Andean orogeny
Big mountains are growing. They are called the Andes. They are in South America. The land moves to push them up. This makes them very tall. Do you like mountains?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleEarth Science articles — Page 8
Explore rocks, volcanoes, weather, oceans and the processes that shape Earth. Choose an article below; its reading controls let you move between the available levels.
1,427 public articles · Page 8 of 30
Andesite
Andesite is a special rock. It comes from hot lava. This lava can be thick. It can make big mountains. People use it to build things. It is found in the Andes mountains. Have you seen a dark rock?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAndrija Mohorovičić
A man named Andrija studied the Earth. He looked at how the ground moves. He found a hidden layer deep down. This helps us know what is under us. He was a very smart man. Do you like to study the Earth?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAnhydrite
This is a white rock. It can look blue or grey. It does not have water in it. If it touches water, it changes. It turns into a different rock. Do you like looking at rocks?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAnkarana Special Reserve
This place has many caves. The rocks make sharp edges. It is hard to walk there. Many lemurs live in the trees. You can see many birds too. It is a special home for animals. Do you like to explore?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAnorthite
This is a white rock called anorthite. It comes from hot lava. You can find it on the moon too! It helps us learn about space. It is very pretty. Do you like looking at rocks?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAnou Boussouil
This is a very big cave. It is in the mountains. Rain and snow make it grow. It has deep holes. It is a cool place to see. Do you like caves?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAntarctic plate
A big piece of Earth moves south. It carries the cold land of Antarctica. This move made the land very cold. It also made big mountains. The land is very far away now. Do you like the cold?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAnthropocene
People change our big Earth. We change the air and land. This can change how plants and animals live. It is a big job. We must take care of our home. Do you see how we change things?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAnticline
Rocks can bend in the ground. They make a shape like a hill. The oldest rocks are in the middle. This shape can trap oil deep down. It helps us find things we need. Have you ever seen a rock hill?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleApatite
Some rocks are called apatite. They can look like many other things. This makes them hard to find. They are even in your teeth and bones! This helps you stay strong. Do you have strong teeth?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAphotic zone
The deep ocean is very dark. Very little sunlight reaches down there. Most of the ocean is this dark. Some fish make their own light. This helps them find food. It is a strange place. Do you like the dark?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAquamarine (gem)
Aquamarine is a pretty blue stone. It looks like the sea. People use it for rings and necklaces. It can be a lucky charm. Do you like blue stones?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAquifer
Water hides deep under the ground. It stays in rocks and sand. This water is very helpful. We use it at home. We also use it for farms. Can you find water under your feet?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleArabian plate
A big piece of land moves. It moves toward other land. This push makes tall mountains. It can also make the ground shake. This land is very large. It holds many cities. Do you want to see a map?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAragonite
Some shells are made of a hard stone. This stone is called aragonite. It helps sea life grow strong. It is found in many shells. It can also be in caves. It is very pretty to see. Do you like looking at shells?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleArak gorges
The Arak gorges are deep in the sand. A river made them long ago. It is very dry there. Some birds and lizards live in the rocks. No one lives there now. Can you find the birds?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleArchean
A long time ago, Earth was new. It was a world of deep water. The air was not like ours. Tiny living things began to grow. They lived in the warm sea. Life is so amazing! Can you imagine a world of water?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleArchibald Geikie
Archibald Geikie studied rocks. He looked at mountains and old ice. He wrote many books about the Earth. His work helps us learn about our world. Do you like to look at rocks?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleArctic ice pack
Big ice sits on the ocean. It melts in the summer. Then it grows back in winter. This ice helps keep the water cool. It is a very busy place. Do you like the cold?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleArctic sea ice decline
Ice is melting in the north. The warm air makes it melt. It does not freeze back fast enough. This can change things for polar bears. The ice is getting smaller. Can you imagine a world with less ice?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleArgon–argon dating
Scientists study old rocks. They look for tiny bits of gas. This gas tells us how old a rock is. It helps us learn about the past. We can see how the Earth changed. Do you like old rocks?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleArroyo (watercourse)
An arroyo is a dry path. It stays dry most of the time. It fills up when it rains. This gives water to desert animals. It can turn into a fast river. Have you seen a dry path like this?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleArsenate mineral
