Earth Science

The science that focuses on the planet Earth and its place in the

universe

System A group of related parts that work together

Energy The ability to work or cause damage

Constructive Force

A force that build up mountains and landmasses on the Earth’s surface

Destructive Force

A force that slowly wears away mountains and other features on

the surface of the Earth

GeologistA scientist who studies the forces that make and shape the planet

Earth

Oceanographer A scientist who studies Earth’s oceans

Meteorologist

A scientist who studies the causes of weather and tries to predict it

Astronomer A scientist who studies the universe beyond the Earth

Environmental Scientist

A scientist who studies the effects of human activities on Earth's land,

air water and living things

Topography The shape of the land determined by elevation, relief and landforms

Elevation Height above sea level

ReliefThe difference in elevation between the highest and lowest point in an

area

LandformA feature of topography formed by

the processes that shape the Earth’s surface

Plain A landform made up of flat or gently rolling land in low relief

Mountain A landform with high elevation and high relief

Mountain Range

A series of mountains that have the same general shape and structure

Plateau A landform that has high elevation and a more or less level surface

Landform Region

A large area of land where the topography is similar

Map A flat model of all or part of earth’s surface as seen from above

Globe A sphere that represents Earth’s entire surface

ScaleUsed to compare distance on a map or globe to distance on the Earth’s

surface

SymbolOn a map, pictures used by

mapmakers to stand for features on Earth’s surface

Key A list of symbols used on a map

Degree A unit used to measure distances around a circle

EquatorThe imaginary line that circles the Earth halfway between the North

and South poles

Hemisphere One half of the sphere that makes up the Earth’s surface

Prime Meridian

The line that makes a half circle from the North Pole to the South

Pole that passes through Greenwich England

Latitude The distance in degrees north or south of the equator

Longitude The distance in degrees east or west of the prime meridian

Map Projection

A framework of lines that helps to show landmasses on a flat surface

SurveyingThe process of gathering data for a

map by using instruments and principles of geometry to determine

distance and elevation

Digitizing Converting information to numbers for use by a computer

Satellite Image

Pictures of the land surface based on computer data collected from

satellites

Pixel The tiny dots in a satellite image

Global Positioning System

A method of finding latitude and longitude using a network of

satellites

Topographic Map

A map that shows the surface features of an area

Contour Line A line on a topographical map that contains points of equal elevation

Contour Interval

The difference in elevation from one contour line to the next

Index Contour

On a topographical map a heavier contour line that is labeled with elevation of that contour line in

round units