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This is a wide, wide world

Our planet Earth i. Introduction

The Solar System.

The Universe is made up of millions of galaxies.

Our galaxy is called the Milky Way. It contains millions of stars, including the Sun.

The Earth and seven other planets orbit the Sun. Together they form the Solar System.

The Earth spins on its axis. It also orbits (or moves around) the Sun. These movements explain why we have day and night and the changes in the seasons on the Earth.

1. The Solar System 1.1.TheSolarSystem

The Solar System is made up of eight planets, three dwarf planets and other celestial bodies, like comets, asteroids and satellites.

The Sun is at the centre of the Solar System, and the planets travel in circular paths, called orbits, around it.

The eight planets are divided into two groups:

• The inner planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. These four planets are closest to the Sun.

• The outer planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Asteroids are small bodies of rock and metal that orbit the Sun. The inner planets are separated from the outer planets by a ring of asteroids called the asteroid belt.

Satellites are bodies that orbit a planet. The Moon is the Earth's satellite.

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In 2006, a new category of planets was established called dwarf planets. Dwarf planets are spherical and orbit the Sun like other planets. However, unlike other planets, they share their orbit with other celestial bodies.

There are three dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto and Eris.

2. Planet Earth It'sasmallworld

Although the Earth is enormous, modern technology has made distances seem much smaller.

In the 16th century, Magellan and Elcano took three years to sail around the world for the first time.

Today, a jet plane takes less than two days to fly around the Earth and astronauts take only one hour to orbit the Earth.

2.1.Theblueplanet

From space, the Earth looks blue. This is because of the oxygen in the atmosphere and the abundance of seas and oceans. The Earth is often given the name the Blue Planet.

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The Earth is a sphere, but it is not perfectly round. It is slightly flattened at the poles. The shape of the Earth is known as a geoid.

The equator is an imaginary line that runs around the middle of the Earth. It separates the planet into two equal hemispheres.

• The northern hemisphere contains most of the continents. • The southern hemisphere mostly contains seas and oceans.

TheEarth'sdimensions

The Earth's equator is 40077 kilometres long, or 40 times the distance between Paris and Zaragoza.

The total surface area of the Earth is 510000000 km2, about 1000 times bigger than Spain.

The imaginary lines we draw on the Earth

help us to understand its dimensions.

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Climates and landscapes of the Earth Introduction

Greece. Greenland. Cambodia.

The Earth is divided into three climate zones: the hot zone, the temperate zones and the cold zones.

Each zone has a different climate. The variety of climates creates many different types of landscapes.

Most of Europe is in the temperate zone. The Iberian Peninsula is located in the south-west of Europe. Its climate has its own unique characteristics.

6.Observe.TheEarth'slandscapesLook at the photographs and answer the following questions: Which climates on Earth do you associate with each of the photographs? Which of the landscapes most resembles the place where you live? Why have landscapes in colder regions been modified less by human action?

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Switzerland Canada

Ireland.

United States

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Algeria Greece.

1. The Earth's climates 1.1.TheEarth'sclimatezones

There are three climate zones on Earth:

Thehotzone

This area is between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. It receives the most direct sunlight (insolation). Because temperatures are high all year, there is no winter.

We divide the hot zone into three different climates: equatorial, tropical and desert.

Thetemperatezones

The temperate zones are between the tropical zone and the polar zone in both hemispheres.

Temperate zones have four seasons: the more extreme winter and summer seasons, and the milder spring and autumn seasons.

We can identify three different types of climate in the temperate zones: oceanic, Mediterranean and continental.

Thecoldzones

The cold zones include the area around the poles, and also areas above an altitude of 2500 metres. We refer to these two climates as polar climates and mountain climates.

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2. Equatorial and tropical landscapes 2.1.Equatoriallandscapes

The location of equatorial and tropical climates.

Equatorial landscapes are in areas near the equator. They include the Amazon, parts of Central America, the Congo, the Gulf of Guinea and Southeast Asia.

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• The temperatures in these areas are high (around 25°C) and rainfall is heavy and regular (approximately 2000 mm).

• Rivers in this climate have a high, regular flow. • Vegetation is lush with abundant plant species. These forested areas are known as jungle.

Many trees grow very tall in search of sunlight. There are also many bushes, grasses and flowers.

• In the jungle, as well as mammals, there are many species of birds, reptiles and insects. Most animals are small and move easily in the dense vegetation.

2.2.Inhabitantsoftheequatorialzone

Jungles in South America and Africa are sparsely populated. Inhabitants live from fruit, hunting animals and basic farming.

Asian jungles are more densely populated. Apart from the jungle, there are also plantations of rice, sugar cane, tea and latex to make rubber.

Equatorial climate, Uaupés (Brasil).

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There are different levels of vegetation in the jungle.

