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)