1. Landforms, Water, and Natural Resources
World Geography Today
4/13/2017
CHAPTER 4
Landforms, Water, and Natural Resources
Section 1: Landforms
Section 2: The Hydrosphere
Section 3: Natural Resources
Chapter 04

2. Objectives: Section 1 Landforms
What physical processes inside Earth built up the land?
What physical processes on Earth’s surface wear down the land?
How do these physical processes interact to create landforms?

3. Plate tectonics create landforms:
Section 1 Landforms
Plate tectonics create landforms:
Earth’s crust is made up of moving plates, which spread, collide, and slide laterally past each other.
Spreading plates form oceanic ridges undersea and rift valleys on land.
Colliding plates cause trenches and volcanoes undersea and mountains on land.
Plates sliding laterally cause fractures and earthquakes.

4. Forces on Earth’s surface:
Section 1 Landforms
Forces on Earth’s surface:
Weathering and erosion shape the land.
weathering—slow and hard to detect; includes chemical and physical processes
erosion—movement of surface material—by water, wind, and ice—wears down land

5. Tectonics and surface forces interact:
Section 1 Landforms
Tectonics and surface forces interact:
Landforms are created through a combination of forces.
For example, a mountain range is formed by tectonics, then weathered and eroded to create valleys, alluvial fans, deltas, and other landforms.

6. Objectives: Section 2 The Hydrosphere
In what forms and where do we find water on Earth?
What are the causes and effects of floods?

7. Water on Earth: Section 2 The Hydrosphere Forms
saltwater—97 percent of world’s water
freshwater—most frozen in ice caps; less than 1 percent in vapor and liquid form
Where liquid fresh water is found
surface water—in rivers, lakes, estuaries, wetlands
groundwater—stored in soil and water table

8. Floods: Section 2 The Hydrosphere
Causes—heavy rains, sudden snow melts; human activity may contribute
Effects—erosion, loss of vegetation, death and destruction

9. Objectives: Section 3 Natural Resources
Why are soil and forests important resources?
What are the concerns about water quality and air quality?
What are some of the ways minerals are used?
What are the main energy resources, and how are they used?

10. Importance of soil and forests:
Section 3 Natural Resources
Importance of soil and forests:
Soil is crucial for food production.
Forests protect soil from erosion, provide species habitats, and yield useful products.

11. Concerns about air and water quality:
Section 3 Natural Resources
Concerns about air and water quality:
air pollution—threatens air supply, creates acid rain, damages the ozone layer, may contribute to global warming
water pollution— threatens clean water supply, contributes to shortages

12. Minerals Section 3 Natural Resources
Minerals are used in many processes and products, including construction, jewelry, and manufacturing.
Examples: building materials, airplanes, cans, glass.

13. Energy resources Section 3 Natural Resources
Energy resources include fossil fuels—coal, natural gas, petroleum—and uranium.
Uses:
uranium—energy for nuclear power
coal—heat source; power for steam engines, mills, electricity generation; dye making
petroleum—lamp fuel; gasoline, diesel and heating fuel; asphalt, petrochemicals
natural gas—home and industrial heating; fuel