Relief is the form that the earth's surface has. Over time, it changes under the influence of various forces. Places where once there were great mountains become plains, and volcanoes appear in some areas. Scientists seek to explain why this happens. And much is known to modern science.
Reasons for the transformation
The relief of the Earth is one of the most interesting mysteries of nature and even history. Because of how the surface of our planet was changing, the life of mankind was also changing. Changes occur under the influence of internal and external forces.
Among all forms of relief, large and small stand out. The largest of them are the continents. It is believed that hundreds of centuries ago, when man was not yet, our planet had a completely different look. Perhaps there was only one mainland, which eventually split into several parts. Then they split up again. And all those continents that exist now appeared.
Another large form was oceanic troughs. It is believed that before there were also fewer oceans, but then there were more. Some scholars argue that hundreds of years later, new ones will appear. Others say that water will flood some land.
The relief of the planet is changing over many centuries. Even though a person sometimes harms nature, his activity is not able to significantly change the relief. For this we need such powerful forces that only nature has. However, man cannot not only radically transform the relief of the planet, but also stop the changes that nature itself makes. Despite the fact that science has taken a big step forward, it is still impossible to protect all people from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and much more.
Basic information
The relief of the Earth and the main relief forms attract the close attention of many scientists. Among the main varieties are mountains, highlands, shelves and plains.
Shelf - these are areas of the earth's surface that are hidden under the water column. Very often they stretch along the coast. The shelf is that type of relief that is found only under water.
Highlands are separate mountains, mountain valleys, and even mountain range systems. Much of what is called mountains is actually a highland. For example, the Pamir is not a mountain, as many believe. Also, the Tien Shan is a highland.
Mountains are the most ambitious landforms of the planet. They rise above land by more than 600 meters. Their peaks are hidden behind the clouds. It so happens that in warm countries you can see mountains whose peaks are covered with snow. The slopes are usually very steep, but some daredevils decide to climb them. Mountains can form chains.
Plains are stability. Residents of plains are less likely to experience changes in relief. They almost do not know what earthquakes are, because such places are considered the most favorable for life. A real plain is the most flat earth surface.
Internal and external forces
The influence of internal and external forces on the earth's relief is grandiose. If you study how the surface of the planet has changed over the course of several centuries, you will notice how what seemed eternal disappears. He is being replaced by something new. External forces are not able to change the terrain of the Earth as much as internal. Both the first and second are divided into several types.
Internal forces
The internal forces that change the terrain of the Earth cannot be stopped. But in the modern world, scientists from different countries are trying to predict when and in what place there will be an earthquake, where will the eruption of the volcano.
The internal forces include earthquakes, movements of the
earth's crust and volcanism.
As a result, all these processes lead to the appearance of new mountains and mountain ranges on land and on the ocean floor. In addition, there are geysers, hot springs, chains of volcanoes, ledges, cracks, troughs, landslides, cones of volcanoes and much more.
External forces
External forces are not able to produce noticeable transformations. However, do not lose sight of them. The external processes that form the Earth's relief include the following: the work of wind and flowing water, weathering, the melting of glaciers, and, of course, the work of people. Although a person, as mentioned above, is not yet able to greatly change the face of the planet.
The work of external forces leads to the creation of hills and ravines, hollows, dunes and dunes, river valleys, gravel, sand and much more. Water can very slowly destroy even a great mountain. And those stones that are now easily found on the shore can be part of a mountain that was once great.
Planet Earth is a grandiose creation in which everything is thought out to the smallest detail. Over the centuries, it has changed. Radical transformations of the relief have taken place, and all this is under the influence of internal and external forces. In order to better understand the processes occurring on the planet, you must definitely know about the life that it leads, not paying attention to the person.