L2 Scales of Change on Earth’s Surface

L2 Scales of Change on Earth’s Surface

How does Earth’s surface change through time?

Observing PhenomenaWhat is happening?

Large amounts of ice are

falling off a glacier.

From the information

available in the video, how

would you explain the way

Earth’s processes are

working?

The process of ice falling

from a glacier involves water

that is frozen and liquid, and

those are both components

of the hydrosphere.

Based on the video, how fast

does this process occur?

It takes only a few seconds.

Observing Phenomena

To understand why this glacier is breaking apart, it is also important to think about size.How large is the phenomenon shown in the video? Larger than a human

Observing Phenomena

Phenomenon: Ice breaks off a glacier and falls into the ocean.What questions do you have about this phenomenon?

Introduction p23

Look at this photo of a mountainous landscape.

What do you think this scene looked like millions of years ago?

No doubt it looked very different.

How do we know?

Because the changes that are happening to the mountain right now have been going on for millions of years.

What changes are taking place in this landscape?

How can ice, moving water, and wind cause these changes?

Introduction p23

You have learned that you are living on Earth’s outermost layer, the solid crust.

But just how solid is the crust?

At first glance it may seem that the ground is stable and that rocks do not change.

But look closely.

You will see large rocks that have broken down into smaller rocks.

Over time, those small rocks will break down into smaller and smaller pieces, until eventually they become grains of sand light enough to be picked up and carried by the wind.

Where do those wind-blown grains end up, and how does their transport change the landscape?

Introduction p23

In this lesson, you will learn about a few of the processes that change Earth’s surface.

You will see that changes to Earth’s surface occur at different scales of space and time.

Some are microscopic, while others occur on a global scale. Likewise, some changes can happen in a fraction of a second, while others take place over billions of years.

You will also see that the same processes that shaped the landscape in this photo are at work everywhere, and have occurred throughout Earth’s history.

1. Small and Large Changes on Earth’s Surface p24-25

Changes on a Small Scale

Change on Earth can happen at all scales: from microscopic changes to changes that affect the entire planet.

Scientists study changes on Earth’s surface at different scales to understand the processes that have shaped its features.

Small-scale changes can be caused by living organisms, wind, water, ice, gravity, and chemical reactions.These are all factors that cause weathering, erosion, and deposition of rock material.Footprints and ripples in sand are examples of small-scale changes.

Changes on a Small ScaleWeathering is the breakdown of rockon Earth’s surface.

Just as the beetle and other organisms can break down rock, so can water, ice, wind, and gravity.

Weathering is what caused sand to form in the first place millions of years ago.

Over time, rock material breaks into smaller pieces that can be moved.

Erosion is the removal of rock material by wind, water, ice, or gravity.

The rock material can be deposited or moved to a new location.

Deposition is the accumulation of eroded rock material that has been transported from another location.

1. Small and Large Changes on Earth’s Surface

https://www.parkcityprep.org/apps/video/watch.jsp?v=172918

Use the video add to your notes



Many Small Changes Add Up to Large Changes on Earth’s surfaceJust as sand ripples are formed by erosion and deposition, sand dunes are also formed by erosion and deposition—in this case, on a much larger scale.

Weathering, erosion, and deposition cause many small changes that, over time, can lead to large changes that shape Earth’s surface.

Rock that comes in contact with water, ice, wind, and organisms is broken down into smaller material and transported and deposited at different locations.

These interactions, whether they happen on a small scale or a large scale, result in constant changes that have shaped and will continue to shape Earth’s surface.


At scales ranging from microscopic to global, Earth’s surface is constantly changing.Small changes can eventually lead to big changes.The sand that makes up the Namib Desert in these pictures was once solid rock that broke down over time.

1. Add notes and arrows to the two images to indicate small-scale changes that can lead to large-

scale changes. Label your pictures with these words: weathering, erosion, and deposition.


2. Slow and Fast Changes on Earth’s SurfaceChanges That Happen Slowly

Earth processes operate on all scales of time, from billions of years to a fraction of a second.

Slow changes of Earth’s surface include the movement of the continents, uplift, weathering, erosion, and deposition.

Read P26-27Add to your vocabulary/notes for Section 2Answer Sec 2 #1 question (Chart)

Changes That Happen Slowly

It has taken billions of years for the continents to assume their current shapes and positions.

