tellurische

Tellurische is a German adjective that derives from Tellur (and ultimately from the Latin tellus, “earth”) or from the element tellurium. The exact sense of the word depends on the field of discourse. In general usage it can mean “pertaining to the Earth” or “pertaining to tellurium,” with distinctions made by context.

In science, tellurische is often used in two main ways. In astronomy and spectroscopy, tellurische Linien (telluric lines) are absorption features in astronomical spectra caused by the Earth's atmosphere. These lines arise from molecules such as water vapor and molecular oxygen in the atmosphere and can distort celestial signals observed from the ground. To obtain intrinsic spectra, astronomers apply telluric correction, modeling or removing these atmospheric features.

In chemistry and mineralogy, tellurische Verbindungen or tellurische Verbindungen describe compounds that contain tellurium. This usage is common in discussions of tellurium-containing minerals (tellurides) and related chemical species. The term helps distinguish tellurium-bearing compounds from those of other elements.

In a broader, geoscientific sense, tellurisch can also denote Earth-related or terrestrial phenomena, as opposed to lunar or extraterrestrial ones. For example, tellurische Prozesse may refer to geological or surface processes occurring on Earth.

Compared with English, telluric is the corresponding adjective in many technical contexts. When translating tellurische into English, choices include telluric (relating to tellurium or the Earth) or terrestrial (Earth-related), depending on the precise sense and discipline.