1. PHYSICAL PROCESSES Unit 2 Notes

2. EARTH-SUN RELATIONSHIPS  Tilt: the angle of incline of the earth’s axis affects the temperature of a place.  Earth’s Tilt is at 23 ½ º  Direct rays: When a hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, the direct rays of the sun (or angle of incidence) is higher and it is summer in that hemisphere.  Indirect rays: When a hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, the direct rays of the sun or angle of incidence is lower and it is winter in that hemisphere.

3. 4 SPHERES OF EARTH  Lithosphere- Earth’s crust and solid upper mantle includes rocks, landforms, and other physical features  Earth’s crust is divided into large slabs of rock called tectonic plates  Continents are attached by the asthenosphere  Plate movement shapes Earth’s surface  Biosphere- refers to all life on Earth  Ecosystems  Biomes  Weather & climate influences where plants & animals can live and thrive

4. 4 SPHERES OF EARTH  Atmosphere-envelope of gases that absorbs radiation, moderates temperature, and distributes water  Greenhouse Effect- Layer of gases (ozone, methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapor) that absorbs heat and distributes it around the earth.  Natural way for Earth to retain its warmth and for plants and animals to survive.  Hydrosphere- all of Earth’s water, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and underground  Covers 70% of Earth’s surface

5. WEATHER  Weather refers to conditions in the atmosphere closest to Earth, which occur over a short period of time  Weather includes all forms of humidity, winds, and precipitation (rain, snow, or hail).  Weather is affected by:  Latitude  Elevation (height above sea level)  Wind Patterns  Ocean Currents  Mountain Barriers (blocks warm air masses, forcing them to turn cold & dry, preventing precipitation from travelling past mountain)

6. CLIMATE  Latitude  Low Latitude- between 23 ½° N and 23 ½ ° S (Tropical Rainforest, Tropical Grasslands, Desert)  Mid Latitude- between 23 ½ °N and 66 ° N AND 23 ½ ° S and 66 ° S (Grasslands, Humid Subtropical, Humid Continental, Mediterranean, Marine West Coast)  High Latitude- Poles; above 66 ° N AND below 66 ° S (Arctic & Subarctic)  Landforms (location, size, etc.)  Elevation  Proximity to large bodies of water  Water heats and cools slower than does land  Milder climates near large bodies of water  More extreme climates away from large bodies of water (continental climate).  Wind and Currents

7. ECOSYSTEMS  Ecosystem- community of living organisms (plants, animals, microbes) working jointly with non-living organisms (air, water, and soil) as one system.  External Factors  Climate  Rainfall Patterns  Temperature  Internal Factors  Types of Species Present  Decomposition  Root Competition

8. BIOMES  Deciduous Forest- mid-latitude regions; ample rain, moderate temperatures and cool winters.  Trees change color in fall, lose leaves in winter  Wide variety of plant and animal life  Tropical Rain Forest- located near the Equator, ample rainfall and warm temperatures year-round.  Large trees and leaves form a canopy over area  Widest diversity of plant and animal life  Grasslands & Savannas (Steppes)- drier climate, not enough rainfall to support trees. Grasses dominate these areas.  Savannas have some trees  Cattle, Antelope, Bison graze  Deserts- receive less than 10 inches of rainfall annually. Plant and animal life have adapted to lack of water and extreme temperature.

9. WEATHERING  Weathering- the wearing down of rocks on Earth’s surface by the actions of wind, water, ice, and living things  Mechanical Weathering- involves the breakdown of rocks and soil through direct contact with atmosphere  Heat  Water  Ice  Wind  Chemical Weathering- the direct effect of atmospheric chemicals or biologically-produced chemicals on rocks and soil  Carbonation  Hydration  Oxidation

10. EROSION  Water- the force of moving bodies of water carry away small pieces of rock, sand, and soil. Ex. Grand Canyon  Wind- wears down and carries away loose particles, more prevalent in arid and semi-arid climates  Glaciers- polishes the rock as it moves in basin, cracks pieces of rock after freezing, and freezes over sediment and forces it to move with it