You cannot feel it, but the continents are still moving and changing shape—at a rate of about one to three centimeters per year.

The second picture shows the result of uplift, which is the upward movement of large areas of Earth’s crust caused by forces deep beneath the surface.

Uplift can take place over the course of 100 million years and causes mountain ranges to form.

2. Slow and Fast Changes on Earth’s Surface

Continents - billions of years

Changes That Happen SlowlySandstone formation

Formations like this can take millions of years to form. Sand is transported by water or wind and settles in layers. Over time, more materials are deposited on top of the layers of sand. The weight of these materials causes the sand layers to become cemented together (to compact and eventually harden) into sandstone.

Cave formation

Most caves form when water comes into contact with limestone. A chemical reaction between the water and limestone causes the limestone to slowly dissolve into the water. Over hundreds of thousands of years, this chemical weathering removes the limestone to form a cave.


Changes That Happen Fast

Gradual changes that occur from weathering, erosion, deposition, and uplift can be interrupted by sudden, catastrophic events.

Thousands, millions, or even billions of years may pass between such events, but when they occur, Earth’s surface can change quickly and dramatically.



One event that occurs suddenly is a volcanic eruption.

Volcanic eruptions happen when magma is forced up to Earth’s surface through an opening called a vent.

Once it reaches the surface, the molten rock, or lava, flows over the surrounding land.

This can dramatically change the landscape for many kilometers around the volcano.

While some eruptions can last for several weeks, they are the result of many slow changes beneath Earth’s surface over a long period of time.

Changes That Happen FastAn asteroid collision is another catastrophic event that occurs suddenly on Earth.An asteroid is a large, mountain-sized chunk of rock that is in orbit around the sun.It might be in orbit around the sun for billions of years before colliding with Earth.An asteroid collision is a powerful force, like the explosion of a bomb.On impact, it creates a huge crater on Earth’s surface.The impact ejects a large amount of dust into the atmosphere—enough to block sunlight.The decrease in sunlight causes a global decrease in temperature that can last from several days to several years.



A flash flood can happen without warning but only lasts for several hours.Flash floods are caused by heavy rainfall over a very short period of time.Even though these events are short lived, they often have a big impact on Earth’s surface.



A landslide occurs all of a sudden and causes destruction similar to that of flash floods.Landslides and flash floods happen when events like heavy rainfall and earthquakes make unstable ground move. Landslides may last only a few minutes, but the results can be devastating.


2. In the chart below, list three slow and three fast changes.


Continent movement (3 cm per year)

Mountain ranges form (100’s of millions of years)

Sandstone formation (millions of years)

Cave formation (100’s of thousands of years)

Volcanic Eruption (weeks)Asteroid Collision (Days)Flash Flood (hours)Landslide (minutes)

INVESTIGATION 1

IDENTIFYING THE SIZE AND RATE OF EARTH’S PROCESSES

In addition to identifying the size of a phenomenon, you can use size to compare two or more

phenomena.

For example, here are three everyday phenomena.

How should you order these phenomena according to their size?

INVESTIGATION 1


The flow of red blood cells is necessary for the human body to function.

Red blood cells bring oxygen to muscles, allowing arms and legs to move.

So, there is a very strong cause and effect relationship between the flow

of red blood cells and a human getting ready for school!

In science, a relationship means that two or more phenomena are connected by some kind of cause and effect. The sizes of the phenomena give you clues about the ways they are related.How could red blood cells flowing in a human body be related to a human getting ready for school?

INVESTIGATION 1


Probably not, unless that person was very, very important! Therefore, there isn’t a very strong relationship between those two processes.

Sometimes, there isn’t a strong cause and effect relationship between phenomena.Would changes in the flow of one person’s blood cells affect all of the people working in the U.S.?

INVESTIGATION 1


Since thinking about and comparing size is so important, scientists talk a lot about scale.A scale is a way to measure and compare things. Creating a graphic like the one below is a way of making a scale.

INVESTIGATION 1


Discuss where these phenomena it would go on this scale.Put the letter of the image in the box

INVESTIGATION 1


In science, sometimes the term “scale” is used to explain the size of an object in relation to a similar object.For instance, you could say a doorway is “human scale” because it is roughly the size of a person (1 m, or 1/1000 km).What is an example of something at a regional scale?

a state, area of a country, ectWhat is an example of something at a microscopic scale?

a cell, bacteria

INVESTIGATION 1


Scales can be used to describe the rate or duration of a phenomenon.How would you order these phenomena?

