earth's extreme places
TRANSCRIPT
The Extremes of Earth
Outdoor Culture and Technology
The Walker School
Mr. Thomas Cooper
Is the Earth a Sphere?
Geoid – Not Quite Round, Not Quite Elliptical
Forces Involved in Geoid Formation
Uneven cooling in early history
Orpheus impact and creation of the moon
Geothermal convection in the asthensophere
Plate Tectnonics (plate movements)
Isotasy (mountain building)
What Are Some General Statistics
About the Earth?
General Earth Statistics
Average distance from Sun:
149.6 million kilometers
Revolution Period: 365.26 days
Rotation Period: 23 hours 56
minutes, 4 seconds
Rotational Speed 1,057 mi/hr
Axis Inclination: 23°27‘
Equatorial Diameter: 12.756 Km
Average Temperature: 22 °C
Areas of the Earth
The circumference of the Earthat the equator is 24,902 mi / 40,076 km.
The total area of Earth is 510.300.000 Km²
The total area of the oceans are 360.700.000 Km²
The total area of land is 149.600.000 Km²
What are the Major Parts of the
Earth’s Life Support System?
Ecospheres Magnetosphere
Exosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Hydrosphere
Cryosphere
Lithosphere
Asthensophere
Core
Layers of the Atmosphere
Mantle
Core
Crust
Low-velocity zone
Solid
Outer core
(liquid)
Innercore(solid)
35 km (21 mi.) avg., 1,200˚C
2,900km
(1,800 mi.)
3,700˚C
5,200 km (3,100 mi.), 4,300˚C
10 to 65km
100 km
200 km
100 km (60 mi.)
200 km (120 mi.)
Crust
Lithosphere
Asthenosphere
(depth unknown)
Sections of
the Earth
EURASIAN PLATE
CHINA
SUBPLATE PHILIPPINEPLATE
INDIAN-AUSTRLIAN PLATE
PACIFICPLATE
JUAN DEFUCA PLATE
COCOSPLATE
CARIBBEANPLATE
NORTHAMERICAN
PLATE
SOUTHAMERICAN
PLATE
EURASIANPLATE
ANATOLIANPLATE
ARABIANPLATE
AFRICANPLATE
SOMALIANSUBPLATE
Carlsberg
Ridge
Southwest IndianOcean Ridge
ANTARCTIC PLATE
Transformfault
East PacificRise
Transformfault
Mid-IndianOceanRidge
Southeast IndianOcean Ridge
Mid-AtlanticOceanRidge
ReykjanesRidge
Transformfault
Divergent ( ) andtransform fault ( )boundaries
Convergentplate boundaries
Plate motionat convergentplate boundaries
Plate motionat divergentplate boundaries
Thickness of Earth’s Crust (km) - USGS
Surface Area of the World’s Continents
The World
57,308,738 Sq. Miles
(148,429,000 Sq. Km) 100%
Asia (plus the Middle East)
17,212,000 Sq. Miles
(44,579,000 Sq. Km) 30.00%
Africa
11,608,000 Sq. Miles
(30,065,000 Sq. Km) 20.30%
North America
9,365,000 Sq. Miles
(24,256,000 Sq. Km) 16.30%
South America
6,880,000 Sq. Miles
(17,819,000 Sq. Km) 12.00%
Antarctica
5,100,000 Sq. Miles
(13,209,000 Sq. Km) 8.90%
Europe
3,837,000 Sq. Miles
(9,938,000 Sq. Km) 6.70%
Australia (plus Oceania)
2,968,000 Sq. Miles
(7,687,000 Sq. Km) 5.20%
Highest Continent – Antarctica
Antarctica is a land of extremes. It is the coldest, windiest, and highest
continent anywhere on earth. With an average elevation about
7,544ft/2,300 meters above sea level it is the highest continent.
What Are the Major Climate Zones of
the Earth?
