Earthquakes and Seismic Waves Sudden release of stress along faults generates seismic waves that travel through Earth, measured by seismographs and magnitude scales.
Greenhouse Effect The warming of Earth's surface by greenhouse gases that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, keeping the planet habitable.
Water Cycle The continuous movement of water between atmosphere, land, and oceans through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
Ocean Currents Large-scale movements of seawater driven by wind, density differences, and Earth's rotation that redistribute heat around the planet.
Fossilization The rare sequence of processes that preserves remains or traces of ancient organisms in the rock record.
The Rock Cycle The model describing how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks form and transform over geological time.