INVESTIGATION 1


What could be a relationship between lightning striking a mountain and the formation of Earth and the moon? Use the information in the images to construct your answer.

Sample response: Earth would have to

form before lightning could strike the mountain on Earth.

INVESTIGATION 1


Here are some additional phenomena.Discuss in your groups and then as a class: Where would you place these on the scale?

A B E

E A B

INVESTIGATION 1


Here are some time labels.Where would you place these on the scale?

INVESTIGATION 1


How might phenomena on a relatively small-scale cause events that occur on a relatively large scale?

Construct an explanation Sample response: Weather events like a

storm can cause spring floods. Floods can

cause rivers to carve their banks and change direction.

INVESTIGATION 1


Wrap UpIs there a relationship between the global process of seasons and the human-scale phenomenon of getting up for school?A change in the seasons might mean it was darker when you would normally get up. A change in the seasons might make it colder when you would normally get up.What is a small phenomenon that doesn’t have a relationship to a much larger phenomenon?Sometimes an individual student doesn’t get up for school, but the seasons don’t change when that happens. Even when an individual student gets up and goes to school regularly for many days the seasons still change.

https://pmm.nasa.gov/education/videos/size-matters-measuring-raindrop-sizes-space

Wrap UpHow can a process be very large and very fast?A large object like a meteor can strike the Earth.How can a process be very large and very slow?The movement of continents occurs very slowly.Do all Earth processes occur on similar space and time scales?No, Earth’s processes occur on a wide range of scales.How did you know where to place each process on its scale of time or size?Sometimes there were clues in the videos, but for other processes, one can rely on the assumption that these processes occur similarly wherever they are on Earth or in Earth's history.

Investigation 3: Comparing the Size and Rate of Earth's Processes

Investigation 2: Scales of Change During Crystallization

These images come from a class investigation modeling the formation of minerals on Earth's surface. What do you notice about the crystals?On Day 1 the crystals at the bottom of the formation are about the same size as those near the top, but on Day 2 they are much larger than the others.What could these observations tell you about crystallization?Crystals form in rocks and on Earth’s surface. The formation of crystals is a change on Earth’s surface. Their formation shows how things can change shape and size over time.


How can a classroom model of crystallization tell you about the scale of the natural process of crystallization?The classroom model acts as a small-scale model of the process of natural crystallization, so through the model you can determine the approximate speed of crystallization.


Exploring Scales of Time and Space in Crystallization1. Get into groups of three. 2. Attach a small weight to the string.3. Hold the length of thread (with the weight attached) to the center of the jar lid4. Trim the thread so that it will hang suspended in the jar without touching the bottom or

sides. 5. Attach a length of thread (with the weight attached) to the center of the jar lid with a

drop of Superglue. 6. Place a single piece of electrical tape over the glue and thread.7. Use a permanent marker to label the sticker on your jar with your table number.8. Obtain 300mL of sodium borate solution from your teacher. Pour the solution into the

jar.9. Close the jar with the lid. Record your observations in your notebook’s Crystal Growth

Data Table under “Day 0".10. Over the next few days you will observe the changes in your jar and record your

observations in your notebook. Complete your observations and answer the questions in your notebook. Be ready to discuss your answers with the class.


Exploring Scales of Time and Space in Crystallization1. Get into groups of three. 2. Attach a small weight to the string.3. Hold the length of thread (with the weight attached) to the center of the jar lid4. Trim the thread so that it will hang suspended in the jar without touching the bottom or

sides. 5. Attach a length of thread (with the weight attached) to the center of the jar lid with a

drop of Superglue. 6. Place a single piece of electrical tape over the glue and thread.7. Use a permanent marker to label the sticker on your jar with your table number.8. Obtain 300mL of sodium borate solution from your teacher. Pour the solution into the

jar.9. Close the jar with the lid. Record your observations in your notebook’s Crystal Growth

Data Table under “Day 0".10. Over the next few days you will observe the changes in your jar and record your

observations in your notebook. Complete your observations and answer the questions in your notebook. Be ready to discuss your answers with the class.


