Term
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Definition
RELATED TO FACTORS OR THINGS THAT ARE SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT FROM LIVING THINGS; NONLIVING. |
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Term
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Definition
ANY COMPOUND THAT RELEASES HYDROGEN IONS WHEN DISSOLVED IN WATER. ALSO, A WATERY SOLUTION THAT CONTAINS A SURPLUS OF HYDROGEN IONS. |
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Term
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Definition
ENORMOUS BODIES OF AIR THAT MOVE AS A UNIT |
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Term
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Definition
A SOIL HORIZON; THE LAYER BELOW THE O HORIZON IS CALLED THE A HORIZON. THE A HORIZON IS FORMED OF WEATHERED ROCK, WITH SOME ORGANIC MATERIAL; OFTEN REFERRED TO AS TOPSOIL. |
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Term
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Definition
A BASIC SUBSTANCE; CHEMICALLY, A SUBSTANCE THAT ABSORBS HYDROGEN IONS OR RELEASES HYDROXYL IONS; IN REFERENCE TO NATURAL WATER, A MEASURE OF THE BASE CONTENT OF THE WATER. |
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Term
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Definition
AN UNDERGROUND LAYER OF POROUS ROCK, SAND, OR OTHER MATERIAL THAT ALLOWS THE MOVEMENT OF WATER BETWEEN LAYERS OF NONPOROUS ROCK OR CLAY. AQUIFERS ARE FREQUENTLY TAPPED FOR WELLS. |
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Term
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Definition
LAND THAT IS FIT TO BE CULTIVATED |
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Term
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Definition
THE PART OF THE MANTLE THAT LIES JUST BELOW THE LITHOSPHERE |
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Term
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Definition
THE GASEOUS MASS OR ENVELOPE SURROUNDING A CELESTIAL BODY- ESPECIALLY THE ONE SURROUNDING THE EARTH WHICH IS RETAINED BY THE CELESTIAL BODY'S GRAVITATIONAL FIELD. |
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Term
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Definition
A LONG, RELATIVELY NARROW ISLAND RUNNING PARALLEL TO THE MAINLAND, BUILT UP BY THE ACTION OF WAVES AND CURRENTS AND SERVING TO PROTECT THE COAST FROM EROSION BY SURF AND TIDAL SURGES. |
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Definition
ANY WEATHERING THAT IS CAUSED BY THE ACTIVITIES OF LIVING ORGANISMS. |
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Definition
LIVING OR DERIVED FROM LIVING THINGS. |
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Term
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Definition
A SOIL HORIZON; B RECEIVES THE MINERALS AND ORGANIC MATERIALS THAT ARE LEACHED OUT OF THE A HORIZON. |
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Term
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Definition
THE RESULT OF CHEMICAL INTERACTION WITH THE BEDROCK THAT IS TYPICAL OF THE ACTION OF BOTH WATER AND ATMOSPHERIC GASES. |
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Term
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Definition
A SOIL HORIZON; C IS MADE UP OF LARGER PIECES OF ROCK THAT HAVE NOT UNDERGONE MUCH WEATHERING. |
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Term
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Definition
THE FINEST SOIL, MADE UP OF PARTICLES THAT ARE LESS THAN 0.002 mm IN DIAMETER. |
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Term
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Definition
WEATHER CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION, THAT REMAIN CONSTANT OVER 30 YEARS OR MORE |
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Term
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Definition
THE TRANSMISSION OR CONVEYING OF SOMETHING THROUGH A MEDIUM OR PASSAGE, ESPECIALLY THE TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRIC CHARGE OR HEAT THROUGH A CONDUCTING MEDIUM WITHOUT PRECEPTIBLE MOTION OF HTE MEDIUM ITSELF |
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Term
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Definition
THE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF A MASS OF MATTER BECAUSE OF HEATING AND COOLING; THIS CAN HAPPEN IN BOTH THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE EARTH'S MANTLE |
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Term
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Definition
AIR CURRENTS CAUSED BY THE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF AIR DUE TO ATMOSPHERIC HEATING AND COOLING |
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Term
