Author Question: Changes in one part of the Earth system can influence processes in other parts of the system. ... (Read 155 times)

deesands · **on:** Jul 16, 2018

Changes in one part of the Earth system can influence processes in other parts of the system. Sometimes these changes can be minor, but sometimes they can be severe. How might a change in the hydrosphere affect the geosphere and the biosphere?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the doctrine of catastrophism was used to describe how the Earth had been shaped quickly by fast, violent catastrophes and was therefore very young.

In the eighteenth century, James Hutton developed the principle of uniformitarianism, which stated that the Earth was shaped by small, gradual changes occurring over a long period of time, making the Earth much older. Which view (if either) is correct, and why?
What will be an ideal response?

lkanara2 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 16, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: A decrease in the amount of precipitation would affect the biosphere through drought and climate change. The geosphere would be affected because there would be less water for weathering and erosion of sediments.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: The Earth is shaped by catastrophic events such as earthquakes and floods, which cause major changes in a short period of time. However, the Earth is also shaped by small, gradual changes such as stream deposition and weathering, which may only show measurable change after several decades or centuries. In reality, both views are correct.