Transcript Chapter 1.2

Chapter 1.2
Earth’s Land and Water
• The lithosphere varies in thickness from about
10 to 200 kilometers (km).
• Three main types of rocks make up the
lithosphere; igneous rock, sedimentary rock,
and metamorphic rock.
• Igneous Rock – when liquid rock cools, it
solidifies to become this type of rock.
– The lava that flows from a volcano can cool to
form the igneous rock basalt.
– Liquid rock that cools deep within Earth can form
the igneous rock granite.
• Sedimentary Rock – Rocks break down slowly
over time, the tiny pieces are called sediment.
As layers of sediment accumulate, they
become compressed and cemented in to
sedimentary rock. Examples; Limestone and
Sandstone.
• Metamorphic Rock – Rock that has been
transformed by heat and pressure. Examples;
Marble and Slate.
• More than 70% of Earth’s surface is covered
by water.
• More than 97% of the hydrosphere is salt
water.
• Fresh water takes up less than 3% of the
hydrosphere.
• There are two types of fresh water:
– Surface water – water in lakes, streams, and rain
runoff.
– Ground water – found beneath the surface of
Earth and moves very slowly through small spaces
and between rocks.
• An underground layer of porous rock that
contains water is called an aquifer.
• When an aquifer reaches the surface of the
ground, it is considered a natural spring.
• Wells in which water flows to the surface due
to high pressure underground are called
artesian wells.