How do the geosphere and hydrosphere interact and work together? How do water and dirt work together to support life on Earth? In this episode of Crash Course Kids, Sabrina Cruz explains how rain, waterfalls, rivers, ocean waves, and other kinds of water move across the planet’s landforms.
That movement of water (as well as air, animals, plants, and chemicals) creates changes in the geosphere. In Weathering and Erosion, below, Cruz outlines how rocks break down into smaller pieces and get moved around.
Think of Weathering as the force that makes a mess and Erosion as the force that cleans it up… Examples could include the influence of the ocean on ecosystems, landform shape, and climate; the influence of the atmosphere on landforms and ecosystems through weather and climate; and the influence of mountain ranges on winds and clouds in the atmosphere.
Related reading: Erosion and Weathering at National Geographic and All About the Rock Cycle on Education.com.
Previously from Crash Course Kids: The Four Spheres (Geo, Bio, Hydro, & Atmo) and The Basics of Freshwater + Water, Water, Everywhere?Plus: The Amazing Life of Sand, why is water one of the weirdest things in the universe? and why do rivers curve?
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