Chapter Two

A Living Planet

Section One: The Earth Inside & Out

The Solar System• consists of 8 planets• the sun• other celestial bodies

Continental Drift Theory• Alfred Wegner said the

continents slowly drifted apart through millions of years

• Pangaea: supercontinent

The Earth’s Interior

Core• Inner• Outer

Mantle Crust

On and Above the Earth

Lithosphere Hydrosphere

Atmosphere Biosphere

Section Two:Bodies of Water & Landforms

Oceans & Seas• One interconnected

body of water• Covers about 70% of

the Earth’s surface• Regulates

temperatures• Divided into…

Atlantic Arctic Pacific Indian

*Southern

Bodies of Water

Ocean motion• Currents • Waves – wind• Tides –

gravitational pull

Hydrologic Cycle• Draw and label

the diagram

Landforms on pages 34-35

Section Three:Internal Forces Shaping the Earth

Tectonic Plates – enormous pieces of the Earth’s lithosphere

Plate Movement

Movement Types• Spreading • Sub-duction • Collision • Sliding

(shearing)

Boundary Types (faults)• Divergent• Convergent• Transform

Earthquakes

• From transform boundaries (sliding)

Faults – Fractures in the crust

Epicenter- point above the focus

Seismograph – measures the size of waves produced

• Create Tsunamis when the epicenter is on the ocean floor

Volcanoes

• From divergent or convergent boundaries

Magma – below the surface

Lava – above the surface

• Ring of Fire: thousands of active volcanoes that surround the Pacific plate

Section Four:External Forces

Weathering• Mechanical –

physical breakdown • Chemical – new

substance formed (rust)

Erosion – from weathering• Water• Wind

Loess – wind blown silt and clay sediment

• Gravity Glacial – glaciers are

formed by compacted snow layers

Soil Forming Factors• Parent material – original rock• Relief - elevation• Organisms – loosen the soil• Climate • Time to produce

Weathering and Erosion help form soil

Organic material (humus) helps productivity (fertilizes)