1. . The term lithosphere isderived from the Greek words "lithos," meaning stone, and
"sphaira," meaning globe or ball. The lithosphere isthe solid, outer part of Earth. The
lithosphere includes the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the crust, the
outermost layers of Earth's structure. It is bounded by the atmosphere above and the
asthenosphere (another part of the upper mantle) below. The lithosphere is the
outermost layer of Earth, composed of the crust and the brittle part of the upper
mantle.
2. A floodplain is an area of land which is covered in water when a river bursts its banks.
Floodplains formdue to both erosion and deposition. Erosion removes any
interlocking spurs , creating a wide, flat area on either side of the river. A floodplain
(or floodplain) isa generally flat area of land next to a river or stream. It stretches
from the banks of the river to the outer edges of the valley. A floodplain consists of
two parts. The first is the main channel of the river itself, called the floodway.
3. The water table isan underground boundary between the soil surface and the area
where groundwater saturates spaces between sediments and cracks in rock. Water
pressure and atmospheric pressure are equal at this boundary. The water table isan
underground boundary between the soil surface and the area where groundwater
saturates spaces between sediments and cracks in rock. Water pressure and
atmospheric pressure are equal at this boundary.
4. Mass movement isthe movement of rock and soil down slope under the influence of
gravity. Rock falls, slumps, and debris flows are all examples of mass wasting. Often
lubricated by rainfall or agitated by seismic activity, these events may occur very
rapidly and move as a flow. The factors that cause most mass movement events are
the undercutting of steep slopes, the removal of vegetation, earthquakes, and heavy
prolonged rainfall. Many mass movement disasters are preceded by development,
deforestation, and slope steepening, which weakens the slopes.
5. Jet streams are narrow bands of high speed winds that generally blow from west to
east across the globe. Jet streams are like rivers of wind flowing through the upper
layers of the troposphere. Jet streams have a huge influence on climate, as they can
push air masses around and affect weather patterns.
6. The Coriolis Effect is an apparent effect produced by a rotating frame of reference.
The effect occurs when an object moving along a straight path is viewed from a non-
fixed frame of reference. The moving frame of reference is the Earth which rotates at
