1. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY EQ: Why is it important to study physical geography?

2. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY ENVIRONMENTS: All the surroundings of all place Land, water,weather patterns, plants,and animals Physical geographers study the characteristics of a place and how it affects people

3. LANDFORMS:Physical features: 70% water 30% land Mountains,hills,plains, plateaus Vary greatly in shape/size Affect the way people live

4. CLIMATE Kind of weather a place has over a long period of time Seasonal temperatures, precipitation, wind patterns Affects how we live, our work, our housing,our clothing, and the crops we grow Many different climates on the earth.

5. Using the map in your textbook,how many different climates are listed?

6. THE EFFECT OF THE SUN: Tilt of the earth as it revolves around the sun places the equator in a position to receive more direct rays from the sun. The north and south pole receive indirect rays and is therefore, cooler in temperature

7. CLIMATE ZONES: Region between-Tropic of Cancer,Equator, to the Tropic of Capricorn: direct rays =Tropical climate zone North and south of the tropics = the Temperate climate zones, 4 distinct seasons Always cold,only indirect rays,south and north of the temperate zones= Polar climate zone

8. OTHER INFLUENCES ON CLIMATE: Winds are currents/masses of air that blow around the earth. Sun heats the current/air expands,warm air rises,pushes the cold air Front is the air that is moving( expanding or being pushed) Winds carry moisture(water vapor) precipitation

9. OTHER INFLUENCES ON CLIMATE (cont.) Winds carry water vapor Elevation: high+winds= cooler lower+winds= warmer Distance from ocean,size, shape of landform all influence climate.

10. NATURAL RESOURCES Materials found in nature that people can use Water,air, soil, animals Unevenly dispersed across the earth

11. MINERALS and FOSSIL FUELS Minerals/substances found in nature, are not plants /animals –Metals: iron,copper,gold –Non -metals: salt Coal, natural gas, petroleum= fossil fuels remains of plants/ animals Important source of energy

12. VEGETATION: Trees,flowers, grasses,all plant life Forest: requires lots of water found in many climate zones Grasslands :do not require lots of water, found in the temperate zones

13. VEGETATION (cont) Deserts have little to no plant life Tundra a plain found in polar zones –Soil is permanently frozen –Tiny plants and mosses live here

14. Summary Landforms,climate,and natural resources shape the physical geography of a place. Which do you think has been the most dominant in shaping the physical geography of your community?