Earth Systems

Geography Definition

Why it is where it is - the study of distribution patterns in the landscape.

Physical Geography

The study of the physical or environmental elements of geography.

Human Geography

The study of the human/ cultural elements of geography.

Environmental spheres & earth systems

Earth's surface is a complex interface, four principal components of the environment meet, overlap, interact, and are interconnected.

Earth’s environmental spheres

Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere

Lithosphere

Made up of rocks and mineral matter

Atmosphere

Mix of gases

Hydrosphere

Comprises water in all its forms, FROZEN WATER exists in the CRYOSPHERE.

Biosphere

Encompasses all the parts where living organisms exist.

Two solstices

June and December Solstice

Two Equinoxes

March and September Equinox

23.5* N Latitude

Sun is directly overhead at this latitude

24 hours of darkness

Antarctic circle is has — during June solstice

June Solstice

Summer in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter in the Southern Hemisphere

December Solstice

Winter in the Northern Hemisphere and Summer in the Southern Hemisphere

Significance of seasonal patterns

Spread of solar rays over small and large areas, tropical latitudes are consistently warmer, polar latitudes consistently cooler, large seasonal variations in temperature in midlatitudes.

24 hours

24 hoursDay length at the equator

After the March Equinox

When the maximum day length increase in the Northern Hemisphere

During the June solstice

When the Northern Hemisphere's day length is at its max

During the December solstice

When the Southern Hemisphere's day length is at its max

Tropical Year, Lunar Month, Solar Day

The three physical measures of time

Solar Noon

Sun Casts the shortest shadow, Ante-meridian (AM) - before non, Post-Meridian Afternoon (PM)

Current Time Zones

There are 24 time zones, Greenwich Mean time (GMT) is standard, controlling meridian for each time zone, several countries have multiple time zones in their borders, time zone boundaries subject to local political and economic boundaries of different nations. 180* West Meridian chosen as international date line.

Daylight Savings Time

Move clocks ahead by an hour during the summer months, originally done by Germans in WW11: now practiced by many nations, conserves lighting energy by providing an extra hour of daylight. Move back during the winter months.

Shape of the earth

Earth is an Oblate Spheroid

The December Solstice

The South Pole is nearest the Sun during —

Days would be 48 hours

If Earth rotated at one-half its current rotational speed

The equator

Lines of longitude have the greatest distance between each other at which location

7pm

If the time is 12am in Greenwich, England, what time is it in NYC?

Sun’s heating is stronger

When the sun's rays strike Earth perpendicularly. (90 degree angle)

Tropic of Cancer

The Northern Hemisphere summer solstice is experienced on June 21. On this date, at solar noon, the Sun is directly overhead at the what?

Equator

The Speed of rotation of Earth's surface is highest at the what?

Advantage of globes

Maintains correct geographic relationships between points, can accurately represent spatial relationships between points on Earth.

Disadvantage of globes

Only can see a hemisphere at a time, large and bulky, cannot contain much detail.

Nature of maps

2-dimensional representation of Earth's surface
• Show 4 key properties of a region
- Size
- Shape
- Distance
- Direction
• Maps are imperfect, since Earth is a sphere
- Maps are always smaller than the area they represent
- Map scales are necessary to understand realistic distances on map
- Scale is the relationship between area on map and area on Earth.

Graphic, Fractional, Verbal

Primary types of maps (3)

Map Essentials

Title, date, legend, scale, direction, location, data source, and map projection

Map Projection - Equivalent

The ratio of areal size on the map and Earth is the same.

Map Projection - Conformal

Shape of locations on the map is the same as on Earth.

Sun warms the atmosphere

• Sun produces energy through Nuclear Fusion

• Sun’s energy form of electromagnetic radiation

Equator - Direct sunlight

Poles - sunlight at a low angle

Difference between temperature around the Equator & Poles 

Land changes temperature quickly

Water warms and cools slowly 

Why do continents experience greater temperature extremes than oceans?

• Atmospheric circulation 

• Ocean currents

• Winds

• Jet Streams

How is energy transferred around the world by the atmosphere and ocean currents?

Latitude Weather Patterns

Lower latitude - higher temp 

Altitude Weather Patterns

Higher altitude - lower temp

Proximity to Water Weather Patterns

Coastal areas - milder temp

Cloud Cover Weather Patterns

Can reflect sunlight/ trap heat

Season Weather Patterns

Earth’s tilt causes variations

Human’s Effect on Weather Patterns

Burning fossil fuels - increase in Temp GLOBAL WARMING 

Nitrogen (78%)

Oxygen (20%)

Components of the atmosphere

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere Thermosphere, Exosphere

 Ordered layers of the atmosphere

Troposphere

Lowest layer, temp decreases-increasing alt (80% atmosphere mass)

Stratosphere

Stagnant air, OZONE LAYER, temp increases-increasing alt

Mesosphere

Temp decrease - increasing altitude

Thermosphere

Temp increases - increases altitude

Exosphere

Transition to interplanetary space 

Temperature, Moisture, Wind, Air Pressure

Four ingredients of weather and climate

7 Controls of weather & climate

Seven most important “controls” of weather and climateLatitude, Dist. Land & Water, Circulation of Atmosphere, Circulation of Oceans, Altitude, Topographic Barriers, Storms

Coriolis force

Caused by Earth's rotation - Makes moving air (and water) curve rather than straight

• NH air to the Right 

• SH air to the Left climate