2.3.Tropicallandscapes

Tropical landscapes are in areas to the north and south of the equatorial area, in Central and South America, Central and Southern Africa, South and Southeast Asia and north and east Australia.

• The temperatures are high all year. There are two seasons: the rainy season (summer) and the dry season (winter).

• River flow varies depending on the season. In the rainy season, the rivers rise but are almost dry during the dry season.

• Savannas are common in tropical zones. Savannas are open grasslands with shrubs and isolated trees.

• Many herbivores live in the savannas. These include elephants, gazelles, zebras and antelopes. Predators like lions, hyenas and leopards also live there.

2.4.Inhabitantsofthesavanna

People in some indigenous villages keep animals and raise livestock. Other villages depend on agriculture and practice crop rotation.

There are also plantations of cacao, coffee, sugar and tea that are usually owned by foreign companies.

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Tropical climate, Banfora (Burkina Faso).

To survive in the savanna, plants have developed extensive root systems.

3. Desert, polar and mountain landscapes

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3.1.Desertlandscapes

Desert landscapes are located in the tropics near cold ocean currents and in the interior areas of continents.

Temperatures are very high during the day and very cold at night. Rainfall is light and irregular.

There are no rivers in the desert but there are wadis. This is the Arabic word for dry riverbeds that contain water only at certain times of the year. There is almost no vegetation because of the harsh climate.

Inhabitantsofthedesert

Deserts are sparsely populated. Groups of pastoral nomads live there with herds of sheep and camels. The nomads constantly move around to find water.

Settlements can be found near oases. An oasis receives water from underground sources or from melting snow in nearby mountains.

3.2.Polarlandscapes

The polar landscapes are in the north of the Arctic Circle and the south of the Antarctic Circle.

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Temperatures are very low (between 0°C and –40°C). Precipitation is low and usually in the form of snow.

Vegetation only grows during the warmest period of the year. It is limited to the areas bordering the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. These areas are called tundra. Vegetation is in the form of mosses, lichens and small flowers.

Inhabitantsofthepolarlandscapes

Eskimos live in the tundra of North America, where they form villages dedicated to hunting and fishing. The Sami people raise herds of reindeer in Northern Scandinavia.

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3.3.Mountainlandscapes

Mountain landscapes can be found in areas above 2500 metres.

In these areas, temperatures are very low. Precipitation is heavy but decreases as altitude increases. The precipitation on mountaintops is in the form of snow.

Three factors affect vegetation: latitude, altitude and the direction the vegetation faces. However, as a general rule, the vegetation in an area always changes in stages with changes in altitude.

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Inhabitantshighinthemountains

The inhabitants of this area raise livestock, log forests, generate hydroelectric power and farm the land.

Tourists also come to the mountains to go skiing, mountain climbing and hiking.

The main feature of mountain vegetation is its variation according to altitude.

4. Oceanic and continental landscapes

The oceanic and continental climates.

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Oceanic climate, Dublin (Ireland).

4.1.Oceaniclandscapes

Oceanic landscapes are along the coastline between latitudes 40° and 60°, north and south of the equator.

• The ocean causes mild temperatures. Rainfall is light and regular. • Rivers have a high, regular flow throughout the year. • Meadows are the most common form of vegetation.

Other types of vegetation include deciduous forests (oak, chestnut and beech trees) and moors (uncultivated areas of low-lying vegetation).

• Mammals such as bears, foxes and wild boars live in the forests. Small rodents like mice live on the moors.

4.2.Humansandtheenvironment

Western Europe is very heavily populated. Forests have been cut down to make pastures for livestock or fields for crops, such as corn and potatoes.

In North America, southern Chile and Argentina, there are still many forests.

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In Australia and New Zealand, there is a lot of grassland, allowing for extensive livestock.

Deciduous forest (left) and moor (right).

4.3.Continentallandscapes

Continental landscapes are in the interior of Europe, Asia and North America.

• These areas are far from the ocean and its influence. For this reason, temperatures are extreme with hot summers and cold winters. Precipitation is scarce.

• Although there is little rain, rivers have a high flow. This is due to the numerous tributaries that flow through the large plains.

• In the north, the most common vegetation is taiga with pine, fir, larch and birch trees. • In the south, temperatures are higher and rainfall lighter. There are extensive grasslands in these

areas, such as steppes and prairies. • Common fauna in coniferous forests include deer, moose, squirrels and hares.

4.4.Humansandtheenvironment

The trees of the taiga are used to make cellulose, which is then made into paper.

The steppes are used for raising livestock and growing cereals.

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Continental climate, Moscow (Russia).

In the taiga, trees grow very close to each other as protection against strong winds.

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5. The Mediterranean landscape

The Mediterranean climate.

Mediterranean climate, Athens (Greece).

