P HYSICAL P ROCESSES Learning Goal 2: Describe how internal and external physical processes create landforms and shape patterns in the physical environment. CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS: Describe the physical processes that affect the environment. Examine the physical processes that affect the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Describe the characteristics of different landforms and the physical processes that cause their development.
E SSENTIAL ? (L EFT SIDE OF NOTES ) What are the physical processes that affect the Earth’s environment? Internal Forces, such as… External Forces, such as…
I NTERNAL P HYSICAL P ROCESSES Internal processes are events that occur within (under) the earth’s surface, specifically plate tectonics. Volcanoes, mountains, rift valleys, and islands are the result of these processes.
T ECTONIC FORCES The earth’s crust (lithosphere) is made up of tectonic plates that move over the hot flexible layer of the upper mantle. As the plates move they shape the physical features of the earth. Tectonic plates are large slabs of ? And they?
T ECTONIC F ORCES : T YPES OF B OUNDARIES Convergent- Collision (Slam Together) Convergent-Subduction (one under the other) Divergent (Go away from each other) Transforming/Faulting (slide past each other)
E XTERNAL P HYSICAL P ROCESSES External processes are those that occur outside the earth’s crust including… Weather Weathering vs. Erosion Deposition-deltas Soil building
W EATHER Weather is the condition of the atmosphere (temperature and precipitation) at a particular location and time.
W EATHERING VS. E ROSION Weathering breaks down rock. Erosion then occurs when weathered material (soil, rocks, etc.) is moved by the action of wind, water, and ice. Erosion carries the material away. Material (soil, rocks, etc) is moved by one of these agents to another location.
T YPES OF E ROSION Weathering breaks down rock, soil, etc. EROSION MOVES THE MATERIAL ACROSS THE EARTH’S SURFACE WATER (BIGGEST FORCE OF EROSION) Running water & Wave action: CANYONS WIND EROSION Moves & deposits sediment: DUNES ICE EROSION Moves & leaves debris behind: Carves out GLACIERS & VALLEYS yS9SvfZGrQ
S OIL -B UILDING P ROCESS Soil is… the loose mixture of weathered rock, organic matter, air, and water that support plant vegetation. Weathering and erosion are part of the process that builds soil. SOIL-Building: Soil is What? How is it created? Essential ?= Why is soil important?
Atmosphere = Air Air that surrounds the Earth. The atmosphere is most affected by wind currents. Biosphere = Life Wherever there are living organisms. (People, plants & animals) Hydrosphere = Water Wherever there is water: river, lakes, ponds, oceans, etc. The hydrosphere is affected by ocean currents. Lithosphere = Rock Includes the earth’s crust & upper mantle The lithosphere is affected by many processes, both internal (plate tectonics) and external (weather, erosion, soil building). Earth’s Four Spheres
L ANDFORMS Landforms are naturally formed features on the surface (lithosphere) of the earth. There are many different types of landforms, both oceanic (water) and continental (land). The major feature that designates different landforms is relief. What is RELIEF??