Across
- 1. A global circulation pattern where warm air rises at the equator and sinks at 30°
- 3. The cloudiness of water due to suspended sediments.
- 5. The flexible, semi-molten layer beneath the lithosphere; allows tectonic plates to move.
- 8. The smallest soil particle with low permeability and high water-holding capacity.
- 10. Fertility The capacity of soil to support plant growth, often based on nutrient and water availability.
- 13. Winds that blow from east to west near the equator.
- 15. The measure of pore space in soil, affecting water and air movement.
- 21. The process where one tectonic plate is forced under another into the mantle.
- 23. The decomposed organic material in soil that contributes to fertility.
- 26. Material The original rock that is broken down to form soil.
- 30. Gases like CO₂ that trap heat in the atmosphere.
- 32. Holding Capacity The ability of soil to retain water for plant use.
- 34. A tectonic boundary where plates slide past each other, often causing earthquakes.
- 35. The outermost atmospheric layer merging into space.
- 37. The least-weathered soil layer closest to the parent material, often called bedrock.
- 40. The cold middle layer of the atmosphere.
- 41. Water that flows over the land surface into streams or lakes.
- 44. A localized area where magma rises through the crust, forming volcanoes (e.g., Hawaii).
- 45. The amount of solar radiation reaching a given area.
- 46. A mix of mineral particles, organic material, water, and air that supports plant life.
- 48. The hot upper layer that absorbs solar radiation.
- 49. A climate event where warm ocean water shifts eastward, altering weather patterns.
- 54. The thick, middle layer of Earth composed of semi-solid rock; contains most of Earth’s volume.
- 55. The circulation of magma in the mantle that drives tectonic plate movement.
- 56. When day and night are approximately equal in length.
- 58. The deflection of moving air due to Earth’s rotation.
- 60. A gas found in the stratosphere that absorbs UV radiation.
- 61. (Subsoil) A layer containing minerals leached from upper horizons with minimal organic material.
- 63. The decline in soil's ability to support plant life.
- 65. An underground layer of permeable rock that stores water.
- 66. (Topsoil) A fertile layer of soil with a mix of minerals and decomposed organic matter.
- 67. How easily water drains through the soil.
- 68. The process where deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface.
Down
- 2. The rigid outer shell of Earth made of crust and upper mantle; broken into tectonic plates.
- 4. The layer above the troposphere containing the ozone layer.
- 6. The breakdown of rocks into smaller particles through physical, chemical, or biological processes.
- 7. The movement of soil or rock particles by wind, water, or gravity.
- 9. The cycle of changing ocean temperatures and atmospheric pressure in the Pacific Ocean.
- 11. where cooler-than-average waters strengthen trade winds.
- 12. When the sun reaches its most northern or southern point, marking summer or winter.
- 14. An area of land that drains into a specific body of water.
- 16. A medium-sized soil particle that holds nutrients and water well.
- 17. A change in temperature with altitude that defines atmospheric layers.
- 18. The side of a mountain facing the prevailing wind; receives more rain.
- 19. The thin, outermost layer of Earth where life exists.
- 20. Global ocean currents driven by differences in temperature and salinity.
- 22. A tectonic boundary where plates move toward each other, forming mountains, volcanoes, or trenches.
- 24. Molten rock within the mantle that can rise toward the surface.
- 25. A tectonic boundary where plates move apart, forming mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys.
- 27. A zone around the Pacific Ocean with high volcanic and earthquake activity.
- 28. The process by which water enters the soil.
- 29. The innermost layer of Earth made of dense metals like nickel and iron that release heat through radioactive decay.
- 31. A phenomenon where urban areas are warmer than surrounding areas due to low albedo surfaces.
- 33. Texture The percentage mix of sand, silt, and clay in a soil sample.
- 36. The long-term average of temperature and precipitation in a region.
- 38. The top layer of soil made mostly of organic matter.
- 39. The lowest layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs.
- 42. Compression of soil that reduces pore space, water infiltration, and plant growth.
- 43. A balanced soil type ideal for plants, with roughly equal sand, silt, and clay.
- 47. The reflectivity of a surface; higher albedo reflects more solar energy.
- 50. Loss of key nutrients from soil due to overuse or poor management.
- 51. Nutrient overload in water leading to algae blooms and oxygen depletion.
- 52. A condition where oxygen levels in water are too low to support life.
- 53. The landscape's slope and features that affect soil formation and erosion.
- 57. A dry area on the leeward side of a mountain, blocked from precipitation.
- 59. The largest soil particle, which allows for high permeability.
- 62. A coastal area where freshwater mixes with saltwater, creating a productive ecosystem.
- 64. The side of a mountain facing away from the wind; typically drier.