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For millions of years, California
has been shaped by natural forces and continues to be reshaped
every day. These forces include earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciers
and erosion. On a larger scale, plate tectonics influences the
shaping of California as the Pacific Plate rubs against the North
American plate. That results in earthquakes and volcanic activity
which further changes the face of California.
This part of the website
is designed to provide students with links to help them understand
and enrich their knowledge of the forces which shape California.
Each of the major forces is defined on this page and links to
investigate are provided. Additionally, the students should engage
in hands-on activities which will help them to see the effects
of the natural forces. Enjoy your journey through the shaping
of California.
General Earth Science Links~
Plate Tectonics~ 
The idea that the continents move and
drift over the surface of the earth as they sit on giant plates.
Earthquakes~
A sudden movement of part of the earth's
crust
How a seismograph works
Volcanoes~
An opening in the earth's crust through
which lava escapes
Glaciers~
A large body of moving snow and ice
Erosion~
The carrying away of rocks and soil
by wind and water
Weathering
Weathering is the processes which wears
rock and other materials down and break them apart
Rocks and the Rock Cycle
There are three types of rocks: igneous,
sedimentary and metamorphic. The rocks constantly are changing
form through the rock cycle which is the neverending changes
in rocks.
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