Long, hairlike structures that whip
and lash to help flagellates swim.
A Euglena has chloroplasts like a

plant but unlike plants it can move
through the use of its flagella .
flagellate
(flaj’ә lit)

A protozoan that has one or more
flagella, a long, hairlike structure that
whips and lashes to help it swim.
Flagellates use their flagella for

movement and for obtaining food.
flood plain
(flәd plān)

The flat area of land on
both sides of a river.
The entire civilization of Ancient

Egypt depended upon the fertile
soil deposited annually on the
flood plain of the Nile River.
focus
(fō’kәs)

The point below the surface of Earth
where an earthquake begins.
Earthquakes are classified

according to how deep in the
Earth their focus is located.
food chain
(füd chān)

An arrangement that shows how
energy flows from one organism
to another in an ecosystem.
The food chain demonstrates the

relationship between living things
and how energy is transferred
from one species to another.
food vacuole
(füd vak’ū ōl’)

A structure inside a cell
that digests food.
New food vacuoles are created

when the cell takes in food.
food web
(füd web)

An arrangement that shows all the
food chains in an ecosystem and
how they overlap; also shows the
roles and relationships among all
the species in an ecosystem.
Food webs demonstrate the various

paths in which energy is transferred
from one living thing to another.
forest floor
(fôr’ist flôr)

The bottom level of the rain forest
which receives little or no sunlight.
Plants on the forest floor can

survive with little light.
fossil
(fos’әl)

The remains or impressions of an
ancient plant or animal.
Fossils help scientists learn about

life on Earth millions of years ago.
fossil fuel
(fos’әl fū’әl)

A fuel that formed over millions
of years from the remains of plants
and animals buried beneath
the surface of Earth.
Three major kinds of fossil fuels

are coal, oil, and natural gas.
frequency
(frē’kwәn sē)

The number of vibrations a wave
completes in a given period
of time, usually one second.
The higher a sound wave’s

frequency is, the higher the
pitch will sound.
friction
(frik’shәn)

The force that resists motion when
two surfaces rub against each other.
In pulling a book across a tabletop

the book must overcome friction
in order to move.
fumarole
(fyü’mә rōl’)

A hole in the ground through
which gases and hot vapors pass;
located in a volcanic region.
There are an estimated

four thousand fumaroles in
Yellowstone National Park.
fusion
(fū’zhen)

The process of merging nuclei
with smaller masses to make
a nucleus with a larger mass,
releasing energy in the process.
The energy emitted by stars such

as the Sun is produced
by nuclear fusion .
geologist
(jē ol’ә jist)

A scientist who studies Earth’s
origin, history, structure,
composition, and processes.
Geologists study the movements

of the Earth’s crust.
geothermal
energy
(jē’ō thûr’mәl en’әr jē)

Heat energy produced inside Earth.
In some countries geothermal energy

provides electricity.
geyser
(gī’zәr)

A fountain of hot water and steam
that shoots into the air at regular
or irregular intervals.
“Old Faithful” is the most famous

geyser in the United States,
erupting approximately every
45 minutes.
glacier
(glā’shәr)

A large mass of slow-moving ice
that forms over hundreds or
thousands of years.
Once glaciers become very thick

and heavy, they begin to move
because of gravity.
global winds
(glō’bәl windz)

Winds that blow from a specific
direction and typically cover
long distances.
Global winds in the United States

move air masses from west to east.
greenhouse
effect
(grēn’hous’ i fekt’)

Rise in temperature resulting from
a buildup of gases such as carbon
dioxide, nitric oxide, and methane,
which trap heat that would otherwise
escape from Earth’s atmosphere.
If the greenhouse effect continues

it will dramatically change
Earth’s ecosystems.
guard cell
(gärd sel)

One of two cells surrounding the
stomata of a leaf; regulates when
the stomata open and close.
The guard cells of a plant can open

the stomata, allowing water to
evaporate from the leaf.
Gulf Stream
(gulf strēm)

An ocean current that carries warm
water from the southern tip of
Florida north along the eastern
coast of the United States.
The Gulf Stream has a major effect

on the climate of North America
and Western Europe.
habitat
(hab’i tat’)

The place in which a
population lives.
The habitat of the bald eagle is

near large bodies of water where
there are fish to eat and tall trees
in which the eagles can nest.
heat
(hēt)

One kind of movement of energy
from one substance to another;
also called thermal energy.
Heat energy moves from one

substance or place to another
by conduction, convection,
or by radiation.
heat flow
(hēt flō)

The transfer of energy from a
warmer object to a cooler object.
A cold metal spoon will become

hot when placed in hot water
because of heat flow .
herbivore
(hûr’bә vôr’)

A primary consumer, or an
animal that eats producers.
Cows, which eat hay and

grass, are herbivores .
hot spot
(hot spot)

A region of volcanic activity in
the middle of a tectonic plate.
The Hawaiian chain of islands is

located over a hot spot in the
middle of the Pacific Ocean.
hot spring
(hot spring)

A stream of hot, bubbling
water that flows out of the
ground continuously.
Magma heats the water

in a hot spring .
humidity
(hū mid’i tē)

