3.30 Events and Ideas Worksheet

In a landfill, trash is piled in layers and covered. Food scraps and paper in the landfill can rot without much oxygen. This kind of rotting is called decomposition. As the material decomposes, it can produce a gas called methane. Methane can catch fire, so some landfills collect it with pipes. The collected gas can be burned to make electricity. If methane is not collected, it can leak into the air.

Fog is a cloud that forms near the ground. Fog often forms when warm, moist air moves over a colder surface, such as cold water or cool land at night. The warm air cools as it touches the cold surface. When the air cools enough, the water vapor in the air condenses into tiny droplets. Many droplets together create a thick mist you can see.

Sea turtles lay eggs on sandy beaches. After the eggs hatch, baby turtles usually crawl toward the ocean. They often find the ocean by moving toward the brightest horizon, which is normally the moonlight on the water. On beaches with many lights from buildings or streets, the brightest light may be inland. Baby turtles can crawl the wrong way and become exhausted or eaten. Turning off or dimming beach lights can help more hatchlings reach the sea.