Earth as a System
Name 4 parts of the earth
Geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere
Name the three enormous forces that occur at the plate boundaries.
Mountains form, earthquakes, volcanoes erupt.
Define volcanoes
Mountains built from magma, or melted rock that rises from earth's interior
If volcanic eruption adds gas to the atmosphere, what do vehicles do?
add and remove gases
How many layers are in the atmosphere?
4
Atmosphere is a mixture of _____, hydrosphere contains _____, and biosphere is where what exists?
gases, water, all life
Name the six major tectonic plates:
Pacific, North American, South American, African, Eurasian, Antartic
Name two global effects that volcanic eruptions have.
Change the earth's climate for several years and reduces sunlight to the earth's surface causing a drop in temperature.
What is the composition of the atmosphere?
78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% other
What is the coldest layer in the atmosphere?
mesosphere
What 2 things determines the layers and substances within the earth?
speed and direction of seismic waves
True or false: Tectonic plates are always moving.
True
Define erosion
The removal and transport of surface material
The earth's atmosphere is pulled toward the earth's surface by what?
gravity
What layer is closest to the earth's surface where all weather conditions occur?
troposphere
Name the three layers of the earth's composition.
crust, mantle, core
What are earthquakes caused by?
vibrations of the earth's crust
Where does wind erosion occur most commonly?
Where there are few plants
Why is it harder to breathe at higher elevations?
the air is less dense
Which layer is farthest from the earth's surface?
thermosphere
Name the five layers of the earth's structure.
lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer core, inner core
Where do the majority of earthquakes occur?
By the tectonic plate boundaries
True or false: water erosion does not occur in oceans.
False
The gases around the earth are known as what?
atmosphere
In the stratosphere, what protects us from being exposed to UV radiation?
ozone layer