Download Rev. 2013 Fast and Slow Changes to Earth`s Surface Volcano – Fast

Rev. 2013
Fast and Slow Changes to Earth’s Surface
Volcano – Fast Change
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A mountain that forms when red-hot melted rock flows through a crack onto the Earth’s
surface. When it erupts it makes quick changes to the Earth’s surface.
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3 Ways they form: 1. When two plates collide
2. Two plates separate
3. When plates move over hot spots in the mantle.
Destructive – when they erupt and cover cities, homes, crop land, forest, and all living things
that surround them. The lava and ashes cause lose of homes, property, human and animal lives,
crops and other food sources. The ash can cover the sky and travel hundreds of miles and
cover the sun’s rays for days. It fills the air and makes breathing difficult. The lava
envelopes everything it comes in contact with and destroys it.
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Helpful - when the lava spreads, cools and hardens the remaining surface becomes new land
for the Earth. If it flows from underwater volcanoes the land formed will be an island. The
new formed land tends to be a very rich or fertile soil for farmers. It is one way the Earth
renews itself. Islands such as the Hawaiian Islands were formed by lava.
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The Ring of Fire is the most active group of volcanoes.
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Igneous rock is formed by the cooling lava.
Earthquake – Fast Change
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They are a vibration or shaking of Earth’s crust.
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Happens when the Earth’s plates move/slide quickly past each other like they are jerked apart
quickly.
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Most occur along faults.
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When it occurs it makes a quick change to the Earth’s surface.
Mountain- Slow Change
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Formed by the moving of the Earth’s plates into each other and the plates wrinkle upward to
form mountains. This is similar to cars crashing head-on into each other in slow motion.
Mountain Building is a slow change in the Earth’s surface.
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Volcanoes are a type of mountain that formed when the plates moved together but one plate
was pushed down below the other plate.
Landslide – Fast Change –
 A swift or rapid downhill movement of large amounts of material such as rocks, soil/land, dirt,
pebbles, and boulders.
 Sometimes these landslides are small, and hardly noticeable. Other times however, they can be
substantial, involving the entire side of a mountain.
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These destructive slides can be triggered by a number of different causes. Often rain, which
adds additional weight to the side of a slope can cause slides. Other times they might be
caused by erosion, as the base of a slope is slowly removed by a stream, weakening the entire
side of the mountain
Tsunami – Fast Change
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Is a series of huge waves that can cause great devastation and loss of life when they strike a
coast. Know as "harbor wave."
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Caused by an underwater earthquake, a volcanic eruption, an sub-marine rockslide, or, more
rarely, by an asteroid or meteoroid crashing into in the water from space.
Hurricane – Fast Change
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a powerful, rotating storm that forms over warm ocean waters.
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Another name for a hurricane is a tropical cyclone and if this type of storm forms in the
western Pacific Ocean, it is called a typhoon.
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Have strong, rotating winds (at least 74 miles per hour, a huge amount of rain, low air
pressure, thunder and lightning.
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rotate in a counterclockwise direction around a central, calm eye
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On land, they bring strong winds, rain, and huge waves that can cause extensive destruction
such as floods, destroyed buildings, homes and communities.
Tornado – Fast change
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Violent, column-like system of rapidly-rotating air that is in contact with the ground. They are
not a tornado until they touch the ground.
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If rotating column of air forms it is a funnel cloud until it touches ground.
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Form in thunderstorms, when unstable hot air near the ground rises and meets cooler air above
in thunder clouds.
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Most tornadoes are funnel-shaped and are usually short-lived (most last for a few minutes).
They can be very destructive and even deadly.
Floods – Fast Change
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A flood results from days of heavy rain and/or melting snows, when rivers rise and go over
their banks.
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A flash flood is sudden flooding that occurs when floodwaters rise rapidly with no warning
within several hours of an intense rain
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Can destroy crops, damage homes and even move them from their foundations, cause water
contamination, and can devastate small towns or communities.
Wildfires – Fast Change
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A wildfire also known as a wildland fire, forest fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, peat fire,
bushfire (in Australia), or hill fire is an uncontrolled fire often occurring in wildland areas.
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Wildfires can occur anywhere, but are common in the forested areas.
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Can also consume houses or agricultural resources/crops and animals.
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Wildfires often begin unnoticed, but they spread quickly igniting brush, trees and homes.
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Common causes of wildfires include lightning, human carelessness, arson, volcano eruption, and
pyroclastic cloud from active volcano. Although, more than four out of every five wildfires are
caused by people.
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Droughts can lead to such dry conditions that enhance the chance of having a wildfire.