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Definition
A PLATE BOUNDARY WHERE TWO PLATES ARE MOVING TOWARD EACH OTHER |
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Term
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Definition
AN EROSION-RESISTANT MARINE RIDGE OR MOUND CONSISTING CHEIFLY OF COMPACTED CORAL TOGETHER WITH ALGAL MATERIAL AND BIOCHEMICALLY DEPOSITED MAGNESIUM AND CALCIUM CARBONATES |
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Term
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Definition
THE OBSERVED EFFECT OF THE CORIOLLIS FORCE, ESPECIALLY THE DEFLECTION OF AN OBJECT MOVING ABOVE THE EARTH, RIGHTWARD IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, AND LEFTWARD IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. |
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Term
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Definition
THE PRACTICE OF ALTERNATING THE CROPS GROWN ON A PIECE OF LAND TO REPLENISH SOIL NUTIENTS- FOR EXAMPLE, CORN ONE YEAR, LEGUMES FOR TWO YEARS, AND THEN BACK TO CORN. |
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Term
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Definition
A USUALLY TRIANGULAR ALLUVIAL DEPOSIT AT TEH MOUTH OF A RIVER |
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Term
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Definition
A PLATE BOUNDARY AT WHICH PLATES ARE MOVING AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. THIS CAUSES AN UPWELLING OF MAGMA FROM THE MANTLE TO COOL AND FORM NEW CRUST |
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Term
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Definition
A REGION OF THE OCEAN NEAR THE EQUATOR, CHARACTERIZED BY CALMS, LIGHT WINDS, OR SQUALLS. |
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Term
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Definition
A METHOD OF SUPPLYING IRRIGATION WATER THROUGH TUBES THAT LITERALLY DRIP WATER ONTO THE SOIL AT THE BASE OF EACH PLANT |
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Term
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Definition
THE RESULT OF VIBRATIONS THAT RELEASE ENERGY FROM WITHIN THE EARTH. THEY OFTEN OCCUR AS TWO PLATES SLIDE PAST ONE ANOTHER AT A PLATE BOUNDARY |
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Term
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Definition
A CLIMATE VARIATION THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE TROPICAL PACIFIC ABOUT EVERY 7 YEARS, FOR A DURATION OF ABOUT ONE YEAR. |
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Term
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Definition
THE PROCESS OF SOIL PARTICLES BEING CARRIED AWAY BY WIND OR WATER. EROSION MOVES THE SMALLER PARTICLES FIRST AND HENCE DEGRADES THE SOIL TO A COURSER, SANDIER, STONIER TEXTURE. |
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Term
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Definition
THE PART OF THE WIDE LOWER COURSE OF A RIVER WHERE ITS CURRENT IS MET BY TIDES |
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Term
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Definition
THE PLACE WHERE TWO TECTONIC PLATES ABUT EACH OTHER |
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Term
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Definition
THE TIME AFTER THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION WHEN FARMING BECAME MECHANIZED AND CROP YIELDSS IN INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS BOOMED AS FARMERS BEGAN USING LARGE AMOUNTS OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES |
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Term
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Definition
THE PHENOMENON WHEREBY THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE TRAPS SOLAR RADIATION, CAUSED BY THE PRESENCE IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF GASES SUCH AS CARBON DIOXIDE, WATER VAPOR AND METHANE THAT ALLOW INCOMING SUNLIGHT TO PASS THROUGH BUT ABSORB HEAT RADIATED BACK FROM THE EARTH'S SURFACE |
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Term
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Definition
A SYSTEM OF VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL AIR CIRCULATION THAT CREATES MAJOR WEATHER PATTERNS, PREDOMINANTLY IN TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL REGIONS |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
THE DARK, CRUMBLY, NUTRIENT-RICH MATERIAL THAT RESULTS FROM THE DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANIC MATERIAL, WHICH IS ALSO A PRODUCT OF COMPOSTING ORGANIC WASTE. |
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Term
HURRICANE (aka: cyclone, typhoon) |
