Looking at the EarthLooking at the EarthChapter 1Chapter 1

Thinking Like A GeographerThinking Like A Geographer

Section 1Section 1

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

Why do geographers want Why do geographers want to know exactly what the to know exactly what the earth looks like?earth looks like?

What do you think?What do you think? Example: Mount Etna in Example: Mount Etna in

ItalyItaly

I. IntroductionI. Introduction Geography- study of the earth in all its Geography- study of the earth in all its

varietyvariety Physical Geography-- learn about Earth’s Physical Geography-- learn about Earth’s

land, water, plants, and animalsland, water, plants, and animals•Formation of continents, causes of Formation of continents, causes of

erosionerosion Human Geography—study of peopleHuman Geography—study of people

•Where live, how live, how they change Where live, how live, how they change & are influenced by environment, & are influenced by environment, different groups compare to anotherdifferent groups compare to another

II. A Geographer’s View of II. A Geographer’s View of PlacePlace

Look at major issues (eruptions Mt. Look at major issues (eruptions Mt. Etna) & local issues (best place to build)Etna) & local issues (best place to build)

Try understand the physical & human Try understand the physical & human characteristics, features, of issuecharacteristics, features, of issue

II. A Geographer’s View of PlaceII. A Geographer’s View of Placea. Physical Characteristicsa. Physical Characteristics

Where something located on earth, try Where something located on earth, try understand what place is likeunderstand what place is like

Landforms- individual feature of the landLandforms- individual feature of the land•Ex.– mountains & valleysEx.– mountains & valleys

Water—Water—•Place located near river/oceanPlace located near river/ocean•Plenty freshwater?Plenty freshwater?•Consider soil will produce cropsConsider soil will produce crops•Amount rain usually receivedAmount rain usually received

II. A Geographer’s View of PlaceII. A Geographer’s View of Placea. Physical Characteristicsa. Physical Characteristics

ClimateClimate•Hot or cold area isHot or cold area is

ResourcesResources•Minerals, trees, or other Minerals, trees, or other resourcesresources

II. A Geographer’s View of PlaceII. A Geographer’s View of Placeb. Human Characteristicsb. Human Characteristics

Social CharacteristicsSocial Characteristics•Amount of people living areaAmount of people living area•Distance b/w living arrangements & Distance b/w living arrangements &

whywhy•Type of governmentType of government•Religions followedReligions followed•Type of workType of work•Languages spokenLanguages spoken•Where ancestors came fromWhere ancestors came from

II. A Geographer’s View of PlaceII. A Geographer’s View of Placec. People and Placesc. People and Places

Interested in how people interact Interested in how people interact with their environment (natural with their environment (natural surroundings)surroundings)

Where live often determines how liveWhere live often determines how live•Early settlements near riversEarly settlements near rivers•People near sea might catch fish & People near sea might catch fish &

build ships for tradebuild ships for trade•Inland might farm or have ranchInland might farm or have ranch

II. A Geographer’s View of PlaceII. A Geographer’s View of Placed. Regionsd. Regions

Region– area shares common Region– area shares common characteristicscharacteristics

Can be small or largeCan be small or large

III. The Tools of GeographyIII. The Tools of Geographya. Collecting Data for Mapping Eartha. Collecting Data for Mapping Earth

Landsat images– photos taken by satellites Landsat images– photos taken by satellites circle Earthcircle Earth• Show details such as shape of land, plants Show details such as shape of land, plants

covering area, how land being usedcovering area, how land being used Global Positioning System (GPS)Global Positioning System (GPS)

• Group satellites traveling around earthGroup satellites traveling around earth• GPS receiver special device receives GPS receiver special device receives

signals from satellitessignals from satellites• Receiver placed at location, GPS sat tell Receiver placed at location, GPS sat tell

exact lat. & long. of that locationexact lat. & long. of that location

III. The Tools of GeographyIII. The Tools of Geographyb. Geographic Information Systemsb. Geographic Information Systems

GIS helps gather different kinds of GIS helps gather different kinds of info about same placeinfo about same place