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5.1.TheMediterraneanlandscape

The Mediterranean landscape is found on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, California, central Chile, South Africa and southern and southwest Australia.

• In the Mediterranean climate, summers are hot and winters are mild because of the proximity to the sea. Autumn is the rainiest season.

• Rivers have a low, irregular flow due to seasonal variations in rainfall.

In summer, rivers carry little water and some are completely dry. Storms often cause floods after especially arid summers.

• Mediterranean forests are made up of evergreen trees such as pines and holm oaks. Shrubland forms the undergrowth of the forests.

The effects of grazing by animals as well as forest fires are causing forests to disappear. In their place, maquis and garrigue shrubland has become abundant.

• Large mammals, such as bears or wolves, are now rare in the Mediterranean landscape. However, there are many mice, rabbits, hares, snakes and other reptiles. There are also numerous insects and birds.

Garrigue (left) and maquis (right) shrubland.

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A Mediterranean forest with pines and shrubland.

5.2.Humansandtheenvironment

The land in the Mediterranean landscape is very good for farming:

• Areas with a steep relief, poor soil and little water have been converted into dryland farming areas. This produces crops such as cereals, grapes and olives.

• The construction of canals and dams has allowed for irrigated farming to grow fruits and vegetables. • Mild winter temperatures are good for growing rice, cotton and citrus fruits. • Vegetables like peppers, fruits like strawberries and flowers are grown in greenhouses.

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The Mediterranean coast is an important tourist destination because of its mild climate and rich historical and cultural heritage.

6. Europe's climates and landscapes 6.1.ThediverseclimatesandlandscapesofEurope

The wide variety of climates and landscapes in Europe is mainly due to three factors:

• Latitude. Most of the continent is between latitudes 35°N and 60°N. This means that Europe has temperate climates (continental, oceanic and Mediterranean).

• The influence of the sea. Europe is a peninsula surrounded by oceans and seas. This proximity to the sea results in mild temperatures and abundant precipitation in most of the continent.

• The relief. The predominance of western-facing plains in Europe causes high humidity and rain. The southern mountain ranges isolate the interior from the influence of the Mediterranean Sea.

6.2.Europeanvegetationandfauna

Tundra is the vegetation in Northern Europe. To the south there are coniferous forests.

In areas with mountain climates the vegetation is divided into different levels.

In the rest of the continent, the indigenous vegetation, such as mixed forests, deciduous forests, Mediterranean forests and steppes, has disappeared due to human activity.

The fauna has also changed as a result of human intervention. There are fewer large mammals, such as bears and moose, than before. Small mammals in Europe include rabbits, hares and squirrels. Among typical birds are falcons, eagles and storks.

Europe’s climates and landscapes.

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7. Spain's climates and landscapes 7.1.ThewidevarietyofclimatesinSpain

The majority of Spanish territory is on the Iberian Peninsula. On the Peninsula, we can find the three different types of temperate climates as well as the mountain climate in the main mountain ranges.

The climates on the Iberian Peninsula are different from those of the rest of Europe for three reasons:

• Geographical location. The Iberian Peninsula is in the southern part of the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. This means that it is closer to the tropical zone than the polar zone.

• The influence of the sea and the relief. The Iberian Peninsula is affected by the sea, which creates a mild climate. However, the mountains prevent the sea from influencing inland areas.

• Altitude. The average altitude of the Peninsula is quite high.

Oceanicclimate

The oceanic climate is mild and humid. Due to the latitude of the Peninsula, it is warmer than other more northern areas of Europe that also have an Atlantic coast.

Mediterraneanclimate

The Mediterranean climate has mild temperatures in winter and very high temperatures in summer. Rainfall is scarce, usually occurring in spring or autumn.

ContinentalMediterraneanclimate

The interior part of the Peninsula has a mainly Mediterranean climate. However, its high altitude and distance from the sea result in continental features, such as cold winters.

Subtropicalclimate

The Canary Islands have a subtropical climate with high temperatures and scarce, irregular rain.

Spain’s climates and landscapes.

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What is the climate like where you live? Describe it and also its vegetation. The town of Malaga is located in a privileged natural space. The environmental and geographic conditions have had an obvious impact on the growth and development of the town, above all the maritime influence. The situation of the municipal area on two river beds (Guadalhorce and Guadalmedina), its mountain scenery and climate have also been fundamental. The Mediterranean Sea soaks the shores, and the mountains surround Malaga and thus form a barrier that prevents from cold, and a soft climate is created thanks to the sea that works as a thermic regulator. The warmest months are July and August, the coldest months December and February, with temperatures between 32ºC and 15ºC. The total hours of sunshine per year sum up to 2.830. Rainfalls are strongly limited to certain seasons, with an average of 45 rainy days per year, with the maximum of rainfalls restricted to late autumn and the winter months.