Internal and External Forces Shaping the

Earth

Internal and External Forces Shaping the

Earth

Plate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Tectonic plates are large pieces of the Earth

Divergent – plates move apartConvergent – plates collideTransforming – plates slide past

each other

Tectonic plates are large pieces of the Earth

Divergent – plates move apartConvergent – plates collideTransforming – plates slide past

each other

Plate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Earthquakes – plates slide past each other

Tsunami – a giant wave caused by an earthquake

Volcanoes – plates move apart and magma rises and becomes lava. When the lava cools it forms hills or mountains.

Earthquakes – plates slide past each other

Tsunami – a giant wave caused by an earthquake

Volcanoes – plates move apart and magma rises and becomes lava. When the lava cools it forms hills or mountains.

VolcanoesVolcanoes

Rare video: Volcano erupts in Russia's Far East - YouTube

Rare video: Volcano erupts in Russia's Far East - YouTube

Weathering Weathering Weathering - physical and chemical

processes that change the characteristics of rock on or near the earth’s surface.

Mechanical weathering - changes in physical composition…drilling and blasting to build roads.

Chemical weathering - changes in chemical composition…rock changing colors due to acid rain.

Weathering - physical and chemical processes that change the characteristics of rock on or near the earth’s surface.

Mechanical weathering - changes in physical composition…drilling and blasting to build roads.

Chemical weathering - changes in chemical composition…rock changing colors due to acid rain.

Weathering Weathering

The final result of weathering is sediment.

The final result of weathering is sediment.

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.

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.

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! But it takes a long time.

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! But it takes a long time.

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