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Definition
A SEVERE TROPICAL STORM ORIGINATING FROM THE EQUATORIAL REGIONS OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN OR CARIBBEAN SEA OR EASTERN REGIONS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, THAT TRAVELS NORTH, NORTHWEST, OR NORTHEAST FROM ITS POINT OF ORIGIN, AND USUALLY INVOLVES HIGH SPEED WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS |
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Term
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Definition
THE SOLID IRON NICKLE CORE OF THE EARTH |
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Term
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Definition
THE DELIVERY RATE OF SOLAR RADIATION PER UNIT OF HORIZONTAL SURFACE |
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Term
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Definition
A HIGH-SPEED, MEANDERING WIND CURRENT, GENERALLY MOVING FROM A WESTERLY DIRECTION AT SPEEDS OFTEN EXCEEDING 400 KM (25 MILES) PER HOUR AT ALTITUDES OF 15-25 KM (10-15 MILES) |
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Term
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Definition
DETERIORATION OF LAND QUALITY (TOPSOIL, ORGANISMS, VEGETATION, WATER QUALITY), USUALLY CAUSED BY ITS EXPLOITATION |
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Term
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Definition
A COOLING OF THE OCEAN SURFACE OFF THE WESTERN COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA, OCCURRING PERIODICALLY EVERY 4-12 YEARS AND AFFECTING PACIFIC AND OTHER WEATHER PATTERNS |
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Term
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Definition
THE OUTER PART OF THE EARTH, CONSISTING OF THE CRUST AND UPPER MANTLE, APPROXIMATELY 100 KM (62 MILES) THICK. |
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Term
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Definition
SOIL COMPOSED OF A MIXTURE OF SAND, CLAY, SILT AND ORGANIC MATTER |
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Term
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Definition
THE LAYER OF THE EARTH BETWEEN THE CRUST AND THE CORE |
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Term
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Definition
THE CULTIVATION OF A SINGLE CROP ON A FARM OR IN A REGION OR COUNTRY; A SINGLE, HOMOGENEOUS CULTURE WITHOUT DIVERSITY OR DISSENSION |
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Term
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Definition
A WIND SYSTEM THAT INFLUENCES LARGE CLIMATIC REGIONS AND REVERSES DIRECTION SEASONALLY |
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Term
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Definition
THE UPPERMOST HORIZON OF SOIL. IT IS PRIMARILY MADE UP OF ORGANIC MATERIAL, INCLUDING WASTE FROM ORGANISMS, THE BODIES OF DECOMPOSING ORGANISMS, AND LIVE ORGANISMS. |
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Term
PHYSICAL WEATHERING (aka: mechanical weathering) |
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Definition
any process that breaks rock down into smaller pieces without changing the chemistry of the rock; typically by wind or water. |
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Term
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Definition
THE EDGES OF TECTONIC PLATES |
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Term
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Definition
WHEN WATER RIGHTS ARE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY USED THE WATER IN A CERTAIN AREA |
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Term
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Definition
THE LOW-RAINFALL REGION THAT EXISTS ON THE LEEWARD (DOWNWIND) SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN RANGE. THE RAIN SHADOW EFFECT IS THE RESULT OF THE MOUNTAIN RANGE CAUSING PRECIPITATION ON THE WINDWARD SIDE. |
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Term
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Definition
A BLOOM OF DINOFLAGELLATES THAT CAUSES REDDISH DISCOLORATION OF COASTAL OCEAN WATERS. CERTAIN DINOFLAGELLATES OF THE GENUS Gonyamlax PRODUCE TOXINS THAT KILL FISH AND CONTAMINATE SHELLFISH |
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Term
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Definition
THE BEDROCK, WHICH LIES BELOW ALL THE OTHER LAYERS OF SOIL, IS REFERRED TO AS THE R HORIZON |
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Term
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Definition
THE RIGHT, AS TO FISHING OR TO THE USE OF A RIVERBED, OF ONE WHO OWNS RIPARIAN LAND (THE LAND ADJACENT TO A RIVER OR STREAM) |