The amount of water
vapor in the air.
High humidity prevents perspiration

from evaporating quickly from the
surface of the skin.
humus
(hū’mәs)

The material in soil formed by
the breakdown of plant and
animal remains.
After growing crops, farmers usually

add humus to the soil to replace the
minerals used by growing crops.
hurricane
(hûr’i kān’)

A tropical cyclone that brings
powerful winds and heavy rains and
can cause great destruction.
Hurricane winds push water ahead

of the storm, causing high tides and
forcing ocean water onto the shore.
hydroelectric
power
(hī’drō i lek’trik pou’әr)

Energy that is harnessed from the
force of falling or running water
and converted into electricity.
Water passing through a dam

produces hydroelectric power .
hydrothermal
vent
(hī’drә thәr’mәl vent)

A crack in the ocean floor that a jet
of hot water rich in minerals
comes up through.
Hydrothermal vents are located

on the sea floor.
insulation
(in’sә lā’shәn)

A material used to prevent
heat from flowing into or
out of a substance.
Insulation is often placed

in a building’s walls to
minimize heat flow.
insulator
(in’sә lā’tәr)

A material that absorbs heat but
does not distribute it evenly;
one example is wood.
Styrofoam is used to make cups

for warm beverages because
it is a good insulator .
intensity
(in ten’si tē)

The strength of an earthquake that
can be felt at the surface.
Not all earthquakes have

the same intensity .
intermittent
(in’tәr mit’әnt)

Type of volcano that erupts at
fairly frequent intervals.
The Mount St. Helens Volcano has

shown intermittent volcanic activity
with eruptions of steam and ash.
intertidal zone
(in’tәr tī’dәl zōn)

The shallowest part of the ocean,
lying between the high-tide line
and the low-tide line.
In the intertidal zone the ocean

floor is covered and uncovered
every day as the tide goes
in and out.
jet stream
(jet strēm)

A current of fast-moving air in the
upper atmosphere; one factor that
determines weather in North America.
Meteorologists make weather

forecasts by studying the
movement of the jet stream .
keystone
species
(kē’stōn’ spē’shēz)

A population that occupies a niche of
such importance that many other
organisms in its habitat depend on it.
Grizzly bears serve as a keystone

species in parts of North America.
kinetic energy
(ki net’ik en’әr jē)

The energy of any moving object.
The kinetic energy of an object

increases as its speed increases.
lahar
(lä’här’)

A mudflow containing volcanic
ash and rock.
Lahars are powerful enough

to move boulders and trees
over long distances.
land breeze
(land brēz)

A breeze that develops as
wind blows from the land
toward the water.
Land breezes are strongest

along coastlines.
landslide
(land’slīd’)

The rapid, downslope movement
of a mass of rock, soil, and debris.
Earthquakes, precipitation, and

volcanic activity can all
cause landslides .
lava
(lä’vә)

Molten rock that flows out
onto the surface of Earth.
Lava is the term used to describe

magma once it has reached
levee
(lev’ē)

A wall or a large mound of earth
built along a river to prevent it
from flooding.
In addition to preventing flooding,

levees can also narrow the path of
a river and cause it to flow faster.
light wave
(līt wāv)

A wave within the visible part of
the electromagnetic spectrum.
The human eye can see light waves

that we have named red, orange,
yellow, green, blue, and violet.
lithosphere
(lith’ә sfîr’)

The rigid outer part of Earth made
up of rocks in the crust attached to
the upper part of the mantle.
The lithosphere is made of tectonic

plates that shift along the mantle.
lithospheric
plate
(lith’ә sfîr’ik plāt)

Plates of the lithosphere that
move slowly within Earth.
Earthquakes and volcanic activity

are most common along the
edges of lithospheric plates .
local winds
(lō’kәl winds)

Winds that can blow from any
direction and cover short distances.
Mountains produce their own

local winds , which are shaped as air
is forced to travel downward, greatly
increasing their strength.
Los Angeles
Basin
(lôs an’jә lәs bā’sin)

A depression lying between the
Transverse and Peninsular ranges that
is filled with rock material that has
washed down from these mountains.
Earthquake damage in the

Los Angeles Basin has been great
because of the soft, sedimentary
characteristic of the area’s rocks.
magma
(mag’mә)

Molten, or melted, rock deep below
the surface of Earth; reaches
temperatures between 1,202˚F
and 2,192˚F (between 650˚C
and 1,200˚C).
Under high pressure, magma

emerges through volcanic
vents as lava.
magma
chamber
(mag’mә chām’bәr)

A reservoir from which volcanic
materials erupt.
A magma chamber is connected to

the surface of the Earth by a vent
through which magma emerges
onto the surface as lava.
magnetite
(mag’ni tīt’)

A black mineral with
magnetic properties.
Magnetite is a naturally formed

rock which exerts an attractive
or repulsive force on some
other materials.
magnitude
(mag’ni tüd’)

The measure of the energy released
during an earthquake.
The magnitude of most earthquakes

is measured on the Richter scale
which was developed in 1935.
mantle
(man’tәl)

The thick layer of rock and molten
rock that lies beneath Earth’s crust.
Earth’s plates move on

top of the mantle .
marine terrace
(mә rēn’ ter’is)

