NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS An Introduction

What is Geography? Geography focuses on the distribution of natural phenomena and the interaction of humans with the natural world.

Natural Environments The environment is made up of all: The natural components and conditions found there. Non- living components such as….. Living things. Such as…. It is the inter-relationship of these features that produces a variety of natural environments

Characteristics of Natural Environments What are some of the characteristics which cause natural environments to vary?

Characteristics of Natural Environments List 5 characteristics under each of the following categories Climate Topography Natural Vegetation Soils

A Natural System A natural system is any ordered, interrelated set of things. A major natural system is made up of geographic characteristics of four components: Biosphere Lithosphere Atmosphere Hydrosphere

The earth’s four spheres The biosphere is part of the earths atmosphere, hydrosphere or lithosphere that contains living and non-living matter. The lithosphere is referred to as the earth.

The earth’s four spheres The atmosphere is comprised of the gases surrounding the earth. It is commonly referred to as ‘the air above us’ Most living things occur within the first 8km of the troposphere The hydrosphere is composed of the water components of the earth such as oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater, glaciers, snowfields and ice caps.

Interaction between spheres

Inputs and Outputs A natural system functions because of a number of inputs, processes and outputs that interact with each other and with components to make up the natural system. The inputs come from one of the 4 spheres. The processes that operate do so as a result of the interactions between them.

Inputs and components

Processes

Outputs

Summary