Processes Shaping Earth: Lithosphere, Plate Tectonics, and Effects
Processes Shaping our Earth
Four
components of our Planet
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
LITHOSPHERE
Lithosphere
•
Consists of the Earth’s
crust
and the top
section of solid
mantle
.
•
Brittle uppermost shell of the Earth is broken
into a number of
tectonic plates
.
•
The movement of the plates
shape
the Earth’s
surface.
Plate Tectonic Motion
•
The belief is that the Earth’s lithosphere is
divided into
large slabs
of rock known as
tectonic plates.
•
Earth’s
continents
are attached to these
plates.
•
Scientists believe that these plates move as
solid chunks floating on top of the more
plastic part of the mantle. They only move a
few centimeters
each year.
PANGAEA
What causes plate movement?
•
Convection
– the spread of
heat
through the
movement of fluid substance.
•
Gravity
– contributes to plate movement.
•
Brain Pop video over plate tectonics
http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem
/platetectonics/
Effects of Plate Tectonics
Mountain
building
Seafloor Spreading
and
Rift
Valleys
Earthquakes
and
Tsunamis
Volcanoes
Mountain Building
•
When two plates, known as continental
plates, slowly push into each they fold
upwards, creating
mountain chains.
•
This process has created the
Himalayan
mountains.
http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/collision.html
Seafloor Spreading and Rift Valleys
•
As the tectonic plates move
apart
they cause
the seafloor to spread and
magma
will rise up
and create a ridge of mountains.
•
The separation of tectonic plates can also
create
rift valleys
– long valleys between
parallel ridges of mountains.
Earthquakes and Tsunamis
•
Plate movement can cause a break in the Earth’s crust
called a
fault.
•
Plate movements can also cause
vibrations
known as
earthquakes
.
•
When the rocky crust breaks it will create a fault and
sending vibrations known as
seismic waves.
The
seismic waves are what scientist measure with a
seismograph
.
•
When an earthquake occurs under or near the ocean it
creates huge,
destructive
ocean waves known as
tsunamis
.
–
http://www.pep.bc.ca/tsunamis/causes_2.htm
T
S
U
N
A
M
I
S
Volcanoes
•
A place in which tectonic plates go in
different
directions
and sometimes one plate will dive
under another and cause pressure in the
Earth’s mantle.
•
A
volcano
can create
lava
when the magma
reaches the Earth’s surface.
•
Most volcanoes and earthquakes locations
match up
with the plate boundaries.
RING OF
FIRE
An area where
large numbers of earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions
occur in the basin of the Pacific
Ocean
Weathering,
Erosion,
and Deposition also
affect the l
ithosphere
.
•
Weathering
– the wearing down of rocks at the
Earth’s surface by the actions of wind, water, ice
and living things
•
Erosion
– process by which rock, sand, and soil are
broken down and carried away.
•
Erosion can
cut
a canyon like the Grand Canyon
or carve away a region leaving valleys and lakes
behind like the Great Lakes.
•
Deposition
– particles and sediment can be
deposited and build up by the same forces that
erode. For example, ocean waves can
bring
sand to
a beach.
Soil
•
Soil is a
mixture
of several
materials: sand, clay, rocks,
water, fungi, bacteria, and
decayed plants and
animals.
•
The type of soil affects the
plant life.
•
The deserts sands
cannot
support many forms of life.
•
The soil in rainforests often
lack
nutrients because they
are washed away.
•
Soils in
grassland
areas and
steppes
or the best for
farming.
Earth’s Landforms
•
Mountains
– formed by collision of
tectonic plates can be thousands of
feet in elevation.
•
Plateau –
flat highland whose sides
drop suddenly.
•
Valleys –
long, low areas between
ranges of mountains, hills, or
uplands. Often created by
erosion
,
and may have a river or stream
running along the bottom.
•
Canyon
– deep gorge or ravine
between cliffs, often carved from the
landscape by a river.
HYDROSPHERE
Hydrosphere
More than
70%
of the Earth’s surface is covered by water.
Water Cycle
•
The sun heats the surface
causing some of the
surface water to
evaporate.
•
Water vapor
condenses
into clouds.
•
Water returns to the
oceans and land as
precipitation.
•
Water on land and in the
ground
runs off
into the
oceans.
•
And the process repeats.