Dry woodlands and
shrublands (chaparral)
Temperate grassland
Temperate deciduous forest
Boreal forest (taiga), evergreen coniferous
forest (e.g., montane coniferous forest)
Arctic tundra (polar grasslands)
Tropical savanna,
thorn forest
Tropical scrub forest
Tropical deciduous forest
Tropical rain forest,
tropical evergreen forest
Desert
Ice
Mountains
(complex zonation)
Semidesert,
arid grassland
Tropic of
Capricorn
Equator
Tropic of
Cancer
Freshwater Systems
Ecological Services Economic Services
• Climate moderation
• Nutrient cycling
• Waste treatment
and dilution
• Flood control
• Groundwater
recharge
• Habitats for aquatic
and terrestrial
species
• Genetic resources
and biodiversity
• Scientific
information
• Food
• Drinking water
• Irrigation water
• Hydroelectricity
• Transportation
corridors
• Recreation
• Employment
© 2004 Brooks/Cole – Thomson Learning
Global Desert Distribution
10 Largest Desertshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deserts_by_area
Hottest Place on Earth
El Azizia in Libya recorded
a temperature of 136
degrees Fahrenheit (57.8
Celsius) on Sept. 13, 1922 -
- the hottest ever
measured.
Desert Motocross
Large desert cities
Soil destruction by vehicles
and urban development
Soil salinization from irrigation
Depletion of underground
water supplies
Land disturbance and pollution
from mineral extraction
Storage of toxic and radioactive
Wastes
Large arrays of solar cells and
solar collectors used to produce
electricity
Human Impacts on Deserts
Global Grassland Distribution
Polar Tundra Alpine Tundra Temperate Grassland Tropical Savanna
Largest Grasslands
The Great Steppe, Russia
The Mongolian-Manchurian
grassland covers an area of
887,300 square kilometers
(342,600 square miles)
Tall-grass Prairies in South
Dakota, US
Trekking and Hunting
Conversion of savanna and temperate
grassland to cropland
Release of CO2 to atmosphere from
burning and conversion of grassland
to cropland
Overgrazing of tropical and temperate
grasslands by livestock
Damage to fragile arctic tundra
by oil production, air and water pollution,
and vehicles
Human Impacts on Grasslands
Global Forest Distribution
Temperate coniferous forests Temperate deciduous forests Tropical rain forests
Remaining Forests
There are still around 1,350 million hectares of ancient
forest around the world that remain undisturbed by large
scale industrial activities. This sounds like a lot, after all,
that's an area bigger than all of China. But in fact this is
only seven percent of the Earth's land surface.
Trophy Hunting
Human Impacts on Forests
Landless poor migrating uphill
to survive
Timber extraction
Mineral resource extraction
Hydroelectric dams and reservoirs
Increasing tourism
(such as hiking and skiing)
Air pollution from industrial and
urban centers
Increased ultraviolet radiation from
ozone depletion
Last of the Wild Placeshttp://www.wcs.org/sw-high_tech_tools/landscapeecology/humanfootprint/lastofthewild
What are some records for extreme
weather?
World Record for Temperature Change
Spearfish in South
Dakota holds the
world record, going
from -18.9 C to 3.3 C
above in two minutes.
Tornado Alley
Tornadoes are spawned because of hot and cold air
masses fighting it out. 90% of the world’s tornados occur
in N. America, most between the Rockies and the
Mississippi River.
What Is the Highest Mountain on
Earth?
Major Mountains of the World
World’s Tallest Mountains
Composite Satellite Image of Peaks
Tallest Mountain in United States
Mount McKinley, in
Alaska, is the tallest
mountain in the United
States. at a height of
approximately
20,320 feet (6,194 m).
It is the centerpiece of
Denali National Park.
How Many Volcanoes Exist on
Earth?
Earth’s Volcanoes
There are about 1,500 active volcanoes on the Earth's surface - the majority following along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' – and around 50 of these erupt each year.
Most Active Volcanos By Region
North America
South America
Antarctica
Europe – Mt. Vesuvius
Asia
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is the tallest free-
standing mountain rise in the
world,rising 4,600 m
(15,100 ft) from its base, and
includes the highest peak in
Africa at 5,895 meters
(19,340 ft).
