Astronomy 1021 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Himalayas, Valles Marineris, Lunar Mare

• School: Western University
• Department: Astronomy
• Course: Astronomy 1021
• Professor: Jan Cami

Document Summary

Volcanoes and earthquakes are processes acting to reshape earth"s surface. Other processes: far greater change can occur on the rare occasions when an asteroid or a comet slams into earth. More gradual processes: the colorado river causes only small changes in the landscape from year to year, but its unrelenting flow over the past few million years carved the grand canyon. The rocky mountains were twice as tall, but they have been cut down in size through erosion by wind. The great differences in terrestrial planets" present day appearances must be the result of changes that have occurred through time. Mercury and the moon: scars from heavy bombardment. Venus: covered by a thick, cloudy atmosphere, but a surface dotted with volcanoes. Mars: shaped by running water, but now dry. Earth is geologically active, meaning that its surface is continually being reshaped by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, erosion, and other geological processes.