Tides and Currents
TIDES
•
Tides are caused by the
gravitational pull
of the moon
on Earth’s ocean waters.
•
High tide – a time when sea levels are at their highest.
http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/tides/
CURRENTS
•
The
movement
of the ocean’s waters.
•
They occur at the ocean’s surface and below.
•
Surface currents are caused by the spinning of the Earth
and winds.
ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMATE
ATMOSPHERE
•
The envelope of gases
around
the Earth
•
It is made up of
78%
nitrogen and
21%
oxygen.
•
It absorbs solar radiation, moderates temperatures, and
distributes water.
WEATHER
•
The
conditions
in the atmosphere closest to Earth, including
humidity, winds, and precipitation (rain, snow, or hail).
CLIMATE
•
The
average
weather conditions of a place over a long period
of time.
Geography of Weather
•
Weather is affected by latitude, elevation, wind
patterns, ocean currents, and mountain barriers.
•
Temperatures are usually warmer closer to the
Equator.
•
Temperatures are cooler in higher elevations.
•
Winds are based on the Earth’s
spin
. Depending on
the location winds can bring moist air and rain like
monsoons or they can leave an area dry.
•
Tropical hurricanes occur because the warm ocean
water evaporates so
quickly
that it causes an area of
low pressure.
Seasons
•
The Earth tilts on its
axis
as it
revolves around the sun.
•
The tilt causes the sun’s rays to hit
the Northern hemisphere longer
and more directly in summer than
in winter.
•
When it is summer in the northern
hemisphere it is winter in the
Southern hemisphere because the
Southern hemisphere is tilting away
from the sun and receives less
direct solar rays.
•
The two pole areas are very
different.
In the summer each pole
has 24 hours of sunlight while in the
winter the sun never rises in certain
areas around the North and South
pole.
BIOSPHERE
Biosphere
•
Refers to
all life
on Earth.
•
Biomes
– distinct geographic regions with
their own types of plant and animal life.
Types of Biomes
•
Temperate
Deciduous
Forest
–
Develop in areas with
ample
rain and moderate
temperatures with cool
winters.
–
Trees
change
color in the fall
and lose their leaves in winter.
•
Tropical Rain Forest
–
Develop in
tropical
areas near
the Equator where there is
ample rainfall and warm
temperatures year round.
–
Large trees form a canopy.
–
Great
abundance
of animal
and plant life.
Types of Biomes
•
Grassland and
Savanna or Steppes
–
Grassland exists
where the climate is
drier
and there is not
enough rainfall to
support large
amounts of trees.
–
Savannas are
grasslands with a
few
trees.
•
Deserts
–
Regions that receive
less than 10 inches
of
rainfall a year.
Types of Biomes
•
Tundra
–
Found closer to the
polar regions.
The ground is
frozen
most of the year.
Explore the components of our planet, such as the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Learn how the lithosphere, consisting of the Earth's crust and top solid mantle, interacts through plate tectonics, causing movements that shape the Earth's surface. Discover the concept of Pangaea and the factors driving plate movement, leading to phenomena like mountain building, seafloor spreading, rift valleys, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Four components of our Planet Lithosphere Hydrosphere Atmosphere Biosphere
Lithosphere Consists of the Earth s crust and the top section of solid mantle. Brittle uppermost shell of the Earth is broken into a number of tectonic plates. The movement of the plates shape the Earth s surface.
Plate Tectonic Motion The belief is that the Earth s lithosphere is divided into large slabs of rock known as tectonic plates. Earth s continents are attached to these plates. Scientists believe that these plates move as solid chunks floating on top of the more plastic part of the mantle. They only move a few centimeters each year.
What causes plate movement? Convection the spread of heat through the movement of fluid substance. Gravity contributes to plate movement. Brain Pop video over plate tectonics http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem /platetectonics/
Effects of Plate Tectonics Mountain building Seafloor Spreading and Rift Valleys Earthquakes and Tsunamis Volcanoes
Mountain Building When two plates, known as continental plates, slowly push into each they fold upwards, creating mountain chains. This process has created the Himalayan mountains. http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/collision.html
Seafloor Spreading and Rift Valleys As the tectonic plates move apart they cause the seafloor to spread and magma will rise up and create a ridge of mountains. The separation of tectonic plates can also create rift valleys long valleys between parallel ridges of mountains.
