How and why does earth’s lands change? Physical Processes How and why does earth’s lands change?

3 Ways lands change: Erosion Ocean Currents Earthquakes Volcanoes

Erosion (Weathering) With time, rocks and soil break down due to heat, water, ice and pressure, a process known as weathering. Erosion occurs when all the weathered particles fly away or are carried into waterways. Erosion causes rivers and deltas and shapes shorelines around the world. erosion- forces that shape the earth’s surface such as wind, water and ice.

erosion

Ocean currents Ocean currents occur when ocean waters continuously move. They may occur on the surface or in deep water. These currents affects the climate in a region. It can change the temperature and precipitation. ocean currents- The steady flow of ocean water due to wind and gravity.

Ocean currents around the world

Earthquakes The Earth has 7 major plates that affect the physical environmental processes of earth. African Plate Antarctic Plate Eurasian Plate Indo-Australian Plate North American Plate Pacific Plate South American Plate . earthquakes- movement of the earths surface which may form mountains, valleys and folds.

Volcanoes Volcanoes are most common in the Ring of Fire. Volcanoes- Opening in the earth’s crust that allows magma, ash and gases to escape.

Mount Pinatubo, The phillpines 1991 This volcano killed 800 people, left 100,000 homeless and caused half a billion dollars in damage.

These plates are located on the Earth’s mantle and tend to shift in 3 ways causing earthquakes. ---They pull apart ---They slide against each other ---They collide (process which create mountains) Earthquakes cause the Earth to shake so intensely that buildings and bridges fall down and streets and highway may crack causing deaths by the thousands. There are about 8,000 earthquakes a year. These quakes may cause Tsunamis, which are huge waves than rush into the shoreline with great force and may cause deaths too.

Movie Time Click on the hyperlink to watch a two minute video called “How earthquakes work”. Click below in slide show mode and the page opens scroll down and click on play movie http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/earthquake.htm

Do physical processes affect me? YES!!!! Physical processes have a great impact on why people live where they do. People that face big changes in their environment are affected greatly. The weather might change dramatically, or recurrent Earth crust movements might force them to move to another location.