Firstly, volcanoes are one example of geoprocesses that affect earth’s surface. Volcanoes happen when tectonic plates sink down into the mantle, made up of molten rock, melting the rock, which will make its way up to the surface through a series of cracks in the earth. This changes the surface by renewing the materials around which can form new lands, such as the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most famous examples of new lands formed by hot spot volcanoes. The article, “Volcano- The Shape of the Land, Forces and Changes, Spotlight on Famous Forms”, explains, “These islands form a chain of volcanoes because the magma plume that created them has remained stationary while the Pacific plate has shifted” (8). This illustrates how the Hawaiian volcanoes are formed, therefore it adds to Earth’s crust thus affecting the surface. …show more content…
Tsunamis occur when there is an earthquake underwater. The effects of the tsunamis on Earth’s crust are changing the natural waterways and the flow and shape of streams and rivers. California’s Northern Coast is threatened with a virulent earthquake which will cause a catastrophic tsunami. The article, “A Potent Threat of Major Earthquake off California’s Northern Coast”, states, “If a 9.0-magnitude earthquake were to strike along California’s [...] North Coast, it would have a catastrophic ripple effect. A giant tsunami created by the quake would wash away coastal towns” (Rong-Gong Lin II and Rosanna Xia 1). This demonstrates the possible effect upon Earth and California which changes the coast upon the North American