Largest Visible Volcano
Mauna Loa is the
largest volcano on
earth. It is an active
shield volcano, with a
volume estimated at
approximately
18,000 cubic miles
(75,000 km³)
Yellowstone Caldara
Caldara is 60 x 85
km and has an
estimated 125,000
km2 of eruptible
magma
Toba Caldara – Sumatra, IndonesiaLast Super Volcano Erruption – 75,000 years ago
What Is the Maximum Depression of
the Earth?
Maximum Depression –
Dead Sea at 408 m
What is the Largest Meteorite to Hit
the Earth?
Largest Visible Asteroid Impact
200 Visible Craters
Sedona, Arizona is a mystical region with a crater site
that is 550 ft deep
What Is the Size of the Earth’s
Ocean Basins?
Largest Ocean - Pacific
The Areas and Depths of Oceans
Ocean and
seas
Area in
million
km2
% of the
area of the
World
Ocean
Depth,
meters
Depth,
meters
Locations of the
greatest depths of
the Ocean
mean greatest
Pacific 178.8 49.5 3 976 11 022 Marianas Trench
Atlantic 91.7 25.4 3 597 8 742 Puerto Rico
Trench
Indian 76.2 21 3 711 7 729 Sunda Trench
Arctic 14.7 4.1 1 225 5 608 Greenland Sea
(Molloy Deep)
World
Ocean
361.3 100 3 711 11 022 Marianas Trench
Geostrophic Gyres
Gulf Stream Measurements
Named in honour of the pioneering oceanographer HaraldSverdrup
A unit of measure of volume transport used almost exclusively in oceanography to measure the transport of ocean currents.
It is equivalent to 106 cubic meters per second (0.001 km³/s, or about 264 million U.S. gallons per second).
Its symbol is Sv. Note that the sverdrup is not an SI unit, and that its symbol conflicts with the sievert's.
Largest Tides - Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia
Change of17 meters
100 billion tons of water in
6 hours
Largest Organism on Earth
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) – 30m (90 feet)
Deepest Spot - Mariana Trench -10.924 m
Deepest Divehttp://www.cdnn.info/news/industry/i060807.html
World’s Longest Mountain Range
Mid-Atlantic Ridge at
nearly 10,000 km
Largest Seamount
Lōʻihi has yet to build to
the surface of the ocean,
although it is now over
3,000 m (10,000 ft) high
(taller than Mount St.
Helens)
Largest Wave; Seamount Produced
Surfer, Tow-In Surfing at The Cortez Bank, 100 miles off San Diego, CA
Largest Reef - Great Barrier Reef
Coral Reef Sites
The Great Blue Hole, Belizehttp://www.ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/greatbluehole.html
Largest Wave, Reef Produced
Laird Hamilton
Tow-In Surfing
Teahupoo Reef, Fiji
What Is the Longest River?
Nile
6671 Km
10 Largest Rivers
Nile 6671 Africa
Amazon 6280 South America
Mississipi Missouri-Red Rock 5970 North America
Chang Jiang 5800 Asia
Ob (with Irtys) 5410 Asia
Huang He 4845 Asia
Rio Paraná 4700 South America
Mekong 4500 Asia
Amur (with Silka) 4416 Asia
Irtys 4400 Asia
Rain and snow
Water
Sediment
Lake Glacier Rapids
WaterfallTributary
Flood plain
Oxbow lake
Salt marsh
Delta Ocean
Depositedsediment
Source Zone
Transition Zone
Floodplain Zone
River Structure
Steepest River Descent
Yarlung Tsangpo River in southeastern Tibet
Hydrology Measurements
Cusec is a measure of flow rate and is informal shorthand
for cubic foot per second (28.317 liters per second). In
the United States it is generally applied to water flow,
particularly in rivers. Other informal synonyms are cfs and
second-feet.
Kayaking Recordshttp://freespace.virgin.net/thamesweirs.com/profile.htm
Largest Discharge
Amazon River - 1/6 of all water discharged by all the
world’s rivers 4 million ft3/s
Where Is the World’s Tallest
Waterfall?
