1. Landscapes/Topography/ Measurement of Earth
Earth Science
Name _____________________

2. Shape of the Earth
It is actually an oblate spheroid, slightly larger at the equator than at the poles
We think of the
earth as a sphere
Caused by Earth’s rotation (spinning on its axis).

3. Circumference: distance around the circle.
Diameter: distance across the circle, through
its center
Radius: distance from its center to its edge.
40,008 km Polar Circumference
40,076 km Equatorial Circumference
12,714 km Polar Diameter
12,756 km Equatorial diameter

4. Gravity on Earth
Weight is maximum at the poles because you are closest to the center of the Earth.
Weight is minimum at the equator because you are farthest from the center of the Earth.

5. Regents Question 1
The Earth is slightly flattened from a perfect spherical shape because of
1. its rotation
2. the pull of the sun and moon
3. storms on the sun’s surface
4. its molten core

6. Regents Question 2
Which diagram most accurately shows the cross-sectional shape of the Earth drawn to scale?

7. Evidence of Earth’s shape…
6. Photos from space - best proof.

8. Latitude lines measure north or south of the equator (0°) splitting the earth into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.

9. Where is 0 degree? Equator The equator is 0 degree latitude.
It is an imaginary belt that runs halfway point between the North Pole and the South Pole.
Equator

10. Longitude
180° N W E
West Longitude
East Longitude
PRIME MERIDIAN S
Lines of longitude measure east to west of the Prime Meridian 0° to the 180° line.
TEKS: Social Studies –
6.22 (A), Using social studies terminology correctly
7.22 (A), 8.31 (A) 10

11. Polar view of Earth

12. 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.
TEKS: Social Studies –
6.22 (A), Using social studies terminology correctly
7.22 (A), 8.31 (A) 12

13. Latitude/longitude with minutes
There are 60 minutes in each degree. Each minute is divided into 60 seconds. Seconds can be further divided into tenths, hundredths, or even thousandths. For example, the U.S. Capitol is located at 38°53'23"N , 77°00'27"W (38 degrees, 53 minutes, and 23 seconds north of the equator and 77 degrees, no minutes and 27 seconds west of the meridian passing through Greenwich, England).

14. Polaris (latitude) North Star- found in the little dipper
Latitude = altitude of Polaris
Can only be seen in the Northern Hemisphere

15. What is the altitude of Polaris based on the latitude?

16. Time Zones (longitude)
Longitude is based on Earth’s rotation
Earth rotates counterclockwise at 15o/hr
360o/24hrs = 15o/hr
There are 24 time zones in the world- one for every line of longitude
People on the same line of longitude have the same solar time

17. HOW MANY TIME ZONES?

18. Longitude and solar time
Example: Two students record a
difference in local time of two hours. How many degrees of longitude apart are they?
15° x 2 hours = 30°

19. Topography Definition- the physical features of a place
The shape of the land
Relief- differences in elevation

20. 3 topographic features
Mountains-large areas that are raised. Formed by plate boundaries converging
May include a volcano
Mostly made from metamorphic rocks
Plateaus- are large areas that are raised and nearly flat on top
Formed by tectonic activity
Eroded by wind or water
Mostly made of sedimentary rock
Plains- large areas that are flat
Used for farmland-in the middle of the United States
Made of sedimentary rock

21. Plains- ex: The Great Plains

24. Drainage basin- land that supplies rivers and tributaries with water Drainage patterns-describes the way tributaries and rivers branch off in different directions. -The most common drainage pattern, is called dendritic.

25. Watershed- (a drainage basin)-a region of land whose water drains into a specified body of water

27. Topographic maps
Maps that indicate differences in elevation compared to sea level
Use contour lines to show elevation
Which are a type of Isoline- a continuous line connecting points of equal value
Contour interval- space between isolines showing difference in elevation

29. Contour lines-map

30. Gradient

31. Topographic Profiles