CHAPTER 2 Earth in Space Pages 24-39

Earth: Rotation, Revolution & Seasons Solar System-sun & group of bodies that revolve around it –Milky Way Planets-major bodies that orbit a star (the sun) –8 total (Pluto=dwarf planet)

The Moon Moons=smaller object which orbit a planet –Natural satellite 240,000 miles away 29.5 days to orbit Earth Sun, earth, moon gravitational pull control tides

Solar Energy & Rotation Solar Energy-light & heat; gives us Earth’s energy. –Affects weather, plants, animals & us Rotation-one complete spin of the Earth –24 hours –East-west rotation Solar energy hits only ½ Earth facing the Sun. –Why important?

Revolution & Tilt Rev=earth’s circles around the sun. –365 ¼ days –Leap day (acct for extra) Tilt of axis –23 ½ degrees Affect on seasons & time zones?

Solstices v. Equinoxes Solstice-the earth’s poles greatest angle toward/away from Sun. –June 21, Dec 21 Equinox-both hemispheres get equal amount of sunlight (12 hours) –March 21, Sept. 22 Equator v. Tropics of Cancer/Capricorn.

Energy Sun’s energy the strongest during summer Weakest during winter Evenly distributed during fall/spring

Important Lats Tropic of 23 ½ degree N Tropic of 23 ½ S Arctic ½ N Antarctic 66 ½ S

THE TROPICS

Solar Energy & Lat Diff places on Earth receive diff amounts of solar energy Equator=receives a lot of solar energy all yr. Tropics=warm low-latitude areas near the equator Polar regions=high-lat regions receive very little solar energy.

Time Zones

Sun/Earth monuments

Weather v. Climate Climate is the temperature and precipitation in an area over a long period of time. Weather is the current temperature and precipitation in an area.

Just as the weather differs from day to day, the climate differs from place to place. Seattle, WA Houston, TX Phoenix, AZBarrow, AK Cool Warm Hot Cold Moist Moist Dry Dry

Two important elements of weather and climate are: precipitation and temperature Precipitation includes all forms of moisture falling to the surface of the earth. (Examples: rain, sleet, snow, hail) Temperature is how warm or cool the air is outside. * In this activity, mean temperature/precipitation is the same as average temperature/precipitation. Mean=Average

EARTH’S 4 SPHERES (aka environment) Atmosphere –Outermost, least dense, protection against Sun’s radiation, 78% N & 21%O Lithosphere –Solid crust on planet (continents, islands, ocean floor) Hydrosphere –Earth’s water, 70% of surface (liquid, solid, gas) Biosphere –All plants & animals, each affects the other

BLUE BEAUTY Photos by Astronaut Sunita Williams Photos by Astronaut Sunita Williams

SANDSTORM LEAVING NORTH AFRICA TOWARDS THE ATLANTIC – CANARY ISLAND.

GIBRALTAR STRAITS

NIGHT ARRIVES BETWEEN EUROPE & AFRICA

SWISS ALPS

ICELAND

BLACK SEA

RED SEA

OUR PLANET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE UNIVERSE AT NIGHT

France Iceland Italy ContinentalPlatform England ÁFRICA Already night time here. Spain Atlantic Ocean Cabo Verde Island Canary Islands Islas de la Madera y Azores

Grande São Paulo Rio de Janeiro Belo Horizonte Salvador Atlantic Ocean Brazilian Continental Platform. NIGHTFALL IN BRAZIL

Grande São Paulo Rio de Janeiro Salvador Recife Fortaleza Brasília Goiânia Uberlândi a Belo Horizonte Florianópolis

NIGHTFALL IN USA

The biggest concentration of lights (from top to bottom) are the cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington. MiamiHouston Dallas Chicago Still daylight in California. Puerto Rico