Transcript Physical geography

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
EQ: Why is it important to study
physical geography?
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
ENVIRONMENTS:
All the surroundings
of all place
Land, water,weather
patterns, plants,and
animals
Physical
geographers study
the characteristics of
a place and how it
affects people
LANDFORMS:
Physical features:
70% water
30% land
Mountains,hills,plains
, plateaus
Vary greatly in
shape/size
Affect the way people
live
CLIMATE
Kind of weather a
place has over a long
period of time
Seasonal
temperatures,
precipitation, wind
patterns
Affects how we live,
our work, our
housing,our clothing,
and the crops we grow
Many different climates
on the earth.
Using the map in your
textbook,how many different
climates are listed?
THE EFFECT OF
THE SUN:
Tilt of the earth as it
revolves around the
sun places the
equator in a position
to receive more
direct rays from the
sun.
The north and south
pole receive indirect
rays and is
therefore, cooler in
temperature
CLIMATE ZONES:
Region between-Tropic
of Cancer,