Input all data collect then use Input all data collect then use software to combine & overlap info software to combine & overlap info on specific mapson specific maps

Ex.- plants and animals of Amazon Ex.- plants and animals of Amazon rain forestrain forest

IV. Uses of GeographyIV. Uses of Geography PlanningPlanning

• Govt. leaders use to plan new servicesGovt. leaders use to plan new services• New housing developmentsNew housing developments• How handle disastersHow handle disasters• Businesses study population trendsBusinesses study population trends

DecisionsDecisions• Possible new building– look at street use, Possible new building– look at street use,

utilitiesutilities Manage ResourcesManage Resources

• Locate more unlimited & limited resourcesLocate more unlimited & limited resources

V. Clues to Our PastV. Clues to Our Pasta. Written Recordsa. Written Records

Written recordsWritten records•Relied on by historians create stories Relied on by historians create stories

of the pastof the past•Search diaries, newspapers, legal Search diaries, newspapers, legal

documents for info on how people documents for info on how people livedlived

•No written records for prehistory of No written records for prehistory of humanshumans

Prehistory- time before writing Prehistory- time before writing developeddeveloped

V. Clues to Our PastV. Clues to Our Pastb. Artifacts and Fossilsb. Artifacts and Fossils

Archaeologists/anthropologists study past Archaeologists/anthropologists study past societies by analyzing what people left societies by analyzing what people left behindbehind

Artifacts– tools, pottery, paintings, Artifacts– tools, pottery, paintings, weaponsweapons• Things left behind by previous people in Things left behind by previous people in

an areaan area Fossils– remains of humansFossils– remains of humans Scientists learn how societies lived, what Scientists learn how societies lived, what

did, what they ate, animals hunteddid, what they ate, animals hunted

The Earth in SpaceThe Earth in Space

Chapter 1, Section 2Chapter 1, Section 2

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

Sun’s heat provides life for EarthSun’s heat provides life for Earth Solar system made up of:Solar system made up of:

•EarthEarth•8 other planets (actually 7 planets 8 other planets (actually 7 planets

and 1 sub planet, Pluto)and 1 sub planet, Pluto)•Thousands of smaller bodiesThousands of smaller bodies

II. The Solar SystemII. The Solar System Each planet travels on an orbit Each planet travels on an orbit

around Sunaround Sun Ellipses– paths planets travel; Ellipses– paths planets travel;

stretched circlesstretched circles

II. The Solar SystemII. The Solar System

Planets fall into 2 typesPlanets fall into 2 types•EarthlikeEarthlike

•Jupiter likeJupiter like

II. The Solar SystemII. The Solar System•EarthlikeEarthlike

Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars, PlutoPluto

Solid and smallSolid and smallfew or no moonsfew or no moonsrotate fairly slowlyrotate fairly slowly

II. The Solar SystemII. The Solar System

•Jupiter likeJupiter like Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, UranusJupiter, Saturn, Neptune, UranusHuge, balls of gasHuge, balls of gasspin rapidlyspin rapidlyHave many moonsHave many moonsEach one is surrounded by a Each one is surrounded by a series of rings made of bits of series of rings made of bits of rocks & dustrocks & dust

II. The Solar SystemII. The Solar Systema. Sun, Earth, and Moona. Sun, Earth, and Moon

SunSun•93 million miles from Earth93 million miles from Earth•Mostly made up of intensely hot Mostly made up of intensely hot

gas (27 million degrees Fahrenheit/ gas (27 million degrees Fahrenheit/ 15 million degrees Celsius)15 million degrees Celsius)

•Life on Earth couldn’t exist w/o Life on Earth couldn’t exist w/o Sun’s light & warmthSun’s light & warmth

