Earths Physical Geography Chapter 2 Lesson 1 Objectives

Earth’s Physical Geography Chapter 2

Lesson 1 Objectives • Learn about Earth’s movement in relation to the sun. • Explore seasons and latitude.

Earth and the Sun • Earth, the sun, the planets, and the stars in the sky are part of a galaxy, or family of stars. • Our galaxy is the Milky Way • Earth orbits around the sun. – The path one body makes as it circles around another. • It takes 365 ¼ days to complete one revolution. – A circular motion.

Understanding Days and Nights • The Earth also turns around an axis. – An imaginary line running through Earth between the North and South poles. – Each rotation, or complete turn, takes about 24 hours.

Time Zones • The Earth is divided into 24 times zones. – Time zones are one hour apart. • The sun rises in the east, so the day starts earlier in the east.

Seasons and Latitude • Spring equinox – March 21 – Sun is directly over the Equator • Summer solstice – June 21 – Sun directly over the Tropic of Cancer • Autumnal equinox – September 23 – Sun directly over the Equator • Winter solstice – December 21 – Sun directly over the Tropic of Capricorn

The Revolution of Earth

Latitudes • Low latitudes – Areas between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn • Middle latitudes – Areas between the low latitudes and high latitudes – Also called temperate zones • High latitudes – Areas above the Arctic Circle and below the Antarctic Circle – Also called polar zones

Lesson 1 Objectives • Learn about Earth’s movement in relation to the sun. • Explore seasons and latitude.

• ASSIGNMENT!!!

Lesson 2 Objectives • Learn about the planet Earth. • Explore the forces inside Earth. • Explore the forces on Earth’s surface.

What Is Earth Made Of? • The Core – A sphere of very hot metal at the center of Earth • The Mantle – A thick, hot, rocky layer around the core • The Crust – The thin layer of rock and minerals that surrounds the mantle

Water and Air • Air – Oxygen to people and animals – Carbon dioxide to plants • Water – Covers 70% of the Earth’s surface • 97% of water is salt water • 3% is fresh water

Forces Inside Earth • Volcanoes – Intense heat causes rock to rise toward the surface – Magma • Soft, nearly molten rock • Earthquakes – When two plates push together, the crust cracks and splinters from the pressure – Plates • Huge blocks of Earth’s crust

Forces on Earth’s Surface • Weathering – A process that breaks rocks down into tiny pieces – Caused by water, ice, and living things • Erosion – The removal of small pieces of rock – Caused by water, ice, and wind

Lesson 2 Objectives • Learn about the planet Earth. • Explore the forces inside Earth. • Explore the forces on Earth’s surface.

• ASSIGNMENT!!!

Lesson 3 Objectives • Learn about weather and climate. • Explore latitude, landforms, and precipitation. • Discover how oceans affect climate.

Weather or Climate? • Weather • Climate – Condition of the air and sky from day to day – The average weather over many years – What people see from day to day – What usually happens from year to year

Weather • Weather is mainly measure by two things: – Precipitation • Water that falls to the ground as rain, sleet, hail, or snow – Temperature • How hot or cold the air is

Why Climates Vary • Climate depends on location – Places in the low latitudes have hot climates because they get direct sunlight. – Places in the high latitudes have cold climates because their sunlight is indirect. – Mountains also affect climates.

Oceans and Currents

Cooling and Warming Effects • Water takes longer to heat or cool than land. • In summer, a region near an ocean or lake will be cool than an inland area. • In the winter, places near lakes and oceans are warmer than inland areas

Raging Storms • Tropical cyclones – Intense wind and rain storms that form over oceans in the tropics • Hurricanes – Tropical storms that form over the Atlantic Ocean • Tornadoes • Blizzards

Lesson 3 Objectives • Learn about weather and climate. • Explore latitude, landforms, and precipitation. • Discover how oceans affect climate.

• ASSIGNMENT!!!

Lesson 4 Objectives • Investigate the relationship between climate and vegetation. • Explore Earth’s vegetation regions. • Study vertical climate zones.

Climate and Vegetation • Five broad types of climates: – Tropical – Dry – Temperate marine – Temperate continental – Polar • Based on vegetation – Plants that grow in a region

Climates • Tropical – Tropical wet – year-round rainfall – Tropical dry – one rainy season, one dry season • Dry – Very hot summers, mild winters, very little rain • Temperate Continental – Summers are hot, winters can be very cold • Temperate Marine – Mediterranean – Marine west coast – Humid subtropical • Polar – Cold all year long – Tundra – an area near the Arctic Circle with cold climate and low-lying vegetation

Earth’s Vegetation Regions • Tropical Rain Forest • Deciduous Forest • Tropical Savanna • Coniferous and Mixed Forest • Desert Scrub • Mediterranean Vegetation • Temperate Grassland • Tundra • Highland • Ice Cap and Pack Ice

Vertical Climate Zones • Mountains have vertical climate zones – Climate and vegetation depend on elevation. – The higher you go, the colder it gets. – The higher you go, the less vegetation you see.

Lesson 4 Objectives • Investigate the relationship between climate and vegetation. • Explore Earth’s vegetation regions. • Study vertical climate zones.

• ASSIGNMENT!!!