Final answer:
Subduction activity is an internal force that changes the Earth's surface, whereas erosion, glacier movement, and weathering are external forces. Therefore, the correct answer is B. Subduction activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
While considering the question 'All of the following are external forces, which change the Earth's surface except _____?', we need to understand the difference between external and internal geological forces. External geological forces include processes such as erosion, weathering, and glacier movement. These processes shape the Earth's surface by wearing away rocks and soil from the Earth's crust. On the other hand, internal geological forces originate from within the Earth, causing changes like the formation of mountain ranges and the shifting of tectonic plates leading to earthquakes, volcanic activity, and subduction activity.
Considering the options given, A. Erosion, C. Glacier Movement, and D. Weathering are all external forces that wear down and reshape the surface of the Earth. However, B. Subduction activity, is an internal force. So the correct answer to this question is B. Subduction activity, which is a process where one tectonic plate moves under another, reshaping the surface of the Earth from below.
Numerous geological activities, such as earthquakes and continental drift, are affected by the movements of tectonic plates. For example, mountain building often occurs at the collision points of these plates. Moreover, internal forces can result in volcanic eruptions and the formation of island chains like the Hawaiian islands. These are just a few examples of how internal forces from beneath the Earth's crust play a crucial role in altering its topography.