1. Earth’s Physical Geography
Chapter 2

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Seasons and Latitude Spring equinox Summer solstice Autumnal 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

7. The Revolution of Earth

8. Latitudes Low latitudes Middle latitudes High 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

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

10. ASSIGNMENT!!!

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

12. What Is Earth Made Of? The Core The Mantle The Crust
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

13. Water and Air Air Water 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

14. Forces Inside Earth Volcanoes Earthquakes
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

15. 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

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

17. ASSIGNMENT!!!

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

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

20. 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

21. 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.

22. Oceans and Currents

23. 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

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

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

26. ASSIGNMENT!!!

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

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

29. Climates Tropical Dry Temperate Continental Temperate Marine Polar
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

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

31. 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.

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

33. ASSIGNMENT!!!