Earth's Systems
Changing Earth's Surface
Climate Factors
Landforms and Tectonics
Sun, Tundra and GIS
100

This Earth system includes oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams.

Hydrosphere

100

This process breaks rocks into smaller pieces

Weathering

100

This is a location's distance north or south of the Equator

Latitude

100

This is the movement of Earth's large crustal plates

Plate tectonics

100

Very cold temperatures and little precipitation are two major characteristics of this biome

Tundra

200

Rocks, soil, and Earth's solid land are part of this system.

Lithosphere

200

This process moves weathered material from one location to another

Erosion

200

As this increases, temperature generally decreases.

Elevation

200

Sediment builds up where a river enters a larger body of water, creating this landform

Delta

200

This frozen ground is commonly associated with tundra

Permafrost 

300

Plants, animals, and people are all part of this Earth system

Biosphere

300

These three natural forces can move sediment and cause erosion

Water, wind, and ice

300

These heat and cool more slowly than land, helping nearby locations have less extreme temperatures.

Large bodies of water

300

Mountains, rift valleys, and these deep underwater features can be created by plate movement 

Ocean trenches

300

This feature of Earth causes the hemispheres to receive different amounts of solar energy throughout the year.

Earth's tilt

400

A hurricane causes part of a beach to wash away. What Earth system is being directly affected?

Lithosphere

400

This happens when transported sediment is dropped or settles.

Deposition

400

These physical features can act as barriers to moving air and affect precipitation patterns.

Mountains 

400

This is the part of a river where it enters a larger body of water and where a delta may form

Mouth of a river

400

This technology organizes geographic data into different layers so information can be compared

GIS (Geographic Information System)

500

Saltwater from a storm enters a freshwater lake. This Earth system is being directly affected.

Hydrosphere

500

Waves repeatedly carry sand and pieces of rock away from an island's shoreline. Over time, the island becomes smaller. This process is responsible. 

Erosion

500

Two cities are at about the same latitude, but one is near an ocean and has less extreme temperature changes. This climate factor helps explain the difference.

Proximity to water

500

These islands are associated with continental crust and tectonic plate movement

Continental islands 

500

Officials display GIS layers showing roads, population, and flood-prone areas. Comparing the layers allows them to see patterns and do this

Make informed decisions