Name: ___________________________________________ Date: _________ Block: ________
Earth’s Changing Surface & Atmosphere Study Guide
Erosion is… removal and transport of material by wind, water, or ice
o What are the four main agents of erosion? Water, wind, ice, gravity
o Which is the strongest? Water
Weathering is…breaking down rock into smaller in smaller pieces through
mechanical or chemical means
o
o
o
o
o
_Mechanical________ weathering is the physical break down of rocks.
Examples include: Ice (expanding in cracks), plants, wind, water,
gravity, animals
_Chemical__________ weathering is the chemical breakdown of rocks into
new substances.
Examples include: Acids (from living things, rainwater, ground water)
What did our “weathering” lab (antacid tablets and vinegar) show us
about the affect of surface area on weathering? Increased surface area
will result in faster weathering
Deposition is… dropping off of material such as sand, soil or rocks
o
o
What are some examples of landforms that are formed by deposition?
Beaches, sandbars, sand dunes, moraines
What happens if there is MORE deposition than erosion in an area? If
there is LESS deposition than erosion? The area will grow; the area
will shrink
What are the layers of the atmosphere? Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere,
thermosphere, (exosphere/ionosphere)

What happens to the temperature at each layer as altitude (height)
increases?
o Troposphere: temp decreases as altitude increases
o Stratosphere: temp increases as altitude increases
o Mesosphere: temp decreases as altitude increases
o Thermosphere: temp increases as altitude increases

What is the importance of the ozone layer? Absorbs UV radiation from sun and
protects life on earth from this harmful radiation
Name: ___________________________________________ Date: _________ Block: ________
Heat Transfer:
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What are the three ways heat gets transferred in the atmosphere:
o C_onvection________: Transfer of energy by circulation or movement of
a liquid/gas – MOST thermal energy in atmosphere moves this way
o C_onduction_________________: Transfer of energy by direct contact of
two materials
o R_aditation________________: Transfer energy by electromagnetic waves
Does all solar radiation reach the earth? What else happens to it?
No – some is reflected by clouds/air, some is absorbed by clouds, ozone and
gases
What is the greenhouse effect?
Gases in the atmosphere trap thermal energy and heat up the Earth