Name ________________________ Teacher _________________ Date __________
Activity 3.3 Explaining Relationships
Between Earth Systems Worksheet
Look at the four Earth systems we have been studying on the left. Then, read the four
explanations on the right. On page 2, draw arrows to connect these Earth systems on the left
using the explanations on the right. Use each explanation only once.
Explanations
Use each explanation only
once.
1. Greenhouse effect.
2. Ice melts when air
temperatures get warmer.
3. Water expands when it
warms up.
4. When land ice melts, the
water from the melted land
ice runs into the oceans.
Human Energy Systems Unit, Activity 3.3
Carbon: Transformations in Matter and Energy
Environmental Literacy Project
Michigan State University
1. Your Model. Draw arrows to show how these four Earth systems (graphs on page 1) are
related. Draw only three arrows. Label each arrow with an explanation from page 1. One of
the arrow has two explanations. An arrow means that one box “causes” the other box.
sea level rise
Arctic sea ice
decrease
atmospheric
CO2
increase
global temperature
increase
2. Your Explanation. What is causing these systems to change? How do the systems impact
each other? Include evidence to support your ideas.
Human Energy Systems Unit, Activity 3.3
Carbon: Transformations in Matter and Energy
Environmental Literacy Project
Michigan State University