Science Topographic Maps and Erosion

Examine the map image.

Which of the following landforms does the diagram represent?

• mountain

• hill

• canyon

• it is impossible to tell because the map is not labeled and there are no indexed contour lines

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The Bacolor Crater on Mars is about 20 km wide. The image shows a satellite view of the crater.

How will this crater appear after millions of years of weathering and erosion by wind?

• The rim of the crater will be lower and smoother.

• The shape of the crater will be closer to a perfect circle.

• The crater will become a long and narrow canyon.

• The center of the crater will become much deeper.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The satellite image shows the Selenga River flowing into Lake Baikal in Russia. The river flows from the southeast and empties into the lake in the northern part of the image.

Where the river enters the lake, it branches into many channels and has deposited a large, fan-shaped feature extending out from the shore (marked by "X"). What is this feature?

• a delta

• a barrier island

• a wave-cut terrace

• a sand dune

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The following topographic map shows a mountain with a sharp peak.

How will weathering and erosion most likely change the map over a long period of time?

• The lines near the bottom of the mountain will become perfect circles.

• There will be fewer lines near the top of the mountain and they will be further apart.

• There will be more lines near the top of the mountain and they will be closer together.

• The lines near the bottom of the mountain will become straighter.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The satellite image shows an area in northern Russia.

What is the natural feature labeled X?

• a river

• a glacier

• a mountain range

• a long hill

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Mount Shasta is a mountain in California that is over 4,000 meters tall. The image shows a satellite view of the mountain.

How will weathering and erosion by wind affect the mountain over millions of years?

• The peak will become lower and rounder.

• The mountain will turn into a valley.

• The peak will become higher and sharper.

• The mountain will move away from the wind.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The satellite image shows several barrier islands offshore from the Gulf Coast of the southern United States.

Over time, weathering and erosion could:

• change the shapes of these islands.

• change the sizes of these islands.

• completely destroy these islands.

• all of these

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The image shows a topographic map.

Which statement best describes the location marked by the X?

• It is at the bottom of a large pit.

• It is at the top of a hill.

• It is on the side of a mountain.

• It is in a deep cave.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The picture shows satellite images of the same area before and after a wildfire. Colors have been enhanced to show features more clearly. In the images, forested areas appear dark green and areas that were recently burned appear bright red.

Which statement best explains what will happen to the soil erosion in the area that was burned by the wildfire?

• Soil erosion will decrease because the heated soil absorbs less water.

• Soil erosion will decrease because there are fewer animals digging holes.

• Soil erosion will increase because there are fewer plants to stabilize the soil.

• Soil erosion will increase because ash is not easily carried away by wind and water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Topographic maps like the one shown here describe an area's terrain.

Four locations are marked by bold letters—G, H, J, and K. Which of these locations has the steepest slope?

• Location H

• Location G

• Location J

• Location K