Factors Affecting Earth Systems

Vibrations of the Earth's surface that occur when crustal plates slide past each other at transform boundaries.

• tsunamis

• volcanoes

• earthquakes

• tornadoes

If an ecosystem is changed through a catastrophic event, organisms will have the best chance of survival if

• the organisms are large

• the population size is small

• their environment has few abiotic factors

• they can adapt to the new conditions

During the time period that an El Nino is occurring

• the food supply for fish in the region is increased

• there is a build-up of warm water currents off the coast of South America

• the trade winds get stronger and cause a cooling of the surface water of the ocean

• Antarctica will have a dramatic increase in its temperature

La Nina is best characterized by

• warmer than normal current off the coast of South America

• warmer than normal current off the coast of North America

• cooler than normal current off the coast of South America

• cooler than normal current off the coast of North America

The Texas coast is frequently hit by hurricanes. How do hurricanes negatively impact Texas ecosystems?

• the rain can cause flooding

• trees can be uprooted

• habitats can be destroyed

• all of the above

If a large volcano that is on an island erupts, it will impact the local ecosystem. Which of the following is NOT a way the volcano will affect the local ecosystem?

• it will create poor soil for growing crops

• it can affect breathing

• it can contaminate water supplies

• it can produce more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

The process by which sediments are carried away is

• weathering

• erosion

• deposition

• decomposition

The breaking down of rock into smaller pieces is

• weathering

• erosion

• deposition

• decomposition

The process by which sediments are laid down in a new location is

• weathering

• erosion

• deposition

• decomposition

Weathering that changes the chemical composition of rocks is

• chemical

• physical

• mechanical

• deposition