Earth and Maps
Why is the Earth magnetic?
because of its molten iron core
Where does a river begin?
A river begins inland (often at higher elevations) and flows into a lake, sea, or ocean.
Where are glaciers found?
Glaciers can be found in mountains, in arctic regions, and near the poles.
What role do plants and animals play within the carbon cycle?
Plants take in carbon dioxide and animals produce it.
How are the boundaries of biomes determined?
They are determined by variations in climate.
Why do tectonic plates move?
because they float on top of the mantle which is moving due to convection currents within the molten mantle
When a river slows down what does it often deposit first?
Rivers deposit heavier materials first.
What evidence shows the past existence of a glacier within a valley?
The presence of deep, round U-shaped valley's and moraine hills
Does pollution have an effect on the natural cycles?
Pollution creates imbalances within ecosystems and greatly effects natural cycles.
What is a community?
A community is a group of plants and animals that live together in mutually beneficial relationships.
What method allows a cartographer to create the most accurate map?
What method to cartographers use to make flat maps?
Satellites help produce the most accurate maps of the Earth
Cartographers use projections to create flat maps.
How much salt water covers the Earth's surface?
What creates ocean tides?
Over two-thirds of the Earth's surface is covered with salt water.
The gravitational pull of the Moon creates ocean tides.
Describe how glaciers form.
Glaciers begin in high, cold places, such as mountains. Layers of fallen snow compact into hard ice. More snow falls onto of the ice which causes the ice mass to get heavier and to move down the mountain. As it moves it begins to melt and brings material from the mountain down with it.
Describe the water cycle.
Water falls as rain (precipitation). It drains into rivers and streams and flows out to sea (collection). The sun heats up the water, forming vapor (evaporation). This rises up and condenses to form clouds (condensation). Once the clouds become heavy with water and the cycle begins again.
What is a biome?
A region of the Earth that contains unique plants and animals and is characterized by a distinct climate.
Label a map with the Arctic Circle, Prime Meridian, Equator, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, and North and South Pole
Describe the course of a river.
A river begins in the mountains and flows downhill.
Small streams or tributaries join into the main river.
As the land levels the river slows and begins to meander and form large loops.
Eventually the river widens into an estuary or delta before it reaches the sea.
Define erratics.
Large boulders that have been deposited away from their source by a glacier.
Define natural cycle.
The exchange of essential elements, such as nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen.
What are the 6 major biomes?
Arctic, Desert, Grassland, Rainforest, Taiga, and Tundra
What are the three main layers of the Earth?
Crust - the thinnest layer which floats over the layers below
Mantle - solid upper layer which consists of mostly dense silicate rock
Core - Extremely hot, consists of molten rock and is made from iron and nickel.
Describe how currents work in the ocean.
Warm water around the tropics moves northward where it cools and sinks. The cooler water circulates back toward the south. This creates large circular currents called gyres.
Define moraine.
Rock, clay, sand and other debris left by a glacier at the valley floor.
Define greenhouse gas.
Any gas that traps heat from the sun, such as carbon dioxide.
What is the difference between a habitat and a biome?
A biome is a larger region with a distinct climate, which includes several smaller habitats. A habitat is an area where a given organism lives.