Download Geography Chapter 2

Earth’s Physical
Geography
Earth’s Physical Geography
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The Seasons – The seasons occur
because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis.
The Seasons
Earth’s Physical Geography
Looking at Latitudes
Equator – On March 21 and September 23 the
sun is directly over the equator. This is the
spring and fall equinox.
Tropic of Cancer – 23 ½ N the sun shines
directly upon this point on June 21st or 22nd.
Summer Solstice
Tropic of Capricorn – 23 ½ S the sun shines
directly upon this point on December 21st or
22nd. Winter Solstice
Earth’s Physical Geography
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Low Latitudes – The area between the Tropic
of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This
area is also known as the tropics. (tropical
climate)
North Pole – 66 ½º - 90º N
South Pole – 66 ½º - 90º S
High Latitudes – The area between the 66 ½º
line and the pole. (polar climate)
Middle Latitudes – The area north and south
between 23 ½º and 66 ½º. (moderate climate)
Earth’s Physical Geography
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Essential Questions:
1. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of the different ways of
showing the Earth’s surface. (maps vs.
globes)
2. What causes the Earth to have
seasons?
Earth’s Physical Geography
Land, Air, and Water
 Five things determine where people live:
Food, Water Shelter, Climate, Flat Land
 The Ring of Fire – The name for area
surrounding the Pacific Ocean which
contains 90% of the worlds volcanoes
and earthquake activity. Earthquakes
and volcanoes are two forces that shape
the Earth.
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Earth’s Physical Geography
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What is the Earth
made of?
 Landforms - shapes
and types of land.
 Mountains – rise
more than 2000 feet
and peak.
 Hills – less steep
than mountains and
rounded
Earth’s Physical Geography
Plateau – A large
mostly flat area that
rises above the land.
 Plains – large areas
of flat or gently
rolling land.
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Earth’s Physical Geography
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Water – 97% of the Earth’s water is salt
water in the oceans. Most of the 3% of
the fresh water is frozen at the poles.
Earth’s Physical Geography
Climate and What Influences It
Weather – The day-to-day changes in the
air.
 Climate – The average weather for a region
over many years.
 Temperature – How hot or cold the air
feels.
 Precipitation – Water that falls to the
ground as rain, sleet, hail, or snow.
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Earth’s Physical Geography
The three things that affect climate – Wind,
Water, Latitude and sometimes Landforms!
Similar latitudes should have similar climates.
Because latitude affects temperature,
geographers know that there are different
climates in the low, middle, and high latitudes.
Wind and water also play a role.
Hot air rises and cold air sinks causing the winds
to blow from north to south and the rotation of
the Earth cause air to move east to west.
Earth’s Physical Geography
Rain Shadow
Earth’s Physical Geography
How Climate Affects Vegetation
 Adaptation – Features developed to help
plants and animals adapt to a particular
climate.
 Vegetation – The plants that grow
naturally in a particular climate.
Earth’s Physical Geography
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Water currents also move from hot to
cold…how does latitude, wind, and water
movement affect climate?
Earth’s Physical Geography
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The Earth’s Five Types of Climates:
Tropical
Dry
Moderate
Continental
Polar
Earth’s Physical Geography
Canopy – the uppermost branches in the
rain forest create a covering that allows
little light to reach the forest floor. The
rain forest is associated with a tropical
wet climate. Very wet and rainy climate.
 Dry Climates – arid and semiarid
climates receive very little moisture.
Vegetation is sparse.
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Earth’s Physical Geography
Moderate Climates – Found in the
middle latitudes. Three types are
Mediterranean, marine west coast,
and humid subtropical. Page 38.
 Most of the world’s population resides in
the moderate climates…not too hot, not
too cold.
 Continental Climates – Hot summers and
cold winters.
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Earth’s Physical Geography
Polar Climates – The high latitudes
which has the tundra. No trees with low
grasses, mosses, and lichens.
 Vertical Climate – The climate changes
according to the height of a mountain.
The higher you go, the climate changes
according to mountain height.
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