Earthquakes and Tsunamis Plate movement can cause a break in the Earth s crust called a fault. Plate movements can also cause vibrations known as earthquakes. When the rocky crust breaks it will create a fault and sending vibrations known as seismic waves. The seismic waves are what scientist measure with a seismograph. When an earthquake occurs under or near the ocean it creates huge, destructive ocean waves known as tsunamis. http://www.pep.bc.ca/tsunamis/causes_2.htm
T S U N A M I S
Volcanoes A place in which tectonic plates go in different directions and sometimes one plate will dive under another and cause pressure in the Earth s mantle. A volcano can create lava when the magma reaches the Earth s surface. Most volcanoes and earthquakes locations match up with the plate boundaries.
RING OF FIRE An area where large numbers of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean
Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition also affect the lithosphere. Weathering the wearing down of rocks at the Earth s surface by the actions of wind, water, ice and living things Erosion process by which rock, sand, and soil are broken down and carried away. Erosion can cut a canyon like the Grand Canyon or carve away a region leaving valleys and lakes behind like the Great Lakes. Deposition particles and sediment can be deposited and build up by the same forces that erode. For example, ocean waves can bring sand to a beach.
Soil Soil is a mixture of several materials: sand, clay, rocks, water, fungi, bacteria, and decayed plants and animals. The type of soil affects the plant life. The deserts sands cannot support many forms of life. The soil in rainforests often lack nutrients because they are washed away. Soils in grassland areas and steppes or the best for farming.
Earths Landforms Mountains formed by collision of tectonic plates can be thousands of feet in elevation. Plateau flat highland whose sides drop suddenly. Valleys long, low areas between ranges of mountains, hills, or uplands. Often created by erosion, and may have a river or stream running along the bottom. Canyon deep gorge or ravine between cliffs, often carved from the landscape by a river.
Hydrosphere More than 70% of the Earth s surface is covered by water. Water Cycle The sun heats the surface causing some of the surface water to evaporate. Water vapor condenses into clouds. Water returns to the oceans and land as precipitation. Water on land and in the ground runs off into the oceans. And the process repeats.
Tides and Currents TIDES Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon on Earth s ocean waters. High tide a time when sea levels are at their highest. http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/tides/ CURRENTS The movement of the ocean s waters. They occur at the ocean s surface and below. Surface currents are caused by the spinning of the Earth and winds.
ATMOSPHERE The envelope of gases around the Earth It is made up of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. It absorbs solar radiation, moderates temperatures, and distributes water. WEATHER The conditions in the atmosphere closest to Earth, including humidity, winds, and precipitation (rain, snow, or hail). CLIMATE The average weather conditions of a place over a long period of time.
Geography of Weather Weather is affected by latitude, elevation, wind patterns, ocean currents, and mountain barriers. Temperatures are usually warmer closer to the Equator. Temperatures are cooler in higher elevations. Winds are based on the Earth s spin. Depending on the location winds can bring moist air and rain like monsoons or they can leave an area dry. Tropical hurricanes occur because the warm ocean water evaporates so quickly that it causes an area of low pressure.
Seasons The Earth tilts on its axis as it revolves around the sun. The tilt causes the sun s rays to hit the Northern hemisphere longer and more directly in summer than in winter. When it is summer in the northern hemisphere it is winter in the Southern hemisphere because the Southern hemisphere is tilting away from the sun and receives less direct solar rays. The two pole areas are very different. In the summer each pole has 24 hours of sunlight while in the winter the sun never rises in certain areas around the North and South pole.
Biosphere Refers to all life on Earth. Biomes distinct geographic regions with their own types of plant and animal life.
Types of Biomes Temperate Deciduous Forest Develop in areas with ample rain and moderate temperatures with cool winters. Trees change color in the fall and lose their leaves in winter. Tropical Rain Forest Develop in tropical areas near the Equator where there is ample rainfall and warm temperatures year round. Large trees form a canopy. Great abundance of animal and plant life.
Types of Biomes Grassland and Savanna or Steppes Grassland exists where the climate is drier and there is not enough rainfall to support large amounts of trees. Savannas are grasslands with a few trees. Deserts Regions that receive less than 10 inches of rainfall a year.
Types of Biomes Tundra Found closer to the polar regions. The ground is frozen most of the year.
