Earth Systems Interactions

A forest fire was caused by a lightning strike in Split Oak Forest. Which of the following statements is a possible interaction of two spheres after the forest fire was extinguished?

• The birds in the forest have more nesting sites in trees.

• The river provides water for the local plant and animal life

• A glacier changes the local landscape by breaking up the rocks.

• The loss of plant life causes the land to become more vulnerable to erosion.

Layla wanted to study the interactions of the Earth’s spheres, so she built a terrarium containing soil, plants and rocks and air.Layla added a piece of ice to the terrarium and sealed it. Which of the following explains a possible interaction as a result of adding the ice?

• The ice (geosphere) would cool the air (cryosphere), and melt over time providing water to the plants (geosphere)

• The ice (cryoshpere) would cool the air (atmosphere), and melt over time providing water to the plants (biosphere)

• The ice (hydrosphere) would cool the air (biosphere), and melt over time providing water to the plants (atmosphere)

• The ice (hydrosphere) would cool the air (atmosphere), and melt over time providing water to the plants (biosphere)

When plants and animals decompose, they release nutrients into the soil. The nutrients in the soil help future plants grow. Which of Earth's spheres are interacting?

• biosphere and geosphere

• atmosphere and biosphere

• biosphere and hydrosphere

• atmosphere and geosphere

Which description below is an example of an interaction between the geosphere and hydrosphere?

• Humans build a dam out of rock materials.

• Plants take in carbon dioxide in and release oxygen

• Ocean waves break on the shore, eroding rocks and sand.

• Evaporation occurs from lakes and rivers eventually forming precipitation to form.

Which of the following best describes an interaction between the cryosphere and hydrosphere?

• evaporation of water from the ocean near the equator

• decomposition of matter in the ocean which settles at the bottom

• melting of icebergs causing a release of fresh water into the oceans

• release of large amounts of salt into the oceans from melting icebergs

In order to gather warmth, alligators can often be found lying on the grassy banks of lakes during the daylight hours to regulate their body temperature. How is heat transferred to the alligator?

• Heat from the Sun is transferred to the alligator through radiation.

• Heat from the grassy bank is transferred to the alligator through radiation.

• The warm air near the lake transfers heat to the alligator through convection.

• The warm water of the lake transfers heat to the alligator through conduction.

On a hot summer day, Kaylie sees heat waves coming off of the ground. Which statement explains what Kaylie saw?

• The land first absorbs the Sun’s radiation and then heats up the air directly above it through conduction.

• The land first absorbs the Sun’s radiation and then heats up the air directly above it through convection.

• The land first absorbs the Sun’s heat through convection and then heats up the air directly above it through radiation.

• The land first absorbs the Sun’s heat through conduction and then heats up their air directly above it through convection.

Which statement below explains how heat is being transferred between the cryosphere and hydrosphere?

• By the method of melting.

• By the method of radiation.

• By the method of convection.

• By the method of evaporation.

Which of the following statements best explains what you would experience when sitting on the land during the day?

• The sea breeze brings cool, dry air and replaces the rising warm air over the land.

• The sea breeze brings warm, dry air and replaces the rising cool air over the land.

• The sea breeze brings cool, moist air and replaces the rising warm air over the land

• The sea breeze brings warm, moist air and replaces the rising cool air over the land.

A sea breeze forms during the day and a land breeze forms at night.Which statement explains why wind direction changes from day to night?

• The land quickly heats up during the day and stays warm at night.

• The water quickly heats up during the day and stays warm at night

• The land quickly heats up during the day and the water stays warmer at night.

• The water quickly heats up during the day and the land stays warmer at night.