Parts II & III October 2015 Intro to Geography

Do Not Copy: THINK….Where do “we” live?....Let’s walk through it….

What controls events on the earth?. SUN – Provides Sunshine & Warmth. MOON – Controls our Tides

Imaginary Line that goes from the North Pole to the South Pole? It controls 2 factors: Rotation – This occurs over ____ hours – The term we use for it is a ____ Tilt – This occurs over four periods known as ______. Currently we are in the ____ Also our Earth Makes 1 Elliptical (??) Orbit or ____ every _____ Days.

Times of Lesser or Greater Heat are called? Twice a year the Earth’s poles tilt either toward or away from the Sun – These are called ____ - December 21 st and June 21 st Twice a year the Earth’s poles are not pointed toward or away from the Sun – These are called ____ -- March 21 st and September 22 nd.

The Earth System: The Earth is made up of four Spheres: A. Atmosphere – Envelope of gases which surround the earth. What is the percentage of Nitrogen to Oxygen? What gas protects our planet from harmful solar rays? B. Lithosphere – Solid crust of the planet including rocks and soil. C. Hydrosphere – All of the Earth’s water – which cover about 70% of the surface…all forms – liquid, solid and gas. D. Biosphere – That part of the earth that includes all living things – plants and animals, all creatures.

PART III

Factors Affecting Climate:

BASICS: WEATHER are the conditions of the atmosphere at a given place and time. CLIMATE are the weather conditions of a given geographical places over a long period of time. Temperature – Measurement of Heat. When the sun’s energy strikes the earth – half is either reflected back or absorbed by the atmosphere; while the other half is absorbed by the earth itself.

The Greenhouse Effect concerns how the earth’s atmosphere traps heat energy, which in turn helps keep the earth warm. Global Warming – Over the centuries the temperature of our earth has increased to the point where our polar ice caps are melting. Some people say it’s a cyclical event (supposed to happen over X-time) while other scientists blame our burning of fossil fuels (??) that in turn pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and that in turn helps hold in the heat.

Atmospheric Pressure: Air in the atmosphere has weight – The higher you go up in Altitude, the less air pressure. When air is heated it expands, becomes less dense and rises. This creates a Low-Pressure Area. Water vapor may form clouds, which in turn can bring storms. Low Pressure usually signals unstable weather conditions. In reverse, Cold air is dense and sinks to the earth’s surface, where it heats and dries, which in turn creates High-Pressure Areas. High Pressure usually signals stable, dry and clear weather.

Air pressure also affects Wind Patterns: On page 43 of your text you can see a diagram that reflects Pressure & Wind Systems. – Please check it out now. Doldrums – Zone along the equator that has little wind, in the days of sailing vessels – sailing in this zone could lead to days or weeks of being becalmed. Front – Occurs where two air masses of widely different characteristics meet. Precipitation usually occurs along fronts.

Oceans Affect Climate: Water in the oceans and other bodies of water heat and cool more slowly than the land surfaces. Ocean currents move heat back and forth between the tropics and the polar regions. Gulf Stream – Northward flowing, along the US East Coast, moves warm water. California Current – Southward flowing, along the West Coast moves cool water.

WEATHER FACTORS: Precipitation Comes in (4) Forms: Rain – Liquid Water Snow – Six-sided Ice crystals formed in clouds Sleet – Rain that freezes as it falls Hailstones – Chunks of ice that form in storm clouds Humidity – amount of water vapor in the air. – The higher the temperature – the more water can be held.

Evaporation – Process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas. Condensation – Process by which water changes from a gas to a liquid. Remember your maps … For every 1,000 feet of altitude you gain – the temperature drops 3.5° F