Download Exploring Earth`s Surface EQ: How do I describe the topography and

Exploring Earth’s Surface
EQ: How do I describe the
topography and spheres that make
up the Earth’s surface?
G1-1
Topography – shape of the land
Determined by an area’s
Elevation - height above sea level of a point on
Earth’s surface
Relief – difference in elevation between the highest
and lowest parts of an area
Landforms – feature of topography formed by the
processes that shape the Earth’s surface. All
landforms have elevation and relief
Landform region- large area of land where the
topography is similar
EQ: How do I describe the topography and spheres that make up
G1-1 surface?
the Earth’s
Types of Landforms
There are three main types of
landforms
–Plains
–Mountains
EQ: How do I describe the
topography and spheres
–Plateaus
that make up the Earth’s
surface?
G1-1
Plains
A landform made of flat or gently
rolling land with low relief
Two types of plains
Coastal plain
Interior plain
EQ: How do I describe the topography
and spheres that make up the Earth’s
surface?
G1-1
Coastal plain – plain
that lies along the
seacoast, low
elevation and low
relief i.e. area of land
that wraps along the
eastern and
southeastern shores
of the USA
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EQ: How do I describe the
topography and spheres that
make up the Earth’s surface?
Interior plain – a plain
that lies away from the
coast. Elevation can
vary, but relief is low
i.e. Great Plains
EQ: How do I describe the topography and spheres that
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make up the Earth’s surface?
Mountains
A landform with high
elevation and high
relief
Mountain Range – a
group of mountains
that are closely
related in shape,
structure and age
EQ: How do I describe the
topography and spheres that make
up the Earth’s surface?
G1-1
Plateaus
Landform with high elevation and more or less
level surface (low or no relief)
The Piedmont region of North Carolina
(where we live) is a plateau
EQ: How do I
describe the
topography and
spheres that
make up the
Earth’s surface?
G1-1
Earth’s Four Spheres
•
•
•
•
Lithosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
EQ: How do I describe the topography and spheres
that make up the Earth’s surface?
G1-1
EQ: How do I describe the
topography and spheres
that make up the Earth’s
surface?
Lithosphere
• Earth’s solid rocky outer
layer. Makes up the
earth’s crust and
uppermost mantle
• Made of continents,
islands, and ocean floor
• Surface varies from
smooth plains to jagged
mountain peaks
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EQ: How do I describe the topography and spheres that make up the Earth’s
surface?
Atmosphere
Outermost sphere
A mixture of gases that surround a planet
Earth’s atmosphere mostly made of nitrogen
and oxygen
Also contains water vapor , carbon dioxide and
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other gases
Hydrosphere
• All the water on Earth including oceans, lakes,
rivers, and ice
• Most of our water is ocean
EQ: How do I describe
the topography and
spheres that make up
the Earth’s surface?
G1-1
• The sphere or area
around the planet Earth
where life exists. Most
life forms live on, or
near the surface of
Earth.
• Some live deep within
the hydrosphere
• Others thrive in the
depths of the
lithosphere (solid
portion of Earth).
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Biosphere
EQ: How do I describe
the topography and
spheres that make up
the Earth’s surface?
Class Work and Homework
• Fill In
What did I learn
Confused
Say
EQ: How do I describe
the topography and
spheres that make up
the Earth’s surface?
• Read pages G14 – G18. Answer questions 1-5
with complete sentences.
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