Earth's Systems
Which layer of gases surrounds Earth?
Atmosphere
What is the Earth’s thin outer layer called?
Crust
Which process breaks rocks into smaller pieces?
Weathering
Name the three major landforms.
Mountains, Plains, and Plateaus
Farmers who grow only enough food for their families are called what?
Subsistense farmers
Which system includes all life on Earth?
Biosphere
What molten rock is found in the mantle?
Magma
Which process removes rock material?
Erosion
What type of mountains are the Sierra Nevada Mountains?
Fault-Block Mountains
What are the two major branches of agriculture?
Farming & Animal Husbandry
What are the 4 physical systems of Earth?
Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere
Which two metals likely make up Earth’s core?
Iron and Nickel
What process created fjords?
Glaciation
A group of islands is called what?
Archipelago
Which metal is mined more than any other?
Iron
Which is the solid, rocky part of Earth crust?
Lithosphere
What is the process where heat rises & cools inside the mantle?
Convection
What is the most powerful agent of erosion?
Running water
What do we call rivers that feed other rivers?
Tributary
Cultivation of seafood in controlled environments is called what?
Aquaculture
Which idea claims Earth’s forces operated at the same rate in the past?
Uniformitarianism
The theory that Earth’s plates move, causing earthquakes and volcanoes, is called what?
Plate Tectonics
What deep valleys with steep sides are carved by rivers?
Canyons
What is a strip of land connecting two larger landmasses with water on both sides?
Isthmus
What are the three main types of resources mined by humans?
Metals, Nonmetal minerals, Fossil fuels