Science Review: Earth & Space

Deserts are defined by extremely dry conditions with very little rainfall. Consequently, the air in these regions contains very little water vapor, resulting in low humidity.

Erosion is the process by which weathered rock and soil particles are moved from one place to another. Ocean waves carrying sand away from the coastline is a clear example of this transport process.

Weathering is the physical or chemical breakdown of rocks into smaller fragments at Earth's surface. A river current wearing down and breaking apart rock in a canyon represents weathering, whereas carrying those pieces away would be erosion.

Comets are cosmic snowballs of frozen gases, rock, and dust that orbit the Sun. Because of their composition and appearance, they are often colloquially referred to as 'dirty snowballs'.

The inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) have very few or no moons. Mercury and Venus have zero moons, Earth has one, and Mars has two, which is not considered 'many' compared to the dozens of moons orbiting each of the outer gas giants.

The inner planets are located much closer to the Sun than the outer planets, meaning they receive significantly more intense solar radiation. This proximity results in much higher average surface temperatures compared to the cold, distant outer planets.

Earth's crust is the outermost solid shell of our planet and is composed of various types of solid rock, such as igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Magma is molten rock found beneath the crust, and water covers much of the crust but does not make up the crust itself.

The Earth's yearly revolution around the Sun, combined with the tilt of its rotational axis, causes different parts of the Earth to receive varying amounts of direct sunlight throughout the year. This cycle of changing sunlight intensity and duration creates the seasons.

The Sun is a medium-sized star (a yellow dwarf) and is far from being the largest star in the universe. It only appears much larger and brighter than other stars because it is incredibly close to Earth compared to the next nearest stars.

It takes exactly 24 hours for the Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis. Therefore, after 24 hours, Florida will have rotated back to the exact same position relative to the Sun, and it will be 1:00 PM on Wednesday with the Sun shining overhead.

The tundra biome is located at high latitudes (near the polar regions) and is characterized by extremely low temperatures and low to moderate precipitation. Rainforests and grasslands are typically found at lower latitudes and have warmer temperatures.

Rainforests are located near the equator where temperatures are consistently warm, and they receive massive amounts of rainfall. This combination of heat and abundant water creates an environment with very high humidity.

Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface and contain about 97% of the planet's water. Because of their immense surface area and volume, they provide the vast majority of the water vapor that enters the atmosphere through evaporation.

Sedimentary rocks are formed over long periods as mineral particles and rock fragments (sediments) accumulate in layers, compress under weight, and cement together. Igneous rocks form from cooled magma, and metamorphic rocks form from heat and pressure deep underground.

Igneous rocks are formed when molten rock (magma beneath the surface or lava on the surface) cools and solidifies. Examples include basalt and granite.