External Forces Shaping the Earth

External Forces Shaping the Earth

Weathering vs. ErosionWeathering vs. ErosionWeathering - physical and chemical

processes that change the characteristics of rock on or near the earth’s surface. The final result of weathering is sediment.Mechanical weathering - changes in

physical composition…drilling and blasting to build roads.

Chemical weathering - changes in chemical composition…bike left outside in the rain

Weathering - physical and chemical processes that change the characteristics of rock on or near the earth’s surface. The final result of weathering is sediment.Mechanical weathering - changes in

physical composition…drilling and blasting to build roads.

Chemical weathering - changes in chemical composition…bike left outside in the rain

ErosionErosion

Erosion occurs when weathered material (sediment) is moved by wind, water, ice, or gravity.

Glaciers, waves, running water, or blowing winds cause erosion by grinding rock into smaller pieces.

Types of erosion:WaterWindglacial

Erosion occurs when weathered material (sediment) is moved by wind, water, ice, or gravity.

Glaciers, waves, running water, or blowing winds cause erosion by grinding rock into smaller pieces.

Types of erosion:WaterWindglacial

End Result?End Result?

What do the processes of weathering and erosion contribute to? Forming soil! Soil is the loose mixture of

weathered rock, organic matter, air, and water…fertile soil is a certain mixture of these ingredients, along with climate and time.

What do the processes of weathering and erosion contribute to? Forming soil! Soil is the loose mixture of

weathered rock, organic matter, air, and water…fertile soil is a certain mixture of these ingredients, along with climate and time.

SeasonsSeasons

What causes changes in the seasons?The tilt of the earth’s axis as it revolves

around the sun

Solstices - summer and winterEquinox - spring and autumn

What causes changes in the seasons?The tilt of the earth’s axis as it revolves

around the sun

Solstices - summer and winterEquinox - spring and autumn

Weather vs ClimateWeather vs Climate

What is weather?

What does the weather report consist of on the nightly news?

What is weather?

What does the weather report consist of on the nightly news?

WeatherWeather

Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular location and time.

What causes weather?Water vaporCloud coverLandforms and bodies of waterElevationAir movement

Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular location and time.

What causes weather?Water vaporCloud coverLandforms and bodies of waterElevationAir movement

ClimateClimate

Climate is the term for weather conditions at a particular location over a long period of time…weather patterns.

Specific temperature and rainfall or average temperature and rainfall?

Climate is the term for weather conditions at a particular location over a long period of time…weather patterns.

Specific temperature and rainfall or average temperature and rainfall?

What affects Climate?What affects Climate?

Wind and Ocean currents - help distribute the sun’s heat

Zones of latitude - low or tropical, middle or temperate, and high or polar

Elevation - as altitude increases, the air temperature drops about 3.5˚F for every 1,000 feet…Mt. Kilimanjaro

Topography - landforms and bodies of water can facilitate and serve as barriers in distributing heat, moisture, etc.

Wind and Ocean currents - help distribute the sun’s heat

Zones of latitude - low or tropical, middle or temperate, and high or polar

Elevation - as altitude increases, the air temperature drops about 3.5˚F for every 1,000 feet…Mt. Kilimanjaro

Topography - landforms and bodies of water can facilitate and serve as barriers in distributing heat, moisture, etc.

Can climates change over time?

Can climates change over time?

Yes! Some climate changes are natural and others are a result of human activity on earth.El Nino - a natural change in climateGlobal Warming - most likely the

result of human activity…the greenhouse effect

Yes! Some climate changes are natural and others are a result of human activity on earth.El Nino - a natural change in climateGlobal Warming - most likely the

result of human activity…the greenhouse effect