Some rocks have special parts. These are called arsenates. They are found in the ground. They look like many different things. They are very interesting to find. Do you like looking at rocks?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleArsenide mineral
Some rocks have a special part inside. This part is called an arsenide. These rocks are in a big group. They are like other dark rocks. They can be found in the ground. Can you find a cool rock?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleArsenopyrite
This is a shiny rock. It looks like grey steel. It can be found near gold. This helps people find gold. It is a very hard stone. Can you find a shiny rock?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleArtesian well
Water can hide deep in the ground. It stays under the rocks. The rocks push the water up. It can even flow out on its own. This helps us get water. It is like magic! Do you like to play in water?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAtlantic hurricane
A hurricane is a big storm. It forms over the warm ocean. The wind spins in a circle. It brings lots of rain. These storms can be very strong. We watch them to stay safe. Have you ever seen a big storm?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAtlantic hurricane season
Big storms come to the sea. They happen in the summer. They also happen in the fall. These storms can be very strong. They help us learn about the air. Do you like the rain?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAtlantic meridional overturning circulation
The ocean has big paths of water. These paths move warm water. They also move cold water. This helps the world stay warm. It is like a big loop. Do you like the ocean?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAtmospheric electricity
The air has a tiny spark in it. This charge is always there. It stays even when it is sunny. It can even help bees find flowers. Do you feel the air during a storm?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAtmospheric escape
Air can leak into space. It moves away from planets. This can happen if the air gets hot. Big rocks hitting a planet can help too. This matters for life. Can you imagine a planet with no air?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAtmospheric physics
People study the air around us. They look at clouds and rain. They use tools from high up in space. This helps us know the weather. It keeps us safe. Do you like to watch the clouds?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAugite
This is a dark rock. It can look green or black. It can even look shiny. This rock is found in many places. It helps us learn about the Earth. Can you find a dark rock?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAvachinsky
A big mountain is a volcano. This one is in Russia. It can blow up with fire. It is near a big city. We watch it to stay safe. Can you see the smoke?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAven Armand
This is a big cave in France. Water drips on the floor. It makes tall stone shapes. One shape is very, very tall. You can walk inside to see it. It is a grand place. Do you want to see it?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAvulsion (river)
Rivers can change where they flow. Sometimes a river finds a new path. It might move to a shorter way. This can happen during big floods. It helps the river move dirt. This builds new land in the sea. Do you like to…
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAzurite
Azurite is a deep blue stone. It comes from copper. People used it for blue paint a long time ago. It is very pretty to look at. Do you like the color blue?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleBack-arc basin
Deep under the sea, the ground pulls apart. This makes a long, wide space. It can even make new ground. This happens near islands. It is a big wonder. Can you find a map of the sea?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleBadlands
Badlands are dry lands. They have steep hills. Not many plants grow here. Rain cuts deep paths in the dirt. It is hard to walk there. Do you want to see them?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleBalancing rocks of Zimbabwe
Big rocks sit on top of each other. They are in a place called Zimbabwe. Some rocks look like they might fall. You can see them on money! They are very cool to see. Do you like big rocks?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleBaltica
A long time ago, there was a land called Baltica. It was a big piece of land. It moved around the world. Now, it is part of Europe. It is very old. Can you find it on a map?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleBanda Sea
The Banda Sea is a big blue sea. It is near many small islands. Some islands have hot volcanoes. Many colorful fish live in the water. It is a special place for animals. Do you like the ocean?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleBand-e Amir National Park
There are bright blue lakes in a park. These lakes are high in the mountains. White walls hold the blue water in. Many people come to see them. It is a very pretty place. Do you like blue water?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleBanded iron formation
These rocks have many stripes. They are made of iron. The stripes show how the sea changed. Long ago, tiny life made air. This made the iron sink. Now we use this iron. Can you see the lines?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleBarrier island
Sand islands sit near the sea. They are long and thin. These islands stop big waves. They help keep the land safe. This makes calm water for plants. Can you find a beach?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleBar (river morphology)
A river bar is a pile of sand. It sits in the water. The moving water drops the sand. It can make a new spot to see. We see them in many rivers. Have you seen a sand bar?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleBaryte
This is a heavy rock. It can be white or clear. It is used to help dig for oil. This helps us get fuel. It is a very cool find! Do you like rocks?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the article