Earth Systems Study Guide
Name:________________________
Test Date: ____________________
1. DEFINE:
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Weathering—process that breaks down rock & other substances at Earth’s surface
Erosion— movement of weathered material from one place to another
Deposition—laying down sediment in a new location
2. What is the difference between mechanical and chemical weathering?
Mechanical—physically breaks rock into smaller pieces / Chemical—chemically changes the minerals that make up the rock
3. LABEL each term mechanical or chemical. EXPLAIN how each causes weathering.
Abrasion— grinding away of rock by other rock particles in water, ice, wind, or gravity
Ice wedging— water freezes & expands, prying open cracks in rocks
Oxidation— oxygen reacts with iron in some rocks (rusting)
Carbonic acid— carbon dioxide and water make carbonic acid that reacts with marble & limestone in some rocks
4. EXPLAIN how mechanical and chemical weathering are BOTH affected by:
Plants— mechanical—roots pry cracks open; chemical—roots produce acids that dissolve some minerals
Water— mechanical—carries rock particles that cause abrasion; chemical—dissolves minerals
5. EXPLAIN how climate affects the rate of weathering:
Temperature— rocks break down faster in hotter climates
Amount of precipitation (rain, etc.)— rocks break down faster in wetter climates
6. What is the #1 agent of erosion? water
7. NAME and DESCRIBE the 4 types of mass movement.
Landslide—rock & soil quickly slide down a slope
Mudflow—water, rock & soil slide down a slope
Slump—one large mass of rock suddenly breaks off
Creep—very slow downhill movement of rock & soil
8. What was the Dust Bowl? A long period of drought in the early 1900s; winds eroded much soil
What caused the Dust Bowl? Poor plowing methods & a long period without rain allowed soil to dry up
9. How can plants help prevent soil erosion? Plants hold the soil in place, preventing it from being carried away
10. EXPLAIN how these plowing methods prevent erosion:
Contour plowing— plowing along the curves of a slope; prevents rain water from carrying soil away
Conservation plowing— disturbing soil & plant cover as little as possible; plants hold soil in place
11. What is soil conservation? Why is it important? Management of soil to prevent its destruction
Soil is a natural resource that we depend on, so it needs to be conserved.
12. DEFINE natural hazards. Give 5 examples. (Tornado, tsunami, hurricane, flood, drought, etc.)
Event that results from Earth processes & that can cause damage & endanger human life
13. EXPLAIN the effects of catastrophic events that happen:
Inside Earth (volcano, earthquake)— change Earth’s crust
At Earth’s surface (hurricane, tornado, etc.)— speed up erosion & deposition
14. EXPLAIN how each natural hazard affects weathering, erosion, and deposition:
Tornado— debris causes abrasion of structures; tornado picks up items & deposits them in a new location
Hurricane— wind & water from the storm cause abrasion and erode sediment
Flood— water causes abrasion & erodes land; flood water deposit sediment in a new location
Drought— wind can carry soil to a new location
15. LIST 2 human activities that can:
Increase the damage of natural hazards— building in floodplains (flood), cutting down forests (landslide)
Decrease the damage of natural hazards— boarding up windows (hurricane), conserving water (drought)
16. DEFINE and give EXAMPLES of:
Natural resources— any living or non-living thing in the environment that is used by humans
Renewable resource— can be naturally replaced in a short amount of time
Nonrenewable resource— cannot be replaced as they are used
Inexhaustible resource— supply is almost unlimited
17. How can a renewable resource run out? Give an example. Renewable resources can run out if we misuse
them. Example: A forest can be wiped out if trees are cut down faster than they are replanted.
18. A community is considering cutting down a small forest to build a new neighborhood. DESCRIBE:
2 costs of cutting down the forest— reduce oxygen produced, soil erosion is more likely
2 benefits of cutting down the forest— new homes for families, jobs for construction workers
19.LIST 5 ways humans can reduce their use of natural resources. Recycle bottles & cans, conserve water (don’t leave
the faucet running), set your air conditioner a few degrees higher, buy recycled products, turn out lights when leaving a room, etc.