World’s Largest Waterfallshttp://www.world-waterfalls.com/database.php?s=N&t=W&orderby=avevolume&sortLimit=5000
Devil’s Throat, YouTube.comhttp://video.yahoo.com/video/play?ei=UTF-8&gid=239380&vid=316549&b=2
10 Tallest Waterfallshttp://www.world-waterfalls.com/database.php?s=N&t=H&orderby=height&sortLimit=300
What Is the Largest Lake?
Caspian Sea – 371,000 Km²
Adjacent Countries
10 Largest Lakes
Caspian Sea 371.000 Asia
Lake Superior 82.100 North America
Victoria 68.100 Africa
Huron 59.600 North America
Michigan 58.016 North America
Tanganyika 32.893 Africa
Great Bear Lake 31.792 North America
Bajkal 31.500 Asia
Malawi (or Nyasa) 30.800 Africa
Great Slave Lake 28.438 North America
Lake Stratification
Largest Concentration of Freshwater LakesOneida County, N. Wisconsin
What Is the Largest Island?
World’s Largest Island
Greenland – 2,130,800 km2
10 Largest Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_by_area
World’s Smallest Island – Bishop Rock
It lies at the
most south-
westerly part
of the United
Kingdom
World’s Remotest Inhabited Island –
Tristan da Cunha
It is in the South Atlantic, 2575 km (1600 miles) south of St Helena, which is an island a few hundred kilometers (miles) off the coast of South Africa.
Mountain Biking – New Zealand
What Is the Largest Glacier on
Earth?
World's Largest Glacier
Lambert Glacier
It covers more than
386,102 mi²
Thickest Ice Sheet – Antarctica
4.8 Km
(3 miles)
Glacier Surfinghttp://www.surfersvillage.com/surfing/28775/news.htm
Glacier Surfing, Alaskahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLC5q6fAiUw&feature=related
Where are the world’s largest caves?
Largest Cave System
Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, USA
Deepest Cavehttp://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0505/feature4/multimedia.html
Krubera Cave, in the Republic of Georgia. It currently
holds the world record at 5,610 feet (1,710 meters)
Base Jumping, Cave of Swallowshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvIDNEt-Fmk
How Many Species Have Been
Identified?
Most of the World’s Biomass
About 1.7 million species have been identified.
Microbes make up roughly ½ of the earth’s biomass
Animals make up 1/1000th of the earth’s total biomass
Longest Living Organism 250-million-year-old bacteria
were found in ancient sea salt beneath Carlsbad, New Mexico. The microscopic organisms were revived in a laboratory after being in 'suspended animation', encased in a hard-shelled spore, for an estimated 250 million years.
43,000 years old Kings Holly (Lomatia tasmanica) - found in the rainforests of Tasmania. Scientists estimated the age of the plant using a nearby fossilof an identical plant.
Longest Migration Routehttp://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060808-bird-migration.html
What Is the Current Population of
the Earth?
Current Population - 6,446,131,400
World Population Clockhttp://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
10 Most Populated Cities
1 Tōkyō Tokyo Japan 34,200,000
2 Ciudad de México Mexico City Mexico 22,800,000
3 Seoul (Sŏul) Seoul South Korea 22,300,000
4 New York New York USA 21,900,000
5 São Paulo Sao Paulo Brazil 20,200,000
6 Mumbai Bombay India 19,850,000
7 Delhi Delhi India 19,700,000
8 Shanghai Shanghai China 18,150,000
9 Los Angeles Los Angeles USA 18,000,000
10 Ōsaka Osaka Japan 16,800,000
Tallest Building
Buildering (or Urban Free Climbing)
Alain-Robert-Spiderman
Spiderman Climbs Buildinghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2TJ3tU8mbo&feature=related
What Was the First U.S. National
Park?
Yellowstone National Park
National Park Service Act of 1916
Not Only a Place for Extreme Sports Scientific Studies in Our Parks
Biology
Biogeography
Limnology
Ichthyology
Astronomy
Meteorology
Climatology
Paleontology
Geology
Seismology
Volcanology
Oceanography
Hydrology
Glaciology
Demography