A platform of rock formed in an
exposed, windy area where waves
pound hard against the shore.
The existence of marine terrace

levels along the California coast is
evidence of geologic processes
which have been occurring for
millions of years.
meander
(mē an’dәr)

A broad curve of a river or stream.
Erosion can wear away the banks

of a river’s meanders .
mechanical
weathering
(mi kan’i kәl weth’әr ing)

The process that breaks a rock apart
into smaller pieces that retain the
characteristics of the original rock;
also known as physical weathering.
Frost action, or the breaking of

rocks when the water in them
freezes and thaws, is an example
of mechanical weathering .
Mercalli scale
(mer kä’lē skāl)

A scale that tells what people actually
feel and observe when an earthquake
occurs; based on observed effects,
not on mathematics.
The Mercalli Scale measures

the intensity of an earthquake
by examining its effects on
people or structures.
methane gas
(meth’ān gas)

A gas made up of carbon and
hydrogen; the main ingredient
in natural gas.
The effect of methane gas on

global warming is twenty times
greater than the effect of
carbon dioxide.
microscope
(mī’krә skōp’)

An instrument that produces an
enlarged image of an object.
Microscopes are used by scientists

to study the details of objects that
can not be observed by the
human eye alone.
mid-ocean
ridge
(mid’ō’shәn rij’)

A vast, underwater mountain chain
that has been built up by the
addition of new rock from below
to tectonic plates moving
apart under the oceans.
Thousands of Earth’s individual

volcanoes line the mid-ocean ridge .
migrate
(mī’grāt)

To travel to a different place.
Some birds migrate thousands

of kilometers every year.
mineral
(min’ә rәl)

A naturally occurring solid material
in Earth’s crust; minerals include
clay, sand, and silt.
Rocks can be made of one mineral

but are often a mixture of
different minerals.
mountain belt
(moun’tәn belt)

Several mountain ranges that
lie parallel to one another.
In the Himalayan mountain belt ,

the mountains are the result of the
collision of the India and Asia plates.
mountain
breeze
(moun’tәn brēz)

A breeze that occurs when cool air
circulates from mountain peaks
into surrounding valleys.
The air at night cools mountain

slopes causing a mountain breeze
to blow downward.
natural gas
(nach’әr әl gas)

A mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons
formed from marine organisms.
Methane is the most

common natural gas .
natural
resource
(nach’әr әl rē’sôrs’)

A material people take from
Earth and put to use.
People are urged to reduce,

reuse, and recycle so that
Earth’s natural resources
are not wasted.
nekton
(nek’ton)

Free-swimming animals such as
flounder, tuna, and squid that move
independently of ocean water
movement; can be found in
most ocean zones.
Because the energy requirements
of nekton are high, they greatly
influence the marine communities
in which they live.
neritic zone
(nә ri’tik zōn’)

The ocean zone from the low-tide
line to the point where the
ocean floor drops off.
Organisms living in the neritic zone

have a strong waterproof skin to
protect them from the air when
the tide is low.
niche
(nich)

The role of an organism
in an ecosystem.
The niche of a particular species

includes the food they eat, the
species that in turn eat them, the
places in which they live, and
the effects they have on their
ecosystem’s environment.
nitrate
(nī’trāt’)

One usable form of nitrogen
absorbed by plants and
used to make proteins.
Denitrifying bacteria found in the

soil turn nitrates into nitrogen gas.
nitrite
(nī’trīt’)

Another usable form of nitrogen
absorbed by plants and used
to make proteins.
Some bacteria use the nitrogen

present in the air to make nitrites .
nitrogen cycle
(nī’trә jәn sī’kәl)

The continuous trapping of nitrogen
gas in compounds in the soil and the
returning of nitrogen gas to the air.
Many different organisms are

involved in the nitrogen cycle ,
ranging from bacteria in the
soil to animals to plants.
nitrogen-fixing
bacteria
(nī’trә jәn fik’sing bak tîr’ē ә)

Certain bacteria that live in the roots
of some plants; they can extract
nitrogen from the air.
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria play a key

role in the environment by turning
nitrogen gas into nitrogen-
containing substances that
plants use to make proteins.
nonmonetary
cost
(non’mo’ni ter’ē kôst)

The environmental consequences
of energy use.
The nonmonetary costs of burning

fossil fuels include environmental
pollution as well as health problems
for various species.
nonrenewable
resource
(non’ri nü’ә bәl rē’sôrs)

A material that people take from
Earth and that cannot be easily
replaced; examples include coal,
oil, and natural gas.
People are encouraged to use

alternative energy sources to lower the
quantities of nonrenewable resources
that they use.
North
American Plate
(nôrth ә mer’i kәn plāt)

Lithospheric plate that includes
almost all of North America and
part of the Atlantic Ocean.
The majority of the North

American continent is on the
North American plate .
nuclear fuel
(nü’klē әr fū’әl)

A material such as uranium that
can be used in nuclear reactors
as a source of energy.
Nuclear fuels heat water and make

steam that can generate electricity.
nuclear power
plant
(nü’klē әr pou’әr plant)

