7th Grade Word List: Social

rain containing acids that form in the atmosphere when industrial gas emissions, especially sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides

modification; alteration or adjustment in structure or habits

land that can be used for growing crops

a major biotic community characterized by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate

of or relating to a climate, or meteorological conditions

the gradual movement and formation of continents (as described by plate tectonics)

the mixture of two or more cultures of different races

thickness; quantity of something per unit measure, especially per unit length, area, or volume

the gradual transformation of habitable land into desert; is usually caused by climate change or by destructive use of the land

a sovereign state that has a highly developed economy and advanced technological infrastructure relative to other less developed nations

a nation with a low living standard, underdeveloped industrial base

the distribution of resources, including land, water, minerals, fuel and wealth in general among corresponding geographic entities

dry period; aridity; long period of abnormally low rainfall

quake from underground; disturbance that is extremely disruptive; temblor

system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environment

altitude; height; distance of something above a reference point

someone who leaves one country to settle in another

a socially defined category of people who identify with each other based on a shared social experience or ancestry

shortage of food; starvation

a large flow; the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land

fuel consisting of the remains of organisms preserved in rocks in the earth's crust with high carbon and hydrogen content

geographic information system, a computer system used for storage, retrieval, mapping, and analysis of geographic data

an increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere, especially a sustained increase that causes climatic changes

relating to a person; characteristic of humanity

big storm; severe tropical cyclone

a projection of the globe onto a flat map using a grid of lines of latitude and longitude

act of modifying, or state of being modified; modified form or condition; a change

a model considered worthy of imitation; something regarded as a normative example

appearance of things; view, outlook, or vista

the branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth's crust

settled method of government to administer; system of public or official administration

the predominant wind direction

a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; a mental process that you are not directly aware of

related or limited to a particular region

a scientific theory that describes the large-scale motions of Earth's lithosphere, the model builds on the concepts of continental drift, developed during the first few decades of the 20th century

cyclone; localized and violently destructive windstorm

a cataclysm resulting from a destructive sea wave caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruption

tropical cyclone occurring in the western Pacific; violent whirlwind

an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities

social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban

fissure in the earth's crust through which molten lava and gases erupt

phenomenon in a weather event that can be explained by the principles of meteorology