Earth's Systems

The interaction between the cryosphere and hydrosphere can have an impact on Earth’s oceans.

Which of the following is an example of an interaction between the cryosphere and hydrosphere?

• evaporation of water from oceans at the equator

• release of fresh water into ocean water as icebergs melt

• decomposition of organic matter at the bottom of oceans

• release of large amounts of salt from icebergs into the ocean

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Sandpipers are small birds that frequently nest near the ocean. These birds are part of a group of birds known as "waders" because they like to walk in the water where they find most of their food. How would a change in the hydrosphere most likely affect the biosphere where the sandpipers live?

• excess rains would wash away the dunes and the plants where the birds nest

• higher temperatures would dry out the plants causing the sands to shift

• cooler winds would blow away the sands leaving the plant roots exposed

• 
  rising sea levels would cover the dry beach area

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Hawaii experiences a relatively mild, warm climate.  The climate is the result of the interaction of which part of the atmosphere with the hydrosphere?

• polar global winds that keep the arctic cold for polar bears

• polar jet stream that makes Chicago cold in the winter

• trade winds that bring the cool air from the ocean to the islands

• polar easterlies that blow from the arctic south

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Sandpipers are small birds that frequently nest near the ocean. These birds are part of a group of birds known as "waders" because they like to walk in the water, there they find most of their food. To combat erosion, an environmental group places an artificial reef made of discarded concrete from roads at some distance from the shore.  What is the most likely change to the biosphere where the sandpipers live?

• The food the sandpipers depend on will migrate to another beach

• The dune grasses will spread and crowd out the sandpipers' nesting areas

• Beach erosion will slow and will preserve the biosphere where the sandpipers live

• Small water creatures will thrive because of the artificial reef, causing the sandpipers to overpopulate their local biosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Scientists use fossils found in rock formations as one of hte pieces of evidence to determine the age of the Earth. The illustration shows a cross-section of the rocks found in the Grand Canyon and their approximate ages. Esplanade Sandstone, or layer E, formed by sediment deposits along back beaches from wind transport.  Sand dunes are part of the geosphere.  Which sphere interacts with the geosphere to form sand dunes?

• atmosphere

• cryosphere

• hydrosphere

• biosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

In September of 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida. More than 70% of the state lost power due to the storm, and many streets and the lower levels of homes were filled with water. Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 tropical cyclone.  Hurricanes demonstrate what kind of atmosphere/hydrosphere interaction?

• strong storm surges occurring in the Atlantic Ocean

• evaporation of water from tropical oceans transferring heat to the atmosphere 

• movement of cold waters from west to east along the trade winds

• weak trade winds descending from polar global winds

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

In September of 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida. More than 70% of the state lost power due to the storm, and many streets and the lower levels of homes were filled with water. Based on the diagram, what best describes where Irma originated?

• lithosphere

• biosphere

• atmosphere

• cryosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Amost 2% of Earth's water is located in the polar ice caps. The polar ice caps are the home to many animals, including seals, polar bears, and penguins. Seals warm themselves by lying on the ice in the sunlight. Penguins and polar bears raise their young on the ice and walk on it while hunting for food. How could these changes in the cryosphere directly affect the biosphere of that region?

• loss of ice means fewer hunting grounds for wildlife

• rising sea level will mean more places for animals to swim

• more ice means more places for the plants to grow

• lower sea levels will mean more land will be available

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Amost 2% of Earth's water is located in the polar ice caps. The polar ice caps are the home to many animals, including seals, polar bears, and penguins. Seals warm themselves by lying on the ice in the sunlight. Penguins and polar bears raise their young on the ice and walk on it while hunting for food. If the polar ice caps melt, how will this affect the hydrosphere?

• there will be more lakes

• the deserts will flood

• sea levels will rise

• it will rain less

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4