Geological phenomena have to do with the geology of Earth. This can include the study of rocks, plates under Earth, erosion, landslides, earthquakes, and much more. We talked about quicksand earlier. We learned that it is created from loose saturated sand that has been agitated. This means that it will act more like a liquid. But there are many other geological phenomena that occur on Earth as well.
Earthquakes can be devastating. Buildings that usually provide us with shelter and safety can quickly become a hazard. We know there is an earthquake when there is turbulent shaking from the ground. Where do they occur? They occur along the edges of Earth's crust. We call them tectonic plates.
These plates move in different directions, which means they can sometimes crash into each other. When this happens, there is an earthquake. Even if the ground stops shaking and becomes stable again, the event might not be over yet. Smaller earthquakes can still take place in the area for days, months, and even years after. At the moment, we cannot predict when and where exactly earthquakes can occur.
Volcanic activity can sound scary. Most people picture violent volcano eruptions. Volcanoes are openings of Earth's surface. We can find them where tectonic plates meet. There is hot liquid rock inside Earth called magma. When a volcano erupts, magma, ash, and gas comes out of the volcano. When the magma exits the volcano, we call it lava. Lava spills out of the volcano, and when it cools down, we have igneous rocks.
Igneous rocks are one of the three kinds of rocks we can find on Earth. Igneous rocks are also the lightest rocks. Some common kinds of igneous rocks include granite and pumice. We can use igneous rocks to make buildings and statues. Pumice is used to smooth our skin. It can also be grounded into smaller pieces and used with toothpaste.
Geysers can intermittently discharge steam and hot boiling water into the air. How are they created? Geysers need water, heat, and cracks in the ground to form. The water makes contact with the ground and the rocks. These rocks have been heated by magma underground. This geothermal energy continues to heat the water under the ground. As the water boils, pressure begins to build up. When there is enough pressure, the heat and water shoots back up to the surface through the opening.
Landslides can be very destructive. A landslide occurs when a large amount of rock, debris, and other materials move down a steep slope. They can bury and sweep away everything in their path. Why does this happen? We begin with a slope. With rain, earthquakes, wind, or other kinds of activities, the slope could become steeper or weaker. This means the slope is getting unstable. Now the bottom cannot support the ground on top. With the help of gravity, all of this material gets pulled down. Landslides can destroy buildings, homes, and cities. They can also take many lives in just the blink of an eye.
Our Earth is always changing. We cannot always see these changes with our naked eye. We might not even experience some of these geological changes in our lifetime. While many of these events are destructive, they can also create new landforms and provide new spaces for life.