Cosmic History
This theory explains the origin of the universe approximately 13.8 billion years ago. This theory states the universe is expanding
What is the Big Bang Theory?
These tectonic boundaries create mountains when two continental plates collide.
What are convergent boundaries?
This human activity is the largest contributor to global carbon emissions
What is burning fossil fuels?
This method uses radioactive isotopes to determine the absolute age of rocks and fossils.
What is radiometric dating?
This cycle describes the continuous movement of water above, on, and below Earth’s surface.
What is the water cycle?
One way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is by using this type of renewable energy.
What is solar (or wind, or hydroelectric) power?
Evidence for plate tectonics and Earth’s early history can be found in these patterns of seafloor spreading.
What are magnetic stripes on the ocean floor?
Fossil fuel burning adds CO₂ to this crucial atmospheric process that regulates Earth's temperature. How does an increase in CO₂ impact the temperature?
It increases the global temperature
This term refers to the overall increase in Earth’s average temperature due to human activity.
What is global warming?
This process describes how elements heavier than hydrogen are formed in stars.
What is nuclear fusion?
These feedback mechanisms in Earth’s climate system can amplify or dampen changes, such as the melting of polar ice.
What are positive and negative feedback loops?
Deforestation affects this Earth system by reducing carbon uptake.
What is the biosphere?
These types of stars end their lives in massive explosions called supernovae, dispersing heavy elements into space.
After a major hurricane makes landfall, floodwaters carry fertilizer from nearby farms into coastal bays, causing a large algal bloom that kills fish and disrupts local ecosystems. Which two Earth systems are primarily interacting in this scenario?
What are the hydrosphere and the biosphere?
The widespread burning of fossil fuels for transportation and industry has led to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, contributing to global climate change. This is an example of human impact on which two Earth systems?
What are the atmosphere and the geosphere?