Chapter 1: The Earth in Context

The study of the Earth's structure, processes, and history.

Scottish naturalist and advocate for preserving natural areas.

Lines where tectonic plates meet and can cause earthquakes and other natural disasters.

The movement of different parts of the Earth's crust, driving the rock cycle and causing earthquakes, volcanic activity, and other geological phenomena.

The theory that all matter and energy in the Universe started from a single point and has been expanding since.

The process in which hydrogen atoms combine to form helium, releasing a large amount of energy.

The explosion of a supermassive star, which can lead to the formation of heavier elements.

Concentrated amounts of hydrogen and helium that collect more material and become hotter until they ignite and form a star.

Mass of hydrogen, helium, and other elements that clings together and forms planets.

The distance from the central protostar of a solar nebula where volatile compounds condense into solid grains.

The organization of the Earth into layers, leading to the formation of a core, crust, and continents.

The magnetic field that surrounds the Earth, generated from the core and protecting us from solar winds and harmful energies.

Vibrant colors created when charged particles interact with nitrogen and oxygen in our atmosphere near the north and south poles.

The layer of gases surrounding the Earth, allowing us to breathe and interacting with visible light to create a blue haze.

The dynamic surface of the Earth with various topography, including deep oceans and high mountains.

Large pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that are moving and recycling material, responsible for earthquakes and other geological activity.

The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

The soft layer in the lower part of the mantle, below the tectonic plates.