II. The Solar SystemII. The Solar Systema. Sun, Earth, and Moona. Sun, Earth, and Moon

EarthEarth• Atmosphere– layer of air surrounding Earth Atmosphere– layer of air surrounding Earth

cushion of gases abt. 1,000 miles thickcushion of gases abt. 1,000 miles thick Made of 99% nitrogen and oxygenMade of 99% nitrogen and oxygen

• Protective layerProtective layer holds in enough sun’s heat to make life holds in enough sun’s heat to make life

possiblepossible Reflects some heat back to space so Earth Reflects some heat back to space so Earth

doesn’t get too hotdoesn’t get too hot Screens out dangerous rays of sunScreens out dangerous rays of sun

II. The Solar SystemII. The Solar Systema. Sun, Earth, and Moona. Sun, Earth, and Moon

MoonMoon• Earth’s nearest neighborEarth’s nearest neighbor• No light of its own, reflects sunlightNo light of its own, reflects sunlight• Orbits Earth– 30 days to complete Orbits Earth– 30 days to complete • Cold, rockyCold, rocky• No water or atmosphereNo water or atmosphere

II. The Solar SystemII. The Solar Systemb. Earth’s Movementb. Earth’s Movement

Axis– imaginary line runs through Earth’s Axis– imaginary line runs through Earth’s center b/w North & South Polescenter b/w North & South Poles• Earth rotates on axisEarth rotates on axis• Takes 24 hours Earth make complete spinTakes 24 hours Earth make complete spin

Makes one revolution around SunMakes one revolution around Sun• Takes 365 ¼ days Takes 365 ¼ days

Leap YearLeap Year• every 4 yearsevery 4 years• Extra ¼ days added to calendar as Feb. 29Extra ¼ days added to calendar as Feb. 29

III. The Sun and the SeasonsIII. The Sun and the Seasons Earth tilted 23 ½ degreesEarth tilted 23 ½ degrees Causes seasons change in orbit around Causes seasons change in orbit around

sunsun Hemispheres experience summer when Hemispheres experience summer when

sun’s direct rays hitsun’s direct rays hit

III. The Sun and the SeasonsIII. The Sun and the Seasonsa. Solstices and Equinoxesa. Solstices and Equinoxes

4 days of year have special names b/c 4 days of year have special names b/c position of sun in relation to Earthposition of sun in relation to Earth

Days mark beginning of seasonsDays mark beginning of seasons Summer SolsticeSummer Solstice

• June 21June 21• N. Pole tilted toward sunN. Pole tilted toward sun• At noon, sun appears directly overhead At noon, sun appears directly overhead

Tropic of CancerTropic of Cancer• Most hours day/ least hours of nightMost hours day/ least hours of night

III. The Sun and the SeasonsIII. The Sun and the Seasonsa. Solstices and Equinoxesa. Solstices and Equinoxes

Winter SolsticeWinter Solstice• December 22December 22• N.Pole tilted away from sunN.Pole tilted away from sun• Noon sun’s direct rays hit Tropic of CapricornNoon sun’s direct rays hit Tropic of Capricorn• Fewest hours of sunlightFewest hours of sunlight

EquinoxesEquinoxes• Spring and Autumn begin midway b/w 2 Spring and Autumn begin midway b/w 2

solsticessolstices• Day & night equal length both hemispheresDay & night equal length both hemispheres• Vernal Equinox- March 21– springVernal Equinox- March 21– spring• Autumnal Equinox- Sept. 23-- fallAutumnal Equinox- Sept. 23-- fall

Forces Shaping the Forces Shaping the EarthEarth

Chapter 1, Section 3Chapter 1, Section 3

I. IntroductionI. Introduction Thousands miles beneath feet Earth’s Thousands miles beneath feet Earth’s

heat turned metal to liquidheat turned metal to liquid Forces below has and does affect what Forces below has and does affect what

is on Earth’s surfaceis on Earth’s surface

II. Inside the EarthII. Inside the Earth Earth has 3 layers: core, mantle, and Earth has 3 layers: core, mantle, and

crustcrust CoreCore

• Center of EarthCenter of Earth• Hot iron mixed w/ metals & rock Hot iron mixed w/ metals & rock • 2 parts: 2 parts:

Inner CoreInner Core is solid is solid Outer CoreOuter Core is so hot metal has melted is so hot metal has melted into liquidinto liquid

II. Inside the EarthII. Inside the Earth MantleMantle

•Surrounds CoreSurrounds Core•Layer of rock abt 1,800 miles thickLayer of rock abt 1,800 miles thick•2 parts:2 parts:

Inner mantle--section nearest Inner mantle--section nearest core is solidcore is solid

Outer Mantle– rock sometimes Outer Mantle– rock sometimes melts, this melted rock called melts, this melted rock called magmamagma

II. Inside the EarthII. Inside the Earth CrustCrust

•Uppermost layer of EarthUppermost layer of Earth•Only 31 to 62 miles deepOnly 31 to 62 miles deep•Includes ocean floors, seven Includes ocean floors, seven

continentscontinents•Thinnest on ocean floor, thicker Thinnest on ocean floor, thicker

below continentsbelow continents

III. Forces Beneath the Earth’s CrustIII. Forces Beneath the Earth’s Crusta. Plate Movementsa. Plate Movements

Plate tectonics explain Earth’s Plate tectonics explain Earth’s structurestructure

Plate Tectonics TheoryPlate Tectonics Theory• Crust isn’t an unbroken shell, consists Crust isn’t an unbroken shell, consists

of plates (huge slabs of rock) that of plates (huge slabs of rock) that move. Plates float on top of liquid rock move. Plates float on top of liquid rock just below Earth’s crust. They move, just below Earth’s crust. They move, often in different directions. Continents often in different directions. Continents sit on these plates.sit on these plates.

Pangea– landmass that used to join all Pangea– landmass that used to join all the continentsthe continents

III. Forces Beneath the Earth’s CrustIII. Forces Beneath the Earth’s Crustb. When Plates Meetb. When Plates Meet

Movements of Earth’s plates shaped Earth’s Movements of Earth’s plates shaped Earth’s surfacesurface

Three events can occur when plates push Three events can occur when plates push against each other:against each other:

1. 1. Two continental plates smash into each Two continental plates smash into each other, produces high mountains.other, produces high mountains.

2.A continental plate slides over thinner ocean 2.A continental plate slides over thinner ocean plate, downward force of lower plate causes plate, downward force of lower plate causes molten rock to build up, as magma it erupts molten rock to build up, as magma it erupts to form volcanic mountainsto form volcanic mountains

3. pressure from 2 sliding plates build up, may 3. pressure from 2 sliding plates build up, may cause 1 plate move suddenly, resulting in an cause 1 plate move suddenly, resulting in an earthquakesearthquakes

III. Forces Beneath the Earth’s CrustIII. Forces Beneath the Earth’s Crustb. When Plates Meetb. When Plates Meet

Tsunamis caused by underwater Tsunamis caused by underwater earthquakesearthquakes

Faults caused when 2 plates slide Faults caused when 2 plates slide against each other, creating cracks against each other, creating cracks in Earth’s crustin Earth’s crust

IV. Forces Shaping LandformsIV. Forces Shaping Landformsa. Weatheringa. Weathering

Weathering– process of breaking surface Weathering– process of breaking surface rock into boulders, gravel, sand, and soilrock into boulders, gravel, sand, and soil

Weathering caused by water, frost, Weathering caused by water, frost, chemicals, & plantschemicals, & plants

IV. Forces Shaping LandformsIV. Forces Shaping Landformsb. Erosionb. Erosion

Erosion– process of wearing away or Erosion– process of wearing away or moving weathered materialmoving weathered material

