The Lithosphere Unit 1 Part 1

Earth Science

The Scope of Earth Science  Can be broken into four major areas : 1. Astronomy – Astronomers study the universe and everything in it, including Earth.. 2.Meteorology – Meteorologists study the forces and processes that cause the atmosphere to change to produce weather. – Try to predict the weather.

The Scope of Earth Science 3.Geology – Geologists identify rocks, study glacial movements, interpret clues to Earth’s 4.6 billion-year history, and determine how forces change our planet. 4.Oceanography – Oceanographers study the creatures and measure different physical and chemical properties of the oceans.

 Scientists who study Earth have identified four main Earth systems:

1.The Lithosphere – Includes the crust, continental crust and oceanic crust as well as the upper part of the mantle. 2.The Hydrosphere – About 97 percent of Earth’s water exists as salt water; the remaining 3 percent is freshwater contained in glaciers, in lakes and rivers, and beneath Earth’s surface as groundwater.

Earth’s Systems 3.The Atmosphere – Earth’s atmosphere is necessary for respiration by most living things, protects Earth’s inhabitants from harmful radiation from the Sun, and helps to keep the planet at a temperature suitable for life. 4.The Biosphere – Includes all organisms on Earth as well as the environments in which they live.

Example of Sphere Interactions Humans (biosphere) built a dam out of rock materials (lithosphere). Water in the lake (hydrosphere) seeps into the cliff walls behind the dam, becoming groundwater (lithosphere), or evaporating into the air (atmosphere). Humans (biosphere) harness energy from the water (hydrosphere) by having it spin turbines (lithosphere, because the turbines come from metal ores in the ground) to produce electricity.

Mapping- Unit 1

Latitude and Longitude

Latitude lines run east/west but they measure north or south of the equator (0°) splitting the earth into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.

Latitude North Pole South Pole Lines of latitude are numbered from 0° at the equator to 90° N.L. at the North Pole. Lines of latitude are numbered from 0° at the equator to 90° S.L. at the South Pole. ] [

Latitude The North Pole is at 90° N The South Pole is at 90° S The equator is at 0° latitude. It is neither north nor south. It is at the center between north and south. 40° N is the 40° line of latitude north of the equator. 40° S is the 40° line of latitude south of the equator.

Longitude The Prime Meridian is located at 0°. It is neither east or west Lines of longitude begin at the Prime Meridian. 60° W is the 60° line of longitude west of the Prime Meridian. Longitude lines run North/ South but they measure East or West of the Prime Meridian splitting the earth into the Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere. 60° E is the 60° line of longitude east of the Prime Meridian. WE

Longitude Lines of longitude are numbered east from the Prime Meridian to the 180° line and west from the Prime Meridian to the 180° line. PRIME MERIDIAN West Longitude East Longitude 180° N EW S North Pole

Prime Meridian The Prime Meridian (0°) and the 180° line split the earth into the Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. Prime Meridian Western Hemisphere Eastern Hemisphere Places located east of the Prime Meridian have an east longitude (E) address. Places located west of the Prime Meridian have a west longitude (W) address.

INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE 180° SEPARATES 2 CALENDAR DAYS. America to Asia – gain a day Asia to America – lose a day

By combining latitude and longitude, any location can be pinpointed

A location’s coordinates (____° N or S, ____ ° E or W)

Isolines An isoline is a line connecting points of equal value. Also known as Contour lines Isopleths

Examples of isolines: Isotherms: points of equal temperature Isobar: points of equal barometric (air) pressure

Rules for Drawing Isolines: 1. Isolines connect points of equal value.  15 55 55  10

2. Isolines are gentle, curving lines- no sharp corners.  15 55 55  10

3. Isolines are always closed curves even though the map might only show part of it.

4. Isolines NEVER cross- this would mean that one point has two different values. 20° 30 ° 40 ° 50 ° 60 ° XX YY ZZ

5. A steep (high) gradient changes quickly and the isolines are close together. A gentle (low) gradient changes slowly and the lines are far apart. Steep area Gentle area

Steep slope Gentle slope

6. Hachure marks represent a closed depression