Satellite Photographs

These images compare the same stretch of coastline.  What is a possible reason for the change?  

• A fire destroyed the beach and surrounding area
• Overtime, water eroded away much of the land
• A major catastrophe such as a hurricane or tsunami destroyed the area
• The beach and land went through a sever drought

A satellite image of an area in Florida shows a river with slight bends along its length. A second satellite image taken of the same area 10 years later shows the same river with  a different course. What is the best explanation for the difference in the shape of the river's course between the two satellite images?

• Wind blew waves across the water surface, eroding away the bank on one side of the river until the river's course changed its shape
• Regular freezing and thawing of the river split the soil along the river banks, changing the shape of the river
• Water eroded the banks of the river and deposited the eroded soil on opposite banks, causing the river to form tighter bends
• Acid rain chemically weathered the banks along the river, forcing the river to wind back and forth

A satellite image of a river is provided.
The river shown in the satellite image is carrying sediments in which direction?

• From south to north
• From southwest to northeast
• From northwest to southeast
• From east to west

The satellite image below shows a portion of the Namib Desert in Africa. This is an ancient, sandy desert with dunes that can be up to 305m tall. The Namib Desert extends inland from the Atlantic Ocean between 80 km and 200km and receives only 5 mm to 76mm of rain each year. A satellite picture of this same area taken weeks before shows that the shape and location of some sand dunes have changed. Which of these most likely caused the changes in the dunes?

• Ocean waves

• Flowing rivers

• Blowing wind

• Crustal uplift

This satellite photograph shows an area in Alaska after a fire occurred. Which statement best describes the most likely affect the fire had on the river in the 12 months after it occurred?

• Less sediment flowed into the river because the fire heated up the soil and made it drier.

• The amount of vegetation increased and less sediment flowed into the river because the fire produced ash that mixed with the soil.

• More sediment flowed into the river because the fire destroyed most of the vegetation holding the sediment in place.

• More sediment flowed into the river because the fire disrupted animal habitats and caused animals to leave the area.

The image below represents a satellite view. What type of land features are pictured in this image?

• canyons

• hills

• rivers

• volcanoes

(8.9C) A satellite takes a picture that shows a large meteorite crater that is 1200 m in diameter and 170 m deep. This crater is located in a flat, arid part of northeastern Arizona.

How will this crater most likely change over time?

• It will get deeper as it fills with water.

• It will rise up like a volcanic crater.

• It will become less deep as the rim erodes.

• It will widen as it fills with lava.

(8.9C) The satellite image below shows a ship channel between South Padre Island and Boca Chica beach in South Texas.

Sand is sometimes removed from the ship channel through a process called dredging to make it easier for ships to travel through. Recently sand from the bottom of the channel was moved to area beaches. Without this transfer of sand, what would most likely occur in this area in the future.

• The ship channel would become deeper, and the island would move west toward the mainland.

• The ship channel would become shallower, and the beach would become narrower.

• The ship channel would become narrower, and the island would become completely covered with water.

• The ship channel would become wider, and the island would sink into the Gulf of Mexico.

What is satellite imagery?

• Images of Earth or other planets collected by imaging satellites operated by governments and businesses around the world

• Images that are from space and we call them satellite imagery because its from the satellites in space

• Images from the satellites that show just the earth

• Images that only scientists use for their study

What would be the most likely way this coastline would change over time?

• A fire could destroy the vegetation
• The waves could erode the beach
• The beach would grow due to deposition
• The beach will disappear due to plate tectonics