Across
- 2. The solid Earth, the largest of Earth's four major spheres.
- 3. The scientific study of the oceans and oceanic phenomena.
- 6. A well-tested and widely accepted view that explains certain observable facts.
- 7. (Ch 11) The procedure of calculating the absolute ages of rocks and minerals that contain radioactive isotopes.
- 10. The name for all the sciences that collectively seek to understand Earth. It includes geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy.
- 11. The science that examines Earth, its form and composition, and the changes it has undergone and is undergoing.
- 13. An elongated depression in the seafloor produced by bending of oceanic crust during subduction. Also called simply a trench.
- 15. The totality of life on Earth; the parts of the solid Earth, hydrosphere, and atmosphere in which living organisms can be found.
- 17. Large, continuous areas of land that include the adjacent continental shelf and islands that are structurally connected to the mainland.
- 19. The span of time since the formation of Earth, about 4.6 billion years.
- 20. An isolated volcanic peak that rises at least 1000 meters (3000 feet) above the deep-ocean floor.
- 21. The water portion of our planet; one of the traditional subdivisions of Earth's physical environment.
- 23. The innermost layer of Earth, located beneath the mantle. The core is divided into an outer core and an inner core.
- 24. The very thin outermost layer of Earth.
- 25. (Ch11) A principle by which layers of sediment are generally deposited in a horizontal or nearly horizontal position.
- 26. (mid-ocean ridge) A broad, linear ridge or rise on the ocean floor. The rift at the crest of the ridge represents a divergent plate boundary, where new oceanic crust is generated. Also called mid-ocean ridge or oceanic rise.
Down
- 1. (Ch 11) A principle which states that in any undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each bed is older than the one above and younger than the one below.
- 4. The portion of the seafloor adjacent to the continents. It may include the continental shelf, continental slope, and continental rise.
- 5. The gaseous portion of a planet; the planet's envelope of air. One of the traditional subdivisions of Earth's physical environment.
- 8. A subdivision of the mantle situated below the lithosphere that is made of weak material and easily deformed.
- 9. basin A deep submarine region that lies beyond the continental margins.
- 12. The rigid outer layer of Earth, including the crust and upper mantle.
- 14. The basic idea that the Sun and planets formed from the same cloud of gas and dust in interstellar space.
- 16. With respect to a resource, a resource that is virtually inexhaustible or that can be replenished over relatively short time spans.
- 18. The scientific study of the atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena; the study of weather and climate.
- 22. The 2900-kilometer- (1800-mile-) thick layer of Earth located below the crust.
- 25. A tentative explanation that is tested to determine whether it is valid.