Greatest factors that erode surface Greatest factors that erode surface material are: water, wind, icematerial are: water, wind, ice

Glaciers– giant, slow-moving sheets of Glaciers– giant, slow-moving sheets of iceice

Landforms and Landforms and WaterwaysWaterways

Chapter 1, Section 4Chapter 1, Section 4

I. IntroductionI. Introduction Seven continents on EarthSeven continents on Earth

•North AmericaNorth America•South AmericaSouth America•EuropeEurope•AfricaAfrica•AsiaAsia•AustraliaAustralia•AntarcticaAntarctica

II. Types of LandformsII. Types of Landformsa. On Landa. On Land

Mountains formed by collision of Earth’s Mountains formed by collision of Earth’s tectonic plates or by volcanoestectonic plates or by volcanoes

Tallest mountain is Mt. Everest, located in Tallest mountain is Mt. Everest, located in South Asia’s Himalayan mountain rangesSouth Asia’s Himalayan mountain ranges• Towers at 29,035 feetTowers at 29,035 feet

FoothillsFoothills– hills formed at base of – hills formed at base of mountainsmountains

ElevationElevation– height above sea level– height above sea level PlainsPlains– low-lying stretches of flat, gently – low-lying stretches of flat, gently

rolling landrolling land

II. Types of LandformsII. Types of Landformsa. On Landa. On Land

PlateausPlateaus• Flat, but have higher elevationFlat, but have higher elevation• Some have steep cliff form on one side Some have steep cliff form on one side

where plateau rises above nearby where plateau rises above nearby lowlandslowlands

ValleyValley• Long stretch of land lower than land on Long stretch of land lower than land on

either sideeither side CanyonCanyon

• Steep-sided lowlands that rivers have cut Steep-sided lowlands that rivers have cut through a plateauthrough a plateau

II. Types of LandformsII. Types of Landformsa. On Landa. On Land

IsthmusIsthmus•Narrow piece of land connects 2 Narrow piece of land connects 2

larger pieces of landlarger pieces of land PeninsulaPeninsula

•Piece of land with water on 3 sidesPiece of land with water on 3 sides IslandIsland

•Body of land smaller than continent Body of land smaller than continent & completely surrounded by water& completely surrounded by water

II. Types of LandformsII. Types of Landformsb. Under the Oceansb. Under the Oceans

Off each continent lies Off each continent lies continental continental shelfshelf•Plateau stretches for several milesPlateau stretches for several miles

TrenchTrench•Valley underwater, lowest spots in Valley underwater, lowest spots in

Earth’s crustEarth’s crust•Mariana Trench– deepest trench on Mariana Trench– deepest trench on

Earth (38,840 feet)Earth (38,840 feet)

II. Types of LandformsII. Types of Landformsc. Landforms and Peoplec. Landforms and People

Factors in why people decide to live Factors in why people decide to live in a particular area:in a particular area:•ClimateClimate•Available resourcesAvailable resources•Freshwater supplyFreshwater supply•Ability to grow foodAbility to grow food

II. Types of LandformsII. Types of Landformsc. Landforms and Peoplec. Landforms and People

ClimateClimate Average temperature and rainfall or Average temperature and rainfall or

a regiona region

III. Bodies of WaterIII. Bodies of Water

70% Earth’s surface is water70% Earth’s surface is water StraightStraight

•Narrow body of water b/w 2 pieces of Narrow body of water b/w 2 pieces of landland

ChannelChannel•Wider passageWider passage

Source of a river Source of a river •the point where the river originatesthe point where the river originates•Usually high in mountainsUsually high in mountains

III. Bodies of WaterIII. Bodies of Water

Mouth of a riverMouth of a river•Where it empties into another Where it empties into another

body of waterbody of water Deltas form by rivers carrying Deltas form by rivers carrying

and depositing soil and sand at and depositing soil and sand at the mouths of riversthe mouths of rivers