Introduction to Earth's Surface Change

Introduction to Earth's Surface Change

• Earth's surface is composed of continents (29%) and oceans (71%)
• Features on land include plains, plateaus, hills, mountains, river valleys, deserts, and coastal plains
• Ocean features include submerged plateaus, plains, ridges, trenches, and coral reefs
• These features are a result of processes over long periods of time
• Some processes are exogenic (external forces), while others are endogenic (internal forces)
• Exogenic forces include sun, wind, rainfall, rivers, glaciers, and sea waves
• Endogenic forces include earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
• Plate tectonics is a major endogenic process, causing earthquakes and volcanic activity

Exogenic Factors of Earth's Surface Change

• Exogenic factors operate externally on the earth's surface
• The sun, wind, rain, rivers, glaciers, and sea waves are significant
• Influence varies spatially and temporally
• During ice ages (2 million years ago), glaciers covered extensive areas
• Future global climate change may result in significant glacier activity changes

River Work

• Rivers are significant external agents shaping the Earth's surface
• Rivers operate in tropical and subtropical regions
• River basins form from rivers and tributaries
• River activities include erosion, transportation, and deposition
• Erosion occurs as rivers flow downhill, eroding the surface
• Transportation involves moving materials like sediment via water current
• Deposition occurs as rivers slow, dropping sediments

Wind Work

• Wind is a significant external agent, especially in desert areas
• Wind erosion, transportation, and deposition create diverse features
• Deflation is wind blowing away sand and dust, creating depressions
• Deflation carries sand and dust to other areas
• Deposited material forms sand dunes of varying shapes and sizes

Glacier Work

• Glaciers are important in areas with extremely cold temperatures
• Glaciers include continental glaciers (ice sheets) and mountain/valley glaciers
• Glaciers move slowly down slopes
• Glacier erosion happens through ice movement and transported material
• Glaciers carve U-shaped valleys, forming sharp-peaked mountains
• Glaciers carry debris which can form moraines (types include lateral moraines, ground moraines, medial moraines, and terminal moraines)

Sea-Wave Action

• Oceans cover 71% of the world
• Coastline is the boundary between land and ocean
• Waves erode coasts
• Deposition can form beaches, which are made up of sand or pebbles
• Earthquakes can cause tsunamis (devastating waves)

This quiz explores the various factors affecting Earth's surface, including both exogenic and endogenic processes. It covers land and ocean features formed by these processes over geological time. Test your knowledge on how elements like tectonics, weather, and erosion shape our planet.