Earth science word finds

Earth Science Word Search is a word search puzzle using glossary terms associated with the Earth Sciences. The Earth Sciences include the study of meteorology, geology, and astronomy.

The words can be found running left/right, up/down and diagonally within the array of letters. This activity can be a fun way to introduce many of the terms a student will encounter in an Earth Science class. Clicking the image will show a full-sized version of the puzzle optimized to fit on a single sheet of paper. Alternatively, a PDF version can be downloaded for better quality and easier printing.

If you have trouble finding a few of the words, feel free to take a peek at the solved word search (or you could download the solved PDF).

If you enjoy science and science word searches, be sure to check out our collection of science word searches.

Earth Science Word Search Glossary Terms

alluvium – deposits formed by rivers and streams
anemometer – instrument used to measure wind speed
apogee – point of an orbit where the orbiting body is furthest from the focal point
biome – a large community of flora and fauna occupying a region or habitat
climate – long-term weather conditions for an area
colloid – homogeneous mixture consisting of very small particles dispersed in a secondary medium.
condensation – phase change from gas to liquid
crystal – a solid with a definate and ordered arrangement of atoms
cyclone – a type of weather where winds rotate around a low pressure center
delta – sediment deposits at the mouth of a stream or river
deposition – process where sediments are placed on a surface layer
desert – a biome consisting of arid climate and little precipitation
dewpoint – temperature where air is saturated with water vapor
diurnal – daily
earthquake – sudden violent shaking of the Earth’s crust
eccentricity – measure of an orbit’s deviation from a perfect circle
epicenter – surface point directly above the origin of an earthquake
epoch – a large subdivision of time marked by notable events
equator – imaginary parallel line drawn around a sphere equally distant from the top and bottom poles. On Earth, the line that divides the North and South Hemispheres.
equinox – time when the Sun’s light strikes perpendicular to the Earth’s equator
erosion – removal of sediment by an external force such as wind, water, gravity or ice
evaporation – phase change from liquid to gas
fault – a crack in the Earth’s crust
fossil – petrified organic remains encased in rock or the impression of organic remains in rocks
front – boundary between two different air masses
galaxy – ordered grouping of a large number of stars
glacier – a slow moving mass of ice formed from the accumulation of ice and snow
hurricane – a cyclone storm with wind speeds in excess of 74 mph or 114 kph
igneous – rocks formed from the solidification of molten matter
isobar – a line connecting equal readings of pressure
isotherm – a line connecting equal readings of temperature
jet stream – a concentration of high winds found in the troposphere
lava – molten material deposited on the surface of the Earth
light year – the distance light travels in one year (9.46 x 10¹² km)
magma – molten material beneath the Earth’s surface
metamorphic – a type of rock where one type of rock is changed into another type by heat and/or pressure
moho – boundary between the Earth’s crust and mantle
monsoon – seasonal prevailing winds located in Southeast Asia
ocean – a very large body of water dividing geographic regions
orbit – path drawn out by a satellite traveling around another body
perigee – point of an orbit where the orbiting body is closest to the focal point
planet – largest bodies orbiting a star
precipitation – rainfall or the process where a substance settles out of a solution
sediment – matter removed from eroded material
seismograph – instrument  used to detect and/or measure the strength of earthquakes
solstice – time where the Sun’s rays are perpendicular to the Earth’s surface and furthest North or South.
subduction – process where one tectonic plate moves under another tectonic plate
tornado – a localized vortex of rotating winds
tsunami – a large wave formed from the sudden movement caused by an earthquake, landslide or any other underwater disturbance
waning – description of the phases of the moon as the bright visible part passes from full moon to new moon
waxing – description of the phases of the moon as the bright visible part passes from new moon to full moon