520 likes | 531 Views
Explore the physical geography of Earth, including weathering, erosion, plate tectonics, and climate systems. Discover how external and internal forces shape the Earth and influence weather patterns. Learn about different climate regions and the impact of soil and vegetation on human activities.
E N D
Chapters 2 & 3 • Physical Geography
Vocab • Weathering • Sediment • Erosion • Delta • Moraine • Loess • Seismograph • Epicenter • Richter Scale
Human Perspective • Several people have suggested that the continents might fit together • Sir Francis Bacon 1620 • Rock evidence in early 1900s • Wegener’s “theory” • Plate Tectonics
Solar System • Sun • Planets • Asteroids • Comets
Structure of the Earth • Core-mantle-magma-crust • the four “spheres” • Continental Drift • see p. 29
The Blue Planet • Anyone passing through our solar system would be attracted to the blue planet. They would know that the blue color indicated water on Earth. They would know that where there is water there is probably life. They might try to meet us. We, the blue planet, stand out as a beacon to all. • James Irvin, astronaut on Apollo 15 mission
Bodies of Water • Water supports life and it helps distribute heat on the Earth • 71% of Earth’s surface • A notion of motion in the ocean • Hydrologic cycle • Freshwater and Saltwater lakes • Rivers and streams • Ground water
Landforms • See page 34-35 • Continental Shelf • Relief • Topography
Glacier Mountain Range Bay Volcano Valley River Mountain Mouth Channel Swamp Lake Delta Oasis Desert River Gulf Peninsula Cape Archipelago Strait Strait Island Isthmus Harbor Plain Field
Internal Forces Shaping the Earth • “The view from overhead makes the theory come alive.” • Sally Ride, female astronaut
Plate Tectonics • Floating plates • 3 types of boundaries • and 4 types of motion • Folds and faults
Earthquakes • Seismographs • Epicenter • Hazards • Richter Scale • Tsunamis
Volcanoes • Most volcanoes are located on tectonic plate boundaries • Magma: lava • Volcanoes are unpredictable • Ring of Fire • Hot springs and geysers • Ash
External Forces Shaping the Earth • Sandstorms such as those in Egypt (khamsin) are among the external forces that shape the earth and affect the lives of the people in their paths
Weathering • Weathering produces sediment • Mechanical Weathering • Chemical Weathering • Climates can affect weathering
Erosion • Movement by wind, water, ice, gravity • Water • Deposition--deltas • Wave action • Winds over 11 mph • Loess • Glaciers
Building Soil • Soils combines the rock particles with humus • Parent material • Relief • Organisms • Climate • Time
Chapter 3: Climate and Vegetation • Hurricanes are an example of extreme weather that can affect human lives
Seasons • Tilt (23.5°) and Revolution • Solstices • Equinoxes
Weather • Weather vs. Climate • 3 Types of Precipitation • Convectional • Orographic (rain shadow) • Frontal
Weather Extremes • Hurricanes (typhoons, cyclones, willy- willies, chubascos) • Tornadoes • Blizzards • Droughts • Floods
Climates • El Niños can cause changes in climatic patterns
Vocabulary • Convection • Greenhouse effect
Factors Influencing Climate • Wind flows from high pressure areas to low pressure areas • Global wind patterns are predictable • Cold water currents usually cause drier climates • Latitude is the most important factor • Elevation is the second most important • Topography • Proximity (nearness) to water
Changes in Climate • Over thousands of years, climates will change • There is also variation between years • El Nino • La Nina • Global Warming
Section 3: World Climate Regions • While Paris, France and Winnipeg, Canada are about the same latitude, one is loved in “the Springtime”; the other isn’t.
Defining a Climate Region • Typical conditions over many years • Temperature and Precipitation • Text uses five basic climate regions • See pages 60-61
Types of Climates • Tropical Wet • Tropical Wet and Dry • Desert • Semi-arid
Mid-latitude Climates • Marine West Coast • Mediterranean • Humid Continental • Humid Sub-tropical
High-latitude Climates • Sub-arctic • Tundra • Ice Cap • Highlands
Section 4: Soils and Vegetation • Most places where people have settled have been used for agricultural purposes, such as farming, herding and timber production. Soil and vegetation have a direct impact on which of those activities the people living in a region can perform.
Soil Regions • World food supply depends on topsoil • Depth, texture and humus content determine types of vegetation • Vegetation influences human activities
Vegetation Regions • Place: ecosystem • Region: Biome • Forest • Grassland • Desert • Tundra
Plant Succession • Starts when a catastrophic event occurs • Starts with small plants • Ends in Climax Community
Forest Biomes • Usually three layers • Most animals live in trees • Little vegetation on floor
Coniferous Forest • Needle Leaf Forest • Cones for seeds • Cold weather
Coniferous • In Northern Continents
Deciduous Forest • Turn color in Autumn • Lose leaves
Mixed Forests • Combined Broadleaf and Needle Leaf
Mixed and Deciduous • In Humid Continental and Humid Subtropical Climate Zones
Mediterranean • Scattered Trees & Shrubs: Chaparral • Adapted to dry seasons and fires
Riparian Forests • In river and creek beds
Savannas • Scattered Trees • Grasses • Scattered shrubs • Large Mammals • Elephants • Giraffes • Zebras
Grasslands-Prairies • Tall grasses • Scattered trees and shrubs • Good for grazing large mammals • Bison • Cows
Grasslands-Steppes • Short grasses • Seasonal grazing only
Deserts • Cactus • Small shrubs adapted to dry areas • Wildflowers
Tundra • Mosses • Lichens • Low shrubs • Small flowering plants