Describe how satellites orbiting Earth can determine features on the seafloor without being able to directly observe them beneath several kilometers of seawater
What will be an ideal response?
After compensating for waves, tides, currents, and atmospheric effects, the ocean surface is still not perfectly "flat." Because massive seafloor features exert stronger-than-average gravitational attraction, they produce elevated areas on the ocean surface. Conversely, canyons and trenches create slight depressions. Satellites equipped with radar altimeters are able to measure these subtle differences to the accuracy of a few centimeters by bouncing microwaves off the sea surface.
You might also like to view...
Carbon atoms move among Earth's physical systems through the
A) carbon cycle. B) Keeling curve. C) carbon caps and trades system. D) green economy.
Where are most tropical rainforests located?
A) near the north pole B) near the south pole C) near the equator D) in the middle latitudes E) Their location is random.
When you touch a wooden chair and a glass table top in the same room, the glass feels cooler. Why?
A. The chair is warmer. B. Glass has a higher specific heat than wood. C. Latent heat is being transferred from the glass to your skin. D. Glass is a better conductor of heat than wood.
In his 2005 book, Richard Louv maintains that today's children ________
A) develop more balanced emotions in urban compared to natural settings B) suffer psychologically and emotionally from "nature deficit disorder" C) should not be exposed to the dangers of natural ecosystems D) have a better understanding of natural environments than their grandparents E) should not participate in environmental education programs until high school