 The Seasons –The seasons occur because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis.

 Equator –On March 21 and September 23 the sun is directly over the equator. This is the spring and fall equinox.  Tropic of Cancer –23 ½ N the sun shines directly upon this point on June 21 st or 22 nd. Summer Solstice  Tropic of Capricorn –23 ½ S the sun shines directly upon this point on December 21 st or 22 nd. Winter Solstice

 Low Latitudes –The area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This area is also known as the tropics.  North Pole –66 ½ N  South Pole –66 ½ S  High Latitudes –The area between the 66 ½ line and the pole.  Middle Latitudes –The area north and south between 23 ½ and 66 ½.

1. The Earth revolves and the Earth rotates. Explain the difference between the two. 2. What causes the Earth to have seasons?

 The Ring of Fire –The name for the area surrounding the Pacific Ocean which contains 90% of the worlds volcanoes and earthquake activity. Earthquakes and volcanoes are two forces that shape the Earth.

 Landforms -shapes and types of land.  Mountains –rise more than 2000 feet and peak.  Hills –less steep than mountains and rounded  Plateau –A large mostly flat area that rises above the land.  Plains –large areas of flat or gently rolling land

 Water –97% of the Earth’s water is salt water in the oceans. Most of the 3% of the fresh water is frozen at the poles.

 Weather –The day-to-day changes in the air.  Climate –The average weather for a region over many years.  Temperature –How hot or cold the air feels.  Precipitation –Water that falls to the ground as rain, sleet, hail, or snow.

 Similar latitudes should have similar climates.  Because latitude affects temperature, geographers know that there are different climates in the low, middle, and high latitudes.  Wind and water also play a role.  Hot air rises and cold air sinks causing the winds to blow from north to south and the rotation of the Earth cause air to move east to west.

 Adaptation –Features developed to help plants and animals adapt to a particular climate.  Vegetation –The plants that grow naturally in a particular climate.

 Tropical  Dry  Moderate  Continental  Polar

 Dry Climates– arid and semiarid climates receive very little moisture. Vegetation is sparse.  Moderate Climates –Found in the middle latitudes. Three types are Mediterranean, marine west coast, and humid subtropical.  Most of the world’s population resides in the moderate climates…not too hot, not too cold.  Continental Climates – Hot summers and cold winters.

 Polar Climates –The high latitudes which has the tundra. No trees with low grasses, mosses, and lichens.  Vertical Climate –The climate changes according to the height of a mountain. The higher you go, the climate changes according to mountain height.