Ch. 2 “A Living Planet”

Ch. 2.1 “The Earth Inside and Out”

The Solar System Nine (Eight) planets and other celestial bodies that revolve around a sun Earth is 3rd planet

Earth’s Structure Core: solid, very hot, made of iron and nickel Mantle: molten rock aka. magma Crust: made of tectonic plates Plates that rise above ocean waters form the 7 Continents

Above Ground Atmosphere: layer of gases that surround earth Lithosphere: solid rock surface Hydrosphere: water elements Ecosphere/Biosphere: plants and animals

“Continental Drift Theory”

“Sea Floor Spreading” One of the causes continental drift. Occurs over millions of years Magma

Ch. 2.2 “Bodies of Water and Landforms”

Oceans and Seas Oceans: interconnected body of salt water Covers 71% of planet 3 basic motions: Current Waves Tides

Lakes, Rivers, Streams Lakes: Hold 95% of all fresh water Can be both fresh and salt water (Great Salt Lake) Rivers and Streams feed water to oceans and lakes Drainage basin: area drained by rivers and streams

“Hydrologic Cycle” Continuous circulation of water between the: Oceans, Lakes Atmosphere Earth

Ground Water Water that is held in pores of rock Water table The level at which the rock is saturated

Landforms Naturally formed features on the earth 2 kinds: Oceanic Continental

Oceanic Landforms Seafloor has same features except below water Continental Shelf: edge of continent to deep part of ocean

Continental Landforms Relief: difference in elevation from lowest to highest point

Ch. 2.3 “Internal Forces that shape the earth”

Plate Tectonics Pieces of earths crust that float on magma Interaction of plates is what shapes the earth

Plate Boundaries Plate Boundaries: where plates come in contact with one another 3 Types Divergent Convergent Transform

Divergent boundary plates move apart or spread Example is sea floor spreading Magma

Convergent Boundary Plates collide and either: Dive under one another Rip up Fault: fracture in the earths crust Fig 1 Fig 2

Transform boundary Plates slide past one another Earthquake: violent movement of plates

Earthquakes Epicenter: surface mark of quakes beginning Richter scale: measures amount of energy released by an earthquake. Tsunami: giant wave

Volcanoes Where magma (lava) pours out of earth onto the surface Ring of Fire: volcanic zone around the rim of Pacific Ocean

Ch. 2.4 “External Forces Shaping the earth”

Weathering The mechanical-(physical) and chemical process that changes earth Break down rock to form sediment 2 forms: A. Mechanical B. Chemical

Mechanical Weathering Process that breaks rock into smaller pieces Ice crystals, plant roots, drilling are all examples

Chemical Weathering When rock is changed into new substance after reacting to air or water Ex: iron rust

Erosion The movement of weathered material 3 Kinds: A. Water B. Wind C. Glacier

Water Erosion Movement of material through the motion of water flow through streams, rivers, ocean currents -when a river enters the ocean, sediment is deposited in fan-like landforms called deltas

Wind Erosion Movement of material through the wind

Deposits New landforms are created by loess- Wind-blown silt and clay sediment that produces fertile soil.

Glacial Erosion Glacier: large, long lasting mass of ice Glaciation: changing of landforms by slow moving glaciers Ridges or hills formed by glacial rocks are called a moraine.

Building Soil Weathering and erosion are part of the process of “building soil” Soil is comprised of rock, humus, air, and water Humus: organic material Organic: deriving from plant or animal matter