The hydrosphere refers to the total amount of water on Earth, including liquid, gas, and solid forms. Which is one way the hydrosphere has been impacted by the movement of the continents over time?
Answer
A
Glaciers that once covered South Africa have melted and can no longer form.
B
All of the continents have fewer coastal areas than they did millions of years ago.
C
Land masses near the equator have more glaciers now than they did millions of years ago.
D
The poles that were once covered by glaciers are now surrounded by warm, tropical waters.
Explanation
As continents move, their positions relative to climate zones change. South Africa was once located closer to the South Pole, where conditions allowed glaciers to form; as the continent moved northward, those glaciers melted. This makes A, “Glaciers that once covered South Africa have melted and can no longer form,” the correct choice.
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