A facility that generates electricity
through nuclear reactions.
Nuclear power plants produce

wastes that must be disposed
of carefully.
objective lens
(әb jek’tiv lenz)

The lens on the bottom of a
microscope’s body tube.
The ocular lens and the

objective lens work together
to magnify images.
ocean current
(ō’shәn kûr’әnt)

A continuous flow of ocean water
along a definite path.
The California current is a

cool ocean current which moves
downward along the west coast
of North America.
ocean trench
(ō’shen trench)

A long, narrow valley on the ocean
floor; the deepest part of the ocean.
Methane and sulfides in the fluids

that escape from ocean trenches
are the principal energy sources for
species that produce food by
chemosynthesis.
oceanic crust
(ō’shē an’ik krust)

Crust that lies below the oceans;
made up mostly of basalt.
The oceanic crust is less than

200 million years old and is
continuously being formed.
oceanic zone
(ō’shē an’ik zōn)

The ocean zone that lies beneath
the neritic zone and is divided into
two areas based on depth: the
bathyal zone and the abyssal zone.
The deeper oceanic zones have far

less plant life than the upper zones.
ocular lens
(ok’yә lәr lenz)

The lens at the top of a microscope’s
body tube, closest to the
observer’s eye.
The ocular lens magnifies images

but does not magnify them to
great detail.
oil
(oil)

A thick, black substance that forms
underground, over millions of years,
from decaying organisms;
also called petroleum.
Oil is a major energy source.

old-growth
forest
(ōld’ grōth’ fôr’ist)

An ecosystem in which trees have
grown undisturbed for a long time.
Growing undisturbed for so many

years allows old-growth forests to
have a unique ecosystem.
omnivore
(om’nә vôr’)

An animal that eats both producers
and consumers.
Since omnivores eat both plants

and animals, they can more easily
adapt to changing environments.
oscillate
(os’ә lāt’)

To swing back and forth.
A fan that turns from side to side

is a fan that oscillates .
oxbow lake
(oks’bō’ lāk)

A portion of a stream channel that
is cut off from the rest of the
stream by erosion.
An oxbow lake is usually shaped

like a horseshoe.
Pacific Plate
(pә sif’ik plāt)

A lithospheric plate that consists of
the Pacific Ocean and a narrow
piece of California located west
of the North American Plate.
The area that surrounds the

Pacific Plate is an area of
frequent seismic activity.
pampas
(pam’pәs)

The grasslands of Argentina; home
to pampas deer.
It is windy in the pampas most

of the time and the climate is
humid and warm.
Pangaea
(pan jē’ә)

Earth’s single landmass, or
“supercontinent,” that is thought
to have existed about
200 million years ago.
The seven continents today can be

viewed as the jigsaw puzzle pieces
that had once formed Pangaea .
parasite
(par’ә sīt’)

An organism that lives on or inside
another organism and feeds off it.
Fleas are parasites that live off

the blood of host animals.
parent rock
(pâr’әnt rok)

The rock from which soil is formed.
As parent rocks are weathered and

eroded the surrounding soil can be
enriched with minerals.
permafrost
(pûr’mә frôst’)

The permanently frozen soil layer
in the tundra biome.
Permafrost prevents trees from

growing in the tundra.
petrochemical
(pet’rō kem’i kәl)

A chemical that comes from
petroleum or natural gas; examples
include ingredients in paints,
fertilizers, pesticides, plastics,
and medicines.
Petrochemicals have a wide variety

of uses in industry, agriculture,
and medicine.
phloem
(flō’em)

Tubes within a plant stem that move
food from the leaves to other parts
of the plant.
Sugars, starches, and other food

materials are transported in phloem
from the leaves to other parts
of the plant.
photosynthesis
(fō’tә sin’thә sis)

The process of making food by
using sunlight to make carbon
dioxide and water into sugar;
used by plants and some
other organisms.
Chloroplasts are the sites

of photosynthesis .
pH scale
(pē’āch’ skāl)

Scale used to measure the acidity
or alkalinity of a substance.
The pH scale is used to rate

a substance as acidic,
neutral, or alkaline.
physical
weathering
(fiz’i kәl weth’әr ing)

The process that breaks a rock apart
into smaller pieces that retain the
characteristics of the original rock;
also known as mechanical weathering.
Physical weathering can occur when

water freezes in cracks in rocks.
phytoplankton
(fī’tō plangk’tәn)

Microscopic organisms that, like
plants, use the Sun’s energy to make
food through photosynthesis.
Most animals that live in the sea

depend directly or indirectly on
phytoplankton for energy
and minerals.
plankton
(plangk’tәn)

Microorganisms that live near the
surface of the ocean; the two types
are phytoplankton and zooplankton.
Plankton have little swimming

ability and are moved through the
water by currents and tides.
plastic
(plas’tik)

Synthetic substances derived
from petroleum, a fossil fuel.
Many common household items

are made from plastic .
plate tectonics
(plāt tek ton’iks)

The theory that Earth’s surface is
made up of separate, rigid plates
that move slowly across the mantle.
The study of earthquakes and

volcanoes relies heavily on an
understanding of plate tectonics .
pollution
(pә lü’shәn)