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Term
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Definition
OCCURS WHEN SOIL BECOMES WATERLOGGED FROM EXCESS IRRIGATION AND THEN DRIES OUT. AS THE WATER EVAPORATES, THE SALT CRYSTALLIZES AND FORMS A LAYER ON THE SOIL SURFACE. THIS EXCESS SALT PREVENTS THE GROWTH OF PLANTS |
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Term
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Definition
THE COARSEST SOIL, WITH PARTICLES 0.05-2.0 mm IN DIAMETER |
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Term
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Definition
SOIL WITH PARTICLES 0.002-0.05 mm IN DIAMETER |
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Term
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Definition
THE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE CONDITIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE PERIODIC WARMING OF EL NINO AND COOLING OF LA NINA |
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Term
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Definition
IN TECTONIC PLATES, THE SITE AT WHICH AND OCEANIC PLATE IS SLIDING UNDER A CONTINENTAL PLATE |
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Term
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Definition
A LAYER IN A LARGE BODY OF WATER, SUCH AS A LAKE, THAT SHARPLY SEPARATES REGIONS DIFFERING IN TEMPERATURE, SO THAT THE TEMPERATURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE LAYER IS ABRUPT |
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Term
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Definition
THE OUTERMOST SHELL OF HTE ATMOSPHERE, BETWEEN THE MESOSPHERE AND OUTER SPACE, WHERE TEMPERATURES INCREASE STEADILY WITH ALTITUDE |
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Term
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Definition
THE A HORIZON OF SOIL IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS TOPSOIL AND IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR PLANT GROWTH |
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Term
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Definition
THE MORE OR LESS CONSTANT WINDS BLOWING IN HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONS OVER THE EARTH'S SURFACE, AS PART OF HADLEY CELLS |
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Term
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Definition
ALSO KNOWN AS TRANSFORM FAULTS, BOUNDARIES AT WHICH PLATES ARE MOVING PAST EACH OTHER SIDEWAYS- LIKE THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT LINE |
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Term
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Definition
A CYCLONIC STORM HAVING WINDS RANGING FROM APPROXIMATELY 48-121 KM (30-75 MILES) PER HOUR |
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Term
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Definition
A PROCESS IN WHICH COLD, OFTEN NUTRIENT-RICH, WATERS FROM THE OCEAN DEPTH RISE TO THE SURFACE |
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Term
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Definition
AN OPENING IN THE EARTH'S CRUST THROUGH WHICH MOLTEN LAVA, ASK, AND GASES ARE EJECTED |
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Term
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Definition
THE REGION DRAINING INTO A RIVER SYSTEM OR OTHER BODY OF WATER |
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Term
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Definition
COUNTRIES THAT HAVE A RENEWABLE ANNUAL WATER SUPPLY OF LESS THAN 1000 m3 PER PERSON |
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Term
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Definition
COUNTRIES THAT HAVE A RENEWABLE ANNUAL WATER SUPPLY OF ABOUT 1000-2000 m3 PER PERSON |
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Term
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Definition
THE DAY-TO-DAY VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE, SIR PRESSURE, WIND, HUMIDITY AND PRECIPITATION MEDIATED BY THE ATMOSPHERE IN A GIVEN REGION |
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Term
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Definition
THE GRADUAL BREAKDOWN OF ROCK INTO SMALLER PARTICLES, CAUSED BY NATURAL CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL FACTORS |
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Term
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Definition
A LOWLAND AREA, SUCH AS A MARSH OR SWAMP, THAT IS SATURATED WITH MOISTURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN REGARDED AS THE NATURAL HABITAT OF WILDLIFE |
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