Glaciers,Deserts,Wind; Earth's Interior, Earthquakes, Volcanos and other activity - Assignment Example

The Earth Order No. 600598 Glaciers - Glaciers are huge bodies of ice which are formed in regions that are very cold and where there is snowfall. In some places the temperature is so low that the snow does not melt and so hardens and turns into ice. The continuous falling and precipitating of the snow results in huge glaciers that grows in size as the snow falls. The formation of huge glaciers takes a very long time, which may be hundreds or thousands of years. There are two types of glaciers -1) Continental Glaciers spreads over large land masses, and 2) Alpine or Mountain Glaciers which form in mountainous regions and are much smaller in size when compared to the Continental glaciers.

DesertsDesserts are large expanses of land that receive less than 25cm of rainfall each year. Desserts are very dry regions and comprise of sand, sand dunes, snow, snowdrifts and cacti and other plants suited to adapt themselves and grow in such dry areas where water is scarce. There are two types of desserts – 1) Hot deserts that experience very hot weather. E.g. The Sahara, and 2) Cold deserts that experience very chill weather, sometimes even below freezing point. The Earth is covered by 33% of desert land.

WindMoving air is called wind. The strongest winds found on a planet in our Solar system are found on planets like Saturn and Neptune. Very strong winds that carry on for a long period of time are called hurricanes, typhoons, tornados or gales. Wind usually moves from high pressure regions to regions of low pressure and thus maintains a balance. If there is a major difference in pressure then it results in storms, cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons. Winds are capable of moving soil especially in the desserts while cold winds could have an adverse effect on livestock.

Earth’s InteriorThe Earth is made up of different layers. It has a solid crust of silicate, a mantle that is viscous in nature and a very hard inner core. The outer layer which is the crust is solid and comprises of silicon, aluminum and oxygen. Below the crust is the mantle which is liquid in nature and mostly made up of oxygen, magnesium and silicon. The core is the innermost layer and comprises of solid ion and nickel with a pressure that ranges between 5000 to 6000 degrees centigrade.EarthquakesThe violent shifting or moving of rocks under the earth’s crust is called an earthquake.

It is also referred to as a tremor of quake and usually occurs for a very brief period of time. Earthquakes occur as a result of energy that is suddenly released from within the earth’s crust creating seismic waves through the Earth. Earthquakes are of two types – huge earthquakes are quite dangerous as they cause heavy damage to both life and property. The study of Earthquakes is called Seismology.Volcanoes and other activityVolcanoes are mountains that erupt when they are active and pour out materials like lava, pieces of rock, steam and gaseous compounds like ash and sulphur.

The top of a volcano is called a crater and it is from here that the magma is spewed out. Volcanoes erupt due to the pressure created and forces itself out through the crater. Volcanoes are formed in two ways – 1) When the tectonic plates move over each other and finally melt creating pressure which builds up and bursts open, and 2) when the tectonic plates rests over a hot spot under the Earth’s crust and builds up pressure till it erupts.ReferencesWindwww.simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/WindDesertwww.simple.wikipedia.

org/wiki/DesertEarthquakewww.simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/EarthquakeGlacierwww.simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/GlacierStructure of the Earthhttp://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure_of_the_EarthVolcanowww.simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcano