Erosion and Evolution
In Erosion and Evolution, geologist Iain Stewart explains that rivers and volcanoes have shaped the Earth in dramatic ways. Rivers sweep rock and debris with them as they head toward the ocean, preparing for new land to form downstream. Scientists have found the conditions that mimic those found when the Earth was young around volcanoes and hydrothermal vents. The changing amounts of ice on the planet also impact how modern man has adapted. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
Lesson Express
Q: How do rivers impact the mountains and land around them?
A: Rivers wear away rock and land and transport the sediment to the sea. This changes the mountains and land around the rivers.
Q: Where have scientists found the conditions that may mimic where life started?
A: Scientists are researching volcanic lakes and hydrothermal vents.
Q: What chemicals are found in volcanic lakes?
A: Volcanic lakes include carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfur.
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