A harmful change in the environment;
usually the result of human activities.
Human inventions such as cars

can contribute to air pollution .
polymer
(pol’ә mәr)

A chemical compound that is
made of repeating parts;
plastic is an example.
Plastics, nylon, polyester and even

contact lenses are all made
of different polymers .
polymerization
(pә li’mә rә zā’shәn)

The process of chemically linking
many smaller molecules to form a
larger molecule that has different
physical properties.
The process by which amino acids

join together to form proteins is an
example of polymerization .
population
(pop’yә lā’shәn)

All the organisms of one
species in an ecosystem.
The total number of people

living in California make up
California’s population .
potential
energy
(pә ten’shәl en’әr jē)

The mechanical energy stored
in an object.
As a roller coaster reaches the top

of an incline and starts to move
downwards, potential energy is
changed to kinetic energy.
precipitation
(pri sip’i tā’shәn)

Any form of water—rain, snow, sleet,
or hail—that falls to Earth.
Precipitation forms in clouds and

falls to Earth due to gravity.
predator
(pred’ә tәr)

A living thing that hunts and kills
other living things for food.
Predators such crocodiles and

sharks are at the top of
the food chain.
prey
(prā)

The animals that predators
hunt for food.
Some species of spiders use

bright colors to attract prey
to their webs.
primary
consumer
(prī’mer ē kәn sü’mәr)

An organism that eats producers
and is the second link in a food
chain after producers.
Herbivores and carnivores can

both act as primary consumers
in an ecosystem.
producer
(prә dü’sәr)

An organism, such as a plant or type
of algae, that uses energy from the
Sun to make its own food.
Producers also use nutrients

from soil.
product
(prod’әkt)

A new substance formed from
a chemical reaction.
Sodium chloride is the product

that results from combining
sodium and chlorine.
prokaryote
(prō’ka’rē ōt’)

An organism that has a simple
cell structure without a nucleus
in each cell.
Prokaryotes can often survive

in extreme conditions.
protist
(prō’tist)

A single-celled, eukaryotic organism
that cannot be clearly classified as
animal or plant.
Protists vary widely in their

characteristics; some produce their
own food and others feed on
other living things.
protozoan
(prō’tә zō’әn)

A protist that has no cell walls and
can find and eat food; examples
include flagellates and ciliates.
Protozoans mainly feed on bacteria

but can also feed on fungi, the
remains of other living things,
or other protozoans.
pseudopod
(sü’dә pod’)

A cell extension used by protists
to move about and capture
food; means “false foot.”
Amoebae move by extending

a pseudopod and can also
engulf food in this way.
P wave
(pē’ wāv’)

The fastest seismic wave, which
travels through gases, liquids, and
solids; also called primary wave.
P waves are compression waves,

which are similar to sound waves.
quartz
(kwôrts)

The second most common mineral
found in Earth’s crust.
Quartz is commonly used in time-

keeping devices such as clocks
and watches because it vibrates
at a steady rate.
radiant energy
(rā’dē әnt en’әr jē)

The energy given off by the Sun.
Radiant energy contains

many different kinds of
radiation
(rā’dē ā’shәn)

The transfer of energy by
Radiation from the Sun helps the

human body make Vitamin D.
raw material
(rô mә tîr’ē әl)

A building block of products.
Raw materials such as limestone

can be used to make sculptures.
reactant
(rē ak’tәnt)

An original substance in a
chemical reaction.
In a chemical reaction, reactants

combine to form products.
recycling
(rē sī’kling)

The creation of new products by the
reuse of materials that would
otherwise be treated as waste;
another way to decrease the demand
on Earth’s natural resources.
Recycling helps save Earth’s natural

resources for future use.
relative
humidity
(rel’ә tiv hū mid’i tē)

A measurement of the amount
of water vapor in the air compared
with the amount that would
saturate the air.
High relative humidity can make hot

temperatures feel even warmer by
allowing less evaporation of
perspiration from the skin.
renewable
resource
(ri nü’ә bәl rē’sôrs’)

A resource that can be replaced in a
relatively short time; examples are
wood, water, wind, and solar energy.
Many scientists believe that using

renewable resources is a good idea.
respiration
(res’pә rā’shәn)

The process through which energy
is released in plants and animals;
occurs when sugars and oxygen join
to produce water, carbon dioxide,
and energy.
Respiration is essential to all

living things.
Richter scale
(rik’tәr skāl)

A set of numbers used to describe
the magnitude of an earthquake.
An earthquake that measures 4 on

the Richter scale is ten times as
strong as one that measures 3.
Ring of Fire
(ring әv fīr’)

A zone of frequent earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions encircling
the Pacific Basin.
About 90% of the world’s

earthquakes occur within the
Ring of Fire .
rock cycle
(rok sī’kәl)

An ongoing cycle in which rocks are
continually changed from
one type to another.
The rock cycle illustrates how

igneous, sedimentary, and
metamorphic rocks change from
one type of rock to another.
root
(rüt)

The part of a plant that holds it in the
soil and takes in water and minerals.
Roots are typically found below

the surface of the soil.
root pressure
(rüt presh’әr)

