Sectio n 2 Land, Water, Climate

Landforms Land covers 30% of the earth.

4 Main Landforms Mountains Hills Plateaus Plains Mountains Hills Plateaus Plains

Mountains High relief (highest) 2,000 feet above sea level Himalayas – Central Asia Mt. Everest – 29,028 ft. (highest mountain) High relief (highest) 2,000 feet above sea level Himalayas – Central Asia Mt. Everest – 29,028 ft. (highest mountain)

HillsHills Moderate ReliefModerate Relief 500-2,000 ft.500-2,000 ft. Moderate ReliefModerate Relief 500-2,000 ft.500-2,000 ft.

Plateaus Low relief Raised areas of flat or almost flat land 300-3,000 ft. Low relief Raised areas of flat or almost flat land 300-3,000 ft.

Plains Low relief Large areas of flat or gently rolling land Less than 1,000 ft. Largest Plain – North European Plain (more than 1,000 miles from west coast of France to the Ural Mountains of Russia Low relief Large areas of flat or gently rolling land Less than 1,000 ft. Largest Plain – North European Plain (more than 1,000 miles from west coast of France to the Ural Mountains of Russia

Earth’s 3 Layers Core Mantl e Crust Core Mantl e Crust

Core Center Inner core – solid rock Outer core – melted rock Center Inner core – solid rock Outer core – melted rock

Mantle Made mostly of hot, solid rock

Heat from core Rock in mantle begins to rise Puts pressure on crust Causes crust to move in sections- plate tectonics Plates move.8 – 2 inches per year

Movement of Plates Move Togethe r Move Apart Slide Past One Another

Contine ntal Drift

Continental Drift: movement of plates 220 million years ago…220 million years ago… Pangaea – one large land massPangaea – one large land mass Africa & South America moved apartAfrica & South America moved apart India & Asia collided forming….India & Asia collided forming…. Himalayas

Volcanoes Created by plate movementCreated by plate movement Cone – shaped mountains made when melted rock (lava) flows up from mantle, cracks the crust, and cools into solid rockCone – shaped mountains made when melted rock (lava) flows up from mantle, cracks the crust, and cools into solid rock Example: the Hawaiian IslandsExample: the Hawaiian Islands

Earthquakes Created by plate movementCreated by plate movement Tectonic plates slide past one anotherTectonic plates slide past one another 800,000 earthquakes a year (50,000 can be felt)800,000 earthquakes a year (50,000 can be felt)

“Ring of Fire” Pacific Ocean Common Place for earthquakes and volcanoes Pacific Ocean Common Place for earthquakes and volcanoes

These plates are still moving. Who knows…. In thousands of years California may be located off the coast of Canada!

Outside forces that shape our earth Wind Ice Wate r Erosio n

Wind Erosion

Wind Erosion – Positive Plains of Northern China – wind carries thick, rich, yellowish soil (loess) from the desert Large amounts of wheat and other crops are grown here

Wind Erosion - Negative Dust Bowl of 1930sDust Bowl of 1930s Central U.S. – wind blew away so much soil it became known as Dust BowlCentral U.S. – wind blew away so much soil it became known as Dust Bowl

Water Erosion

Water Erosion - Positive Mekong River in Southeast AsiaMekong River in Southeast Asia River carries rich soil down from the mountains to lowlands creating fertile farmlandRiver carries rich soil down from the mountains to lowlands creating fertile farmland

Water Erosion - Negative Huang Ho River in Northern ChinaHuang Ho River in Northern China Overflows, flooding farms and homesOverflows, flooding farms and homes

Ice Erosion

Ice Erosion - Positive Ice Ages: 4 times in 500,000 yearsIce Ages: 4 times in 500,000 years Glaciers (sheets of ice) created lakes and channels for rivers; smoothes hills into plainsGlaciers (sheets of ice) created lakes and channels for rivers; smoothes hills into plains

Ice Erosion - Negative Ice Ages have driven people and animals from homesIce Ages have driven people and animals from homes

How have landforms affected history?

1. People do not settle in mountain because: Travel is difficult Hard to breath; thin air Cold temperatures

2. People did settle in plains and hilly areas because there was rich soil to farm

Waterway s 70 % of the earth’s surface is water.

Oceans: Largest Bodies of Water Atlantic Pacific Indian Arctic Bodies of Salt Water

Seas Partly surrounded by land Salt water

Lakes Usually fresh water Completely surrounded by land

Rivers Waterway that empties into another body of water Begins in hills or mountains

Rivers River System – a river and all streams that flow into it Nile River: Longest river system in the world

Waterways help people decide where to live: Trade Travel irrigation Hunting Drinking water Along rivers Why?

Climate

What shapes climate? Sun Large bodies of water Air movement

Climate is the pattern of weather of a place over many years

Climate is shaped by the Sun

The Sun Produces heat and light The movements of the earth determines how the sun affects climate

Rotation Revolution Movements of the Earth

Rotation The earth rotates (spins) on its Axis Axis – imaginary line that runs through the center of the earth from North Pole to South Pole 24 hours = 1 rotation Causes day and night

Revolution The earth moves around the sun in an almost circular path called an orbit 365 ¼ = 1 revolution Causes seasons

Climate Zones

Tropical Temperate Polar

Climate and Water Large bodies of water keep temperature from becoming too hot or too cold How?

Climate / Air Movement / Oceans Wind – air that moves Prevailing winds – blow from certain positions almost all the time Monsoons – winds that change direction according to the seasons

Ocean Currents Ocean water that flows in a steady stream Winds and ocean currents carry heat and moisture all over the world

Currents from equator to pole carry warm water

Currents from pole to equator carry cool water

Climate & Altitude Climate is shaped by altitude Higher the altitude – colder the climate

Do people live in high altitudes? YES!

Incas lived in Andes Mountains because the climate is more comfortable

Tarahumara Indians must migrate during cold seasons

Precipitation The falling of moisture such as rain or snow Precipitation is affected by altitude

Climate Shapes History Types of houses Crops Work clothes Entertainment The way a country behaves to its neighbors wars