Download external physical processes

PHYSICAL
PROCESSES
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.
INTERNAL PHYSICAL PROCESSES
•
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.
TECTONIC 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.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCpeF1ZJ7_M
TECTONIC FORCES: TYPES OF
BOUNDARIES
Convergent- Collision (Slam Convergent-Subduction
Together)
(one under the other)
Divergent (Go away from
each other)
Transforming/Faulting (slide
past each other)
EXTERNAL PHYSICAL PROCESSES
•
•
•
•
External processes are those that occur outside
the earth’s crust including…
Weather
Weathering vs. Erosion
Soil building
WEATHER
•
Weather is the condition of the atmosphere
(temperature and precipitation) at a particular
location and time. Weather is short term!
WEATHERING VS. EROSION
•
•
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Weathering breaks down rock.
Erosion then occurs when weathered material is
moved by the action of wind, water, and ice.
Material (soil, rocks, etc) is moved by one of these
agents to another location.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyysL02ZvQ8
TYPES OF EROSION
Weathering breaks down rock.
WATER (BIGGEST FORCE OF
EROSION)
EROSION MOVES THE ROCK
ACROSS THE EARTH’S SURFACE
Running water & Wave action:
CANYONS
WIND EROSION
Moves & deposits sediment:
DUNES
ICE EROSION
Moves & leaves debris behind:
Carves out GLACIERS &
VALLEYS
SOIL-BUILDING PROCESS
•
Soil building is…
The collection of a 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.
• It is important because different soils support
different types of vegetation
•
THE FOUR SPHERES
•
•
•
•
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The earth’s physical environment can be divided
into four categories (made up of?).
Lithosphere=
Atmosphere=
Hydrosphere=
Biosphere=
LITHOSPHERE
•
The lithosphere is outermost shell of the earth
composed of the upper mantle and the crust. It is
made up of soil, rocks, landforms, and other
surface features. The lithosphere is affected by
many process, both internal (plate tectonics) and
external (weather, erosion, soil building).
ATMOSPHERE
•
The atmosphere is the body of air that surrounds
the earth’s surface. The atmosphere is most
affected by wind currents. It is affected by
external processes.
HYDROSPHERE
•
The hydrosphere is composed of the water on
earth including oceans, lake, rivers, and supplies
underground. The hydrosphere is affected by
ocean currents. It is affected by external
processes.
BIOSPHERE
•
The biosphere is the world of living things
(people, plants, and animals) that occupy the
lands and waters of earth. It is affected by
internal and external processes.
LANDFORMS
•
•
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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.
Relief: The variations in elevation of an area of
the earth's surface.