1. The Natural Environment
The natural environment is a highly complex system with an array of subsystems and a multitude of interconnected processes operating on diverse spatial and temporal scales.
C Moore. GEOG 274.

2. The Four Spheres Strahler, A. and Strahler, A., 2005.
Physical Geography.
Wiley, NY.

3. The Atmosphere Thin blanket of air. Held by gravity.
Reservoir of essential nutrients.
Changing through time.
Perpetual motion.
Dynamic nature manifested by climate and weather.

4. The Hydrosphere Water in its three states.
Water varies in its salinity.
Initially as vapour and later as water and ice.
Continuous movement through space and time.

5. The Hydrologic Cycle
Strahler, A. and Strahler, A., Physical Geography. Wiley, NY.
C Moore. GEOG 274.

6. The Lithosphere Outer layer of planet’s surface.
Composed of mineral matter.
Mostly solid.
Sculpted into landscapes composed of individual landforms.
Separated into tectonic plates.

7. Map of Tectonic Plates
Christopherson, R., Geosystems. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ

8. The Biosphere Encompasses all organisms.
Occupies life layer intersecting with atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
Genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
Species richness = number of species.

9. Lithosphere

10. The Earth’s Crust Strahler, A. and Strahler, A., 2002.
Physical Geography.
Wiley, NY.
C Moore. GEOG 274

11. Rocks of the Earth’s Crust
Rock: aggregate of minerals in solid state.
Mineral: naturally occurring inorganic substance.
Earth's crust is composed of primary and secondary minerals.

12. Minerals
Solid inorganic substances with clearly defined composition and properties
Some minerals are a single chemical element (Gold-Au, Copper-Cu, Iron-Fe) other are the formation of a chemical bond (Quartz – SiO4)
There are more than 4000 different minerals
Common: feldspar, quartz, mica
Precious/Rare: diamonds, rubies, emeralds

13. Classification – Color and Transperency
The chemical composition gives minerals color called idiochromatic
Minerals that vary in color are allochromatic
Minerals can allow light to pass through, some straight through= transparent.
Some let some light through= translucent
Allowing no rays of light through= opaque

14. Hardness
Hardness depends on the strength of the atomic bonds in the minerals
Mohs scale assigns a value from 1-10 to indicate its hardness

15. Streak When rubbed minerals leave a trace of powder
The color may be different from that of the mineral
Idiochromatic leave bright colored powder
Allochromatic leave a white/pale powder

16. Elements of the Earth’s Crust
Strahler, A. and Strahler, A., Physical Geography. Wiley, NY.
C Moore. GEOG 274