Physical and Ecological Processes

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Physical and Ecological Processes

• SOL WG.2b

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Plate Tectonics

• The surface of the earth is constantly changing
  due to plate tectonics and erosion and weathering.

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Volcanoes

• Earthquakes and volcanoes can occur anywhere on
  the surface of the earth, including underwater,
  but they are more common at plate boundaries.

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Volcanoes

• Sometimes volcanoes occur far from plate
  boundaries. These areas are called hot spots. A
  good example of a hot spot is the formation of
  the Hawaiian Islands in the middle of the Pacific.

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Volcanoes

• There is an area around the Pacific Ocean where
  many plates come together known as The Ring of
  Fire. This area has many active and dormant
  volcanoes and volcanic eruptions are frequent.

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Volcanoes

• Scientists cannot predict when volcanoes will
  erupt.
• People live near volcanoes because volcanic ash
  is extremely fertile and good for farming.

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Earthquakes

• Earthquakes are more common at plate boundaries.
• The center of an earthquake on the surface of the
  earth is called the epicenter.
• A seismograph is a device that detects if an
  earthquake has occurred.
• The Richter Scale is a scale used for measuring
  the intensity of an earthquake.

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Tsunami

• Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or
  volcanic explosions.
• Tsunamis can be detected with an early warning
  system but not all countries have the money to
  install them.

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An early warning system in the Pacific Ocean.
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Tsunami

• See a tsunami here
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vw9ygYqj4rVM

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Erosion and Weathering

• The surface of the earth is also being formed by
  erosion and weathering.
• Weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces.
• Erosion moves pieces of rock or dirt.

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Review Earth Main Ideas

• The earth is the only habitable planet in the
  solar system.
• The earth consists of a series of shells that
  float on one another.
• The theory of continental drift explains the
  formation of the continents

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Review Bodies of water

• Bodies of Water and Landforms main ideas
• Water covers three-fourths of the earths surface
  and makes life possible.
• The water on earth is continuously circulated
  between the atmosphere, the oceans, and the
  earth.
• The ocean floor and the continents have similar
  landforms.

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Review Earths Internal Forces

• The earths crust consists of a number of
  tectonic plates.
• The movement of the tectonic plates continually
  reshapes the surface of the earth.
• Movement of the plates produces earthquakes and
  volcanoes.

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Review Forces Shaping the Earth

• Weathering and erosion alter the surface of the
  earth.
• Water, wind, and glaciers cause erosion that
  produces a variety of landforms.
• Weathering and erosion help form soil.