Force that moves water upward into
the stem; in small plants it can move
water through the plant.
The space shuttle Columbia

performed experiments that
examined the effects of changing
gravity on root pressure .
salinity
(sә lin’i tē)

The amount of salt in water.
Fish such as salmon travel from

areas of high salinity to fresh
water to lay their eggs.
San Andreas
Fault
(san’ an drā’әs fôlt’)

A deep crack in Earth’s crust in California,
where the North American Plate and the
Pacific Plate slide past each other.
Los Angeles and San Francisco are

moving towards one another at a rate of
about 6 millimeters per year because
they are on opposite sides of the
San Andreas Fault .
sandbar
(sand’bär’)

A formation that occurs when waves
deposit sand and cause shallow
water to be collected there.
Sandbars are usually submerged

in the ocean but can sometimes
be seen at low tide.
sand dune
(sand dün)

Mounds formed in the desert or on
beaches from particles of sand that
have been deposited by the wind.
Sand dunes can replenish beaches

after wave erosion has taken place.
Santa Ana
winds
(san’tә a’nә windz)

Winds that begin with an area of
high air pressure to the north and
east of Southern California and flow
down through the deserts toward
low pressure offshore.
Santa Ana winds are warm and dry

and usually occur during autumn
and early winter.
scanning
electron
microscope
(skan’ing i lek’tron mī’krә skōp’)
The most commonly used electron
microscope, which can magnify
as much as 300,000 times;
also called SEM.
The scanning electron microscope

uses a thin beam of electrons to
produce an image.
scavenger
(skav’әn jәr)

An animal that seeks out and eats
the remains of dead animals.
Scavengers such as vultures and

shrimp play important roles in
their ecosystems.
sea breeze
(sē brēz)

A breeze that develops when cooler,
high-pressure air over the water
moves in to replace the rising
warm air above the land.
A cool sea breeze attracts large

numbers of people to the beach
on hot summer days.
seafloor
spreading
(sē’flôr’ spred’ing)

The addition of new rock to plates
moving apart under the oceans.
The mid-ocean ridge is causing

seafloor spreading , increasing the
width of the Atlantic ocean.
secondary
consumer
(sek’әn der’ē kәn sü’mәr)

An organism that gets its energy
by eating primary consumers.
Secondary consumers are

carnivores and omnivores that
eat other animals.
sediment
(sed’ә mәnt)

Weathered rock particles
transported and deposited
by the flow of a liquid.
Sediments that build up over a long

period of time can eventually
form sedimentary rock.
seismically safe
(sīz’mi kә lē sāf)

Designed to resist collapsing in the
event of an earthquake; buildings and
highways can be built in this way.
In places where the risk of

earthquakes is high, great care is
taken to ensure that buildings and
bridges are seismically safe .
seismic wave
(sīz’mik wāv)

A vibration that travels through
Earth and is produced by
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Seismic waves are the result of

a sudden breaking or shifting
of rock below Earth’s surface.
seismograph
(sīz’mә graf’)

An instrument that detects,
measures, and records the energy
of earthquake vibrations at a
given location.
Scientists use a seismograph to

gather information about changes
below Earth’s surface.
semimolten
(sem’ē mōl’tәn)

Almost melted; used to describe
mantle rocks below the lithosphere.
Most seismic activity takes place

within the semimolten layer of Earth.
serpentine
(sûr’pәn tēn’)

An unusual rock, found in parts of
California’s soil layer, containing
minerals that are harmful to
many plants.
Though a soil rich in serpentine is

nutrient-poor for many species,
some plants have adapted to
thrive in such conditions.
shield volcano
(shēld vol kā’nō)

A volcano with broad, gently sloping
sides formed by the buildup of
layers of lava rocks.
Shield volcanoes such as Kilauea

and Mauna Loa in Hawaii have
gentle slopes because they erupt
thin, fluid lava that travels far
from the vent.
simple leaf
(sim’pәl lēf)

A leaf with only one blade
per leaf stalk.
Most maple trees have a simple leaf

which changes color and falls from
the tree in autumn.
smelting
(smel’ting)

A process used to melt metal, often
for the purpose of separating it
into its components.
Scientists have discovered evidence

of metal smelting that was performed
more than four thousand years ago.
smog
(smog)

Thick clouds of smoke and fog that
result from pollutants in the
atmosphere; can cause irritation
to eyes, noses, and throats.
Large cities usually have much

more smog than undeveloped areas.
solar energy
(sō’lәr en’әr jē)

Any form of energy radiated
by the Sun.
Solar energy is the primary source

of energy for Earth.
solar radiation
(sō’lәr rā’dē ā’shәn)

The electromagnetic energy emitted
by the Sun, that shines
on Earth’s surface.
Solar radiation includes visible

light as well as other
sound wave
(sound wāv)

A wave produced by the vibration
of an object.
Sound waves cause moving

molecules, such as those in water
or air, to vibrate the eardrum.
source
(sôrs)

The point of origin of a river
or stream; often occurs
in the mountains.
There can be more than one source

for a river or stream.
stem
(stem)

The part of a plant that supports
leaves and flowers; also transports
water and other substances
between the roots and leaves.
The stem stores and transports

materials such as water and
starch in a plant.
steppes
(steps)

