Chapter 1: Comparing Earth & Rocky Planets

hydrosphere

all the liquid water and ice on a planet.

biosphere

all the living things on a planet.

geological process

an event or series of events that causes changes in the geosphere, such as flowing water or flowing lava

rocky planet

any planet with a solid surface, such as Earth or Mars

geosphere

the solid part of a rocky planet

landform

a feature that forms on the surface of a planet, such as a mountain, channel, or sand dune

channel

a long, narrow groove that forms where water, lava, or other liquid flows

planetary geologist

a scientist who studies the geospheres of planets in our solar system

system

a set of interacting parts forming a complex whole

habitable

having the conditions necessary to support life

Earth

the 3rd planet from the sun and the planet that we live on

atmosphere

the mixture of gases surrounding a planet.