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If volcanoes were the only things controlling our atmosphere, the air would be a toxic mix of methane, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide. That's the way it for the first 3 and 1/2 billion years of earth history. However, during the last billion years, organisms in the oceans, soil, and land evolved to use more of these the volcanic gases in their life cycles, and they release oxygen and nitrogen as byproducts. As a result, nitrogen and oxygen came to dominate the air. There are just enough of the "greenhouse" gases left in the air to moderate our global temperature, so it is not too cold (freezing the oceans) nor too warm. That moderation is no accident, but rather it is the result of the very long period of evolution to produce a delicate balance between the actions of the inorganic Earth (especially volcanism) and the reactions of the organic life forms. See the interesting Gaia Theory.
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When geographers look at how volcanoes and glaciers have shaped the face of the earth which of the 6 essential elements of geography are they studying?
environment and society
What are six types of volcanoes?
The six types of volcanoes are shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes (composite volcanoes), cinder cone volcanoes, supervolcanoes, submarine volcanoes, and fissure vents. Each type of volcano is characterized by different eruption styles, shapes, and compositions.
Do volcanoes only erupt on earth?
No, Astronomers have discovered erupting volcanoes on Venus as well as Earth
How many active volcanoes in the earth?
There are approximately 1,500 active volcanoes on Earth. These volcanoes have erupted at least once in the last 10,000 years.
Why do volcanoes get hot?
Volcanoes bring up material from deep within the earth. earth's interior is very hot.
What are the natural events that change the earth?
Wind, rivers (water), glaciers, volcanoes, and earthquakes. They change by taking Earth bits away.
What are two ways that volcanoes change Earth's surface?
I know the answers dumdies
How are earthquakes volcanoes and asteroid strikes different from weathering and erosion?
Weathering and erosion change the surface of the earth very slowly. Earthquakes, volcanoes and asteroids change the surface immediately.
When geographers look at how volcanoes and glaciers have shaped the face of the earth which of the 6 essential elements of geography are they studying?
environment and society
How many volcanoes are there are earth?
there are approx. 1500 active volcanoes on earth
What are six types of volcanoes?
The six types of volcanoes are shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes (composite volcanoes), cinder cone volcanoes, supervolcanoes, submarine volcanoes, and fissure vents. Each type of volcano is characterized by different eruption styles, shapes, and compositions.
Why do volcanoes cause the most change in landforms?
Because volcanoes are formed under the crusts of the earth and the pressure formed by the massive heat emmitted from the volcanoe causes the crust to weaken to an extent at which it becomes vulnerable to change. This change becomes significant due to the fact that the crusts within the Earth are so large that one small change can alter how it sustains the upper layers of the Earth and, therefore, cause a change in landforms.
What are some of the powerful sources that change the earth's surface?
Earthquakes, volcanoes, floods. lots of natural disasters
What events always take millions of years to change the surface of the earth?
volcanoes take millions of years to occur. it changes earth's surface.
What event always takes millions of years to change the surface of the earth?
volcanoes take millions of years to occur. it changes earth's surface.
Why do you have volcanoes?
Well, if volcanoes didn't exist, neither would the earth. Since volcanoes helped build the earth.
Does earth have volcanoes craters rings valleys?
Earth has volcanoes, craters, and valleys but not rings.