The grasslands of central Russia;
home to many different animals,
such as Siberian chipmunks
and wild boars.
The climate of the steppes is

usually dry, with hot summers
and cold winters.
stomata
(stō’mә tә)

Tiny pores of the lower epidermis
of a leaf through which gases
and water pass.
Stomata normally open when

sunlight strikes a leaf and
close at night.
strip mining
(strip mī’ning)

A process in which layers of topsoil
are peeled away, exposing the coal
underneath; causes great damage
to the land.
Strip mining is a relatively

inexpensive way to get natural
resources but it leaves the land
scarred and difficult to restore.
subduction
(sәb’dәk’shәn)

A process that occurs when tectonic
plates converge and one plate sinks
or slides beneath the other.
Subduction zones are often the

location of strong earthquakes.
subsoil
(sub’soil’)

The layer of soil below the topsoil.
Subsoil accumulates rainwater that

has percolated through the topsoil.
surface wave
(sûr’fis wāv)

A seismic wave that is trapped near
Surface waves are responsible for

most of the damage associated
with earthquakes.
sustainability
(sә stā’nә bi’lә tē)

The idea that people should fulfill
present needs without endangering
the ability of future generations to
fulfill their needs as well.
Protecting and maintaining forests is

one way to support sustainability .
S wave
(es wāv)

A seismic wave that travels only
through solids, vibrating at a right
angle to its direction of travel;
also called secondary wave.
An S wave is slower than a P wave

and can move through solid rock.
synthetic
(sin thet’ik)

A material that is artificial,
or made by humans.
Fabrics such as nylon, acrylic, and

polyester are all synthetic .
system
(sis’tәm)

A group of things that work
together as a unified whole.
The human digestive system

consists of many organs that work
together to provide nourishment
for the cells of the body.
taiga
(tī’gә)

A cool forest of cone-bearing
evergreen trees; also called
a boreal forest.
Most of the taiga of North America

was once covered with glaciers
that have since receded.
taproots
(tap’rüts)

Thick, straight roots with a few
root hairs along the sides.
Some common taproots include

carrots and turnips.
tectonic plate
(tek tä’nik plāt)

A rigid plate that is part of Earth’s
surface and moves slowly across
the mantle.
Tectonic plates move at about

the same speed that a human
fingernail grows.
temperature
(tem’pәr ә chәr)

The average kinetic energy of the
molecules in a substance.
The higher the temperature of a

substance is, the more the molecules
of that substance move.
tertiary
consumer
(tûr’shē er’ē kәn sü’mәr)

An animal that eats secondary
consumers; usually the top
predator in a food chain.
Some tertiary consumers such as

leopards, tigers, and cheetahs are
critically endangered due to loss
of habitat.
textile
(teks’tīl)

Any type of fabric, especially
one made by weaving or
knitting fibers together.
The design and structure of

ancient textiles tell us a lot about
the societies that produced them.
thermal
conductivity
(thûr’mәl kon’duk tiv’i tē)

The rate at which a material warms
up when absorbing heat; used to
compare the ability of substances
to conduct heat and to tell one
material from another.
Materials such as iron and steel have

high thermal conductivity and are
therefore used to conduct heat energy.
thermal energy
(thûr’mәl en’әr jē)

The movement of energy from
one substance to another;
also called heat.
When an engine is left running

for a long period of time,
thermal energy is produced.
thermal
pollution
(thûr’mәl pә lü’shәn)

The release of excess heat from
industrial power plants; can destroy
habitats and kill the animals that
live in them.
Thermal pollution changes the

temperature of the environment and
can have a devastating effect on the
species that live there.
topsoil
(top’soil’)

The upper layer of soil; composed
mostly of humus, minerals,
water, and air.
Plants usually obtain most of

their water and nutrients
from the topsoil .
trade winds
(trād windz)

Winds that blow almost continually
toward the equator from the
northeast to the southwest in the
Northern Hemisphere and from
southeast to northwest in the
Southern Hemisphere.
Trade winds earned their name
because they propelled trading
ships quickly across the sea.
transform
boundary
(trans’fôrm boun’dә rē)

are sliding past each other.
Most transform boundaries are

located on the ocean floor.
transpiration
(tran’spә rā’shәn)

The loss of water from plant leaves.
Transpiration helps plants maintain

an optimal temperature.
transportation
(tran’spә rā’shәn)

The loss of water from plant leaves.
Transpiration helps plants maintain

an optimal temperature.
transportation
(trans’pәr tā’shәn)

The movement of rock and soil
as Earth’s surface is eroded.
Water is the primary source

of soil transportation .
triangulation
(trī ang’gyә lā’shәn)

A way of using information from at
least three seismograph stations to
find the location of the epicenter.
There are thousands of seismograph

stations in key areas around the
world, making triangulation
an easier task.
tritium
(trit’ē әm)

One of the two forms of hydrogen
used in the process of
nuclear fusion.
Tritium has three times the mass

of a normal hydrogen atom.
tsunami
(tsü nä’mē)

A series of huge waves caused by
an earthquake or volcanic eruption
beneath or near the ocean.
Tsunamis have a very long

wavelength, often hundreds of
kilometers long, and their passing
can go unnoticed by boats at sea.
tundra
(tun’drә)

