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[Plate Tectonics] Ultimately, plate motion is something that rarely affects our everyday lives. However, the process is continuous and relentless, building mountains and occasionally reminding us of its presence by causing earthquakes. So, what does it mean for the future? We know that along the San Andreas fault, the Pacific Plate (upon which Los Angeles sits) is moving north at a rate of 5 cm/year compared to the North American Plate (upon which San Francisco sits). At this rate, how long will it be until Los Angeles is a suburb of San Francisco? San Francisco is 550 km north of Los Angeles.

[Tornadoes, Thunderstorms & Hurricanes] A lightning strike is a sequence of several events that occur in quick succession. Place the following lightning-generating events in order.

[From Big Bang to Blue Marble] Which statement best explains why igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are considered distinct categories?

[Tornadoes, Thunderstorms & Hurricanes] Over the week you watch the storm build into a Category 5 storm before weakening to a Category 3 as it comes ashore. Where on the shoreline would the storm surge be the strongest?

[Plate Tectonics] Based on the direction of plate motion you just determined in the previous question;  where would you expect the next large eruption to occur?

[From Big Bang to Blue Marble] Which of the following statements accurately describe the thermal and pressure conditions inside the Earth? (Select all that apply.)

[Stellar Evolution] Using the three scales again, classify a class M star, like Betelgeuse.

[Planetary Geology] Finally, let’s look at a more complex assortment of craters. Here we can see four craters clustered together. Based on the principle of cross-cutting relationships, you should be able to place the craters in order from oldest to youngest.

[Tornadoes, Thunderstorms & Hurricanes] Thunderstorms thrive in unstable atmospheric conditions. Thunderstorms are less likely to form under stable atmospheric conditions. The image below shows the troposphere under stable conditions. Click on the layer of the troposphere that will experience the highest atmospheric density.

[Tornadoes, Thunderstorms & Hurricanes] What type of lifting would likely be responsible for the squall line (the narrow band of thunderstorms running northeast to southwest) seen in the following image?