A Living Planet

Earth’s Core• Earth’s core is

made of iron and nickel.

• The mantle is the next layer and contains most of the earth’s mass.

• The crust is the thin layer of rock on the earth’s surface.

On and Above the Earth

• Surrounding the earth is a layer of gases called the atmosphere.

• It contains the oxygen we breath and protects us from radiation

Lithosphere• This is the solid

rock portion of the earth.

• Includes the crust and the uppermost mantle.

Hydrosphere• This is the water elements of the

earth.

Bodies of Water and Landforms

• Ocean covers 71% of the earth’s surface.

• Salty water in the ocean circulates through 3 basic motions- currents, waves, and tides.

• Lakes hold 95% of the earth’s fresh water.

Hydrologic Cycle

Ground water• Water held in the pores of rock is called

ground water.• Water table is the level of where the

rock has been saturated by the water.

Landforms• Naturally formed

features on the surface of the earth.– Earth’s surface from

the edge of a continent to the deep part of the ocean is called continental shelf.

Landforms continued…• The major geographic

feature that separates one type of landform from another is relief.

• Relief- is the difference in elevation of a landform from its lowest point to its highest point.

• Topography- combination of the surface shape and composition of the landforms and their distribution in a region.

Shaping the earth

Plate Movement• Divergent Boundary-

Plates move apart spreading Horizontally

• Convergent Boundary- Plates collide causing either one to dive under the other

• Transform Boundary- plates slide past one another

Weathering• Physical and Chemical processes

that change the characteristics of rock on or near the earth’s surface.

• Sediment- Weathering process causes smaller and smaller pieces of rock called sediment.

Chemical Weathering• This occurs when rock is changed into a

new substance as a result of interaction between elements in the air or water and minerals in the rock.

Mechanical Weathering• Process that

breaks rock down into smaller pieces.

Erosion• Occurs when weathered material is

moved by wind, water, ice, or gravity.

Soil• Soil is the loose

mixture of weathered rock.

Soil Factors• Parent Material- chemical composition of the

original rock, or parent rock, before it decomposes affects its fertility.

• Relief- Steeper slopes, eroded easily, do not produce good soil.

• Organisms- plants, small animals, and bacteria that decompose material.

• Climate- Difference in climates produces different soils.

• Time- Amount of time to produce soil varies.