1. Monday September 15 th, 2014 AGENDA: Review Chapter 1, Section 1 Begin Chapter, Section 2 Chapter 1, Section 2 Changes Within the Earth 7.2.8.A: Explain the characteristics of places and regions. 7.2.8.B: Explain the physical processes that shape patterns on Earth’s surface. CC.1.2.8.A: Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas. Objective: Students will be able to explain two (2) physical characteristics and processes of Geography.

2. I. Physical Characteristics Geology is the study of the earth’s physical structure and history. The earth is 4.6 billion (4,600,000,000) years old. Since the beginning, the earth has been changing. Geologists try to identify these changes, explain the causes and effects, and predict future changes.

3. A. The Earth’s Layers

4. i. Core a)Center of the earth, it consists of very hot metal. 1.Mainly iron mixed with some nickel. 2.Inner Core = Dense and Solid. 3.Outer Core = molten or liquid.

5. ii. Mantle a.Thick layer of rock that surrounds the core. 1.1,800 miles thick. 2.Mostly solid with some flexible upper layers. HERE

6. iii. Crust a)This is a rocky surface layer. 1. Surprisingly thin, like frosting on a cake. 2. Thinner parts are located below ocean (about 5 miles thick). 3. Crust beneath continents is thicker, (about 22 miles thick).

7. B. Land, Air and Water Geographer’s often talk of the different elements of the earth’s natural environment as a set of related “spheres” dominated by different physical forms. They study how spheres operate and interact with each other and with humans.

8. i. Lithosphere a)Made up of soil, rocks, landforms and other surface features.

9. ii. Atmosphere Layer of air, water and other substances above the surface.

10. iii. Hydrosphere a)Consists of water in oceans, lakes, rivers and even underground.

11. iv. Biosphere a)World of plants, animals and other living things that occupy the land and waters of the planet.

12. C. Characteristics of Earth i.Land a)Continents – large land masses in the oceans. b)There are seven (7). Asia is the biggest. ii. Water a.70% of the earth’s surface.

13. D. Characteristics of Landforms i.Land covers about 30% of the earth’s surface. ii.Land is made up of four main kinds of landforms – natural features of the earth’s land surface. a.Mountainsc. Plateaus b.Hillsd. Plains *** Each landform is described by: Elevation – height above sea level Relief – the difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points.

14. a. Landforms - Mountains 1.Mountains are the highest of the world’s landforms. 2.They rise at least 2,000 ft. above sea level. 3.Example: Mount Everest – located in central Asia.  29,035 ft. above sea level.  High relief. 4.Mountains generally have a high relief.

15. b. Landforms - Hills 1.Hills are lower than mountains. 2.Rise 500 to 2,000 ft. above sea level. 3.Generally have a low relief.

16. c. Landforms - Plateaus 1.Plateaus are raised areas of flatland (or almost flat). 2.Rise 300 to 3,000 ft. above sea level. 3.Most of them have a low relief.

17. d. Landforms - Plains 1.Plains are large areas of flat or rolling land. 2.Rise less than 1,000 ft. above sea level. 3.They have a low relief. Example: North European Plain – World’s largest plain. It stretches more than 1,000 miles.

18. E. Physical Processes i.Forces that shape landforms a.Volcanoes 1. Forms when magma breaks through earth’s crust. 2. Lava – molten rock located on the surface. b.Movements in the crust 1. fold – rock layers bend and buckle. 2. faults – breaks in the earth’s crust.

19. F. Understanding the Past i.Plate Tectonic Theory a.Earth’s outer shell is not one solid sheet of rock. b.Upper layer of mantle is broken into a number of moving plates. c.Plates are not anchored in place, they slide. d.Oceans and continents ride on plates that move in different directions. *** Most earthquakes, volcanoes, etc. occur along plate boundaries.

20. F. Understanding the Past cont. ii. Continental Drift Theory a. Alfred Wegener (1900s) 1. German Scientist 2. Pangaea Supercontinent *It began to break up into separate continents about 180 million years ago.

21. F. Understanding the Past cont. iii. Seafloor Spreading a. Landforms under water resembled continental landforms. b. Underwater ridge system – a series of under water mountains that extend around the world. ** Rock from mantle rises beneath ridge and spreads out in both direction.

22. F. Understanding the Past cont. iv. Plate Movement a. convection v. When plates meet a. spreading b. subduction c. convergence d. faulting

23. F. Understanding the Past cont. vi. Explaining Volcanoes a. Ring of Fire 1.a circle of volcanoes surrounding the Pacific Ocean. b. “Hot Spots” 1. Hot regions deep within the earth’s mantle. 2. As molten rock rises towards earth’s surface, the magma may heat underground water and produce hot spring geysers.

24. G. Plate Movement i.Convection is the force that moves plates. a. It is a circular movement caused when material is heated, expands and rises, then cools and falls. b. Process is thought to be occurring in the mantle rock beneath the plates.