A very cold, dry biome that includes
a layer of permanently frozen soil.
Due to its harsh climate, the tundra

has seen relatively little exploitation
by humans.
turbine
(tûr’bīn)

An engine that is activated by
moving water, steam, wind, or air
and used to generate electricity;
similar to a waterwheel.
Almost all electric power on Earth

is generated by one type of
turbine or another.
understory
(әn’dәr stôr’ē)

The rain-forest layer that is beneath
the canopy and is made up of the
trunks of the canopy trees as well as
shrubs, vines, and small plants.
Understory foliage must be able to

photosynthesize with limited
amounts of sunlight.
unifying theory
(ū’nә fī’ing thē’ә rē)

A theory, such as plate tectonics, that
ties other theories together to give a
more complete picture of natural
occurrences.
The unifying theory of plate tectonics

helps explain many of the long-term
changes that have occurred
throughout Earth’s geologic history.
valley breeze
(val’ē brēz)

A breeze that occurs when cool air
moves out of the valleys to replace
warm air that rises off the slopes
of mountains.
The sun warms a mountain slope

more than a valley due to more
direct exposure to sunlight, which
causes a valley breeze to occur.
vein
(vān)

A narrow channel that runs through
a leaf blade, bringing the leaf water
and minerals.
Larger veins also provide structure

and support for the leaf.
Ventura Basin
.
(ven t u r’ә bā’sen)

A depression in the Transverse
Ranges where thick layers of rock
material have accumulated.
The Ventura Basin is one of the

most active tectonic regions
in the world.
vibration
(vī brā’shәn)

The back-and-forth or up-and-down
motion of a wave, which is
described by its frequency.
Vibration is interpreted by the

ear and brain as sound.
volcanic island
arc
(vol kan’ik ī’lәnd ärk)

A long, curved chain of
volcanic islands.
A volcanic island arc can arise from

volcanoes where subduction has
occurred, such as the Mariana or
Aleutian Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
volcano
(vol kā’nō)

A place where molten rock, hot
gases, and solid rocks erupt through
an opening in Earth’s crust; also a
mountain formed from these materials.
The three main type of Volcanoes

are cone volcanoes, shield
volcanoes and stratovolcanoes.
water cycle
(wô’tәr sī’kәl)

The continuous movement of water
between Earth’s surface and the air.
The water cycle is essential to

life on Earth.
watershed
(wô’tәr shed’)

The area from which water is
drained; also the region that
contributes water to a river
or a river system.
A watershed collects water within

a region and directs it
into a waterway.
wave
(wāv)

A disturbance that carries energy
from one place to another without
a net movement of matter.
Waves move matter either in the

same direction or perpendicular
to the direction in which the
wave’s energy travels.
wavelength
(wāv’lengkth)

The distance from the top of one
crest to the top of the next or from
the bottom of one trough to the
bottom of the next.
A high note played on a flute has

a shorter wavelength than a low
note played on a tuba.
weather
(weth’әr)

The day-to-day conditions of the
atmosphere in a given area.
Weather is difficult to predict

accurately because there are
many factors that contribute to
changes in the atmosphere.
weathering
(weth’әr ing)

The gradual breakdown of rock into
smaller pieces by natural processes
such as precipitation, wind, plant
growth, and temperature change.
Weathering is an important stage

of the rock cycle.
wetland
(wet’land’)

An area in which water is near the
surface of the soil much of the time;
in California most wetlands are
salt marshes.
Wetlands control flooding and are

home to many keystone species.
wind
(wind)

Air that moves horizontally
near Earth’s surface.
Winds naturally occur when air

moves from an area of higher
pressure to an area of lower pressure.
work
(wûrk)

The use of force to move an object
through a distance.
When you push a book across a

table, you are doing work .
xylem
(zī’lәm)

Tubes within a plant stem that take
water and minerals up from the
roots to the leaves.
Wood is composed primarily

of xylem tissue.
zooplankton
(zō’ә plangk’tәn)

Microscopic animals that feed on
different types of plankton.
Zooplankton are primary and

sometimes secondary consumers.

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Grade 6

Published by Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, of McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Living things depend upon

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Scraping a rock against the ground

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

The absorption of light by green

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Photosynthesis does not occur in

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

The amount of acidity in a lemon

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Acid rain is a serious problem

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Since aerial roots never touch the

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Air pressure is higher at sea level

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Drain cleaners have greater

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Alluvial deposits include a wide

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Amoebas are constantly

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

A sound wave with a higher

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

During the summer anticyclones

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Arroyos often ﬁll with water

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Earth’s tectonic plates rest

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

An avalanche can pose great

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

A bank is a good place to stand

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Barrier islands are often at risk

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

There is little light in

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Structures along shores affect

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Beach erosion caused by waves

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Benthos like crabs are eaten

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Biomass conversion helps decrease

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Grassland or desert biomes are

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Lions and tigers are biotic factors

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Scientists study body waves

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Susan observed a breaker that was

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Buoyancy is clearly seen in

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

Much of California’s climate is due

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6

It takes more calories to heat a liter

© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science / 6