Exploring Scales of Time and Space in CrystallizationWrap Up1) In what scale of space is this growth of crystals occurring?This crystal growth occurs in the scale of millimeters and centimeters (larger than microscopic but smaller then a human), within the size of the jar. Some of the crystal growth growth occurs along the length of the string. Other growth occurs on the bottom and sides of the jar.2) On what scale of time does this crystal growth occur?This growth occurs over hours and days.3) Were your predictions from the beginning of the investigation accurate? Why or why not? Explain your answer.Answers will vary on this one….as long as you compare what actually happened with you crystal and compare it to what you wrote for #1 & 24) How is your model similar to processes on Earth's surface?The process of crystallization also takes place on Earth's surface. Crystals form the minerals from which many types of rocks are made.

1. Changes to Earth’s surface occur at different rates of time. Read the list of events that result in changes to

Earth’s surface. Place these events on the scale provided to show change from slowest to fastest. Write a caption

explaining how you placed these event in this order.

• cave formation along a coastline due to wave action

• asteroid strike forming a crater in a field

• mountain uplifting as tectonic plates collide

• flooding as the result of a dam bursting

• raindrops weathering sedimentary rock

• sedimentary stone formation underneath sand dunes

2. The images show examples of changes to Earth’s surface. Write two paragraphs, each discussing the four

examples. (DO ON SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER)

• In the first paragraph, make a claim explaining how & why you would order the examples on a spatial space

scale from smallest to largest.

• In the second paragraph, explain how & why you would order the examples on a time scale from least amount

of time to the greatest amount of time.

• Be sure to include evidence and scientific reasoning to support your claims.

Hoodoos: tall pillar of rock usually with a cap at the topForm by the processes of weathering and erosion. The rock at the top is more resistant to weathering than the rock below. Can take Millions of years to form.

Sec 3. Patterns of Change p30 These formations may appear stable because the changes that are happening are too small and too slow to observe in such a short period of time.At some point, a pillar will become so thin that it can no longer support the boulder on top, and the boulder will topple to the ground.All those small, slow changes will have added up to one big, sudden change that is hard to miss.

These similar formations provide evidence that the same natural processes—in this case, weathering and erosion—act the same way everywhere on Earth.Water, wind, and gravity break down rocks into smaller and smaller pieces and transport them to new locations.These processes shape and change Earth’s surface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf-Pv_EToRk

Uniformitarianism is the idea that any natural processes we can observe today happened in the same way in the past and will also happen in the same way in the future.Principle - foundation for a system of beliefThe same processes happen in different places and the same way across time.Ex: gravity’s role in weathering, erosion, and deposition is the same today as it was billions of years ago, and it will continue to be this way in the future as well.“observing the present is the key to understanding the past.”

Sec 3. Patterns of Change p30

This stone arch formed as wind, water, and gravity acted over long periods of time to weather and erode the rock below it.The rock is still eroding today, and will continue to do so in the future.In the distant future, the arch will collapse completely.

https://study.com/academy/lesson/uniformitarianism-definition-principles-examples.html



1. The rock formations above are called hoodoos. How do the processes of weathering and erosion form hoodoos?

Water and wind break down a layer of soft rock over time through weathering. Some pieces of rock are harder and more resistant to weathering than others. The soft rock under and around the hard sections (on top) is eroded faster than the harder rocks.

2. How do these hoodoos demonstrate the idea of uniformitarianism?These 3 hoodoos formed at different places all over earth and at different times.Uniformitarianism is the idea that natural processes happened in the same way in the past. These hoodoos show that the same processes happened at different places around Earth to form similar rock formations

3. Patterns of Change

3. Below is an aerial view of the mouth of a river as it meets with a larger body of water. Notice the tan-colored

sediments in the river and along the shoreline. Based on your understanding of how Earth’s surface changes, explain the

phenomenon.

Write a paragraph, including:

• where these sediments may have come from.

• how they got to the mouth of the river.

• what will happen to the sediments once they reach the mouth of the river.

4. You recently watched a heavy rainfall occur while camping near a river. Based on

what you’ve learned about

changes to Earth’s surface, write a journal entry about what you’ve observed after the

rainfall. Use words from the Word Bank in your writing.

WORD BANK

deposition

erosion

uniformity/uniformitarianism

weathering

L2 Scales of Change on Earth’s Surface

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