Earth's relief The relief is the shape of the external part of the Earth’s geosphere. It includes the relief on land and the underwater relief found under the sea . Many landforms are created by phenomena such as volcanic and seismic activity, or by movements of the Earth’s crust as a result of the energy inside the Earth . The shape of this relief is due to the changes produced through the interaction of the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the geosphere and the biosphere. A relief map The relief is shaped by the wind from air currents, by the water that f lows on the Earth's surface in the form of rivers, seas and glaciers, and by groundwater. The Sun's energy is the engine that sets the atmosphere and hydrosphere in motion . The action of living things in the biosphere changes the relief. For example, the tree roots can break rocks apart. Human activity also af fects the transformation of the Earth's surface, which has a huge impact on all systems of the Earth . For example: the burning of coal , oil and gas pollutes the atmosphere; the accumulation of waste af fects the geosphere; and poor construction can interfere with the natural movement of water in the hydrosphere. Many people are working to reduce our footprint on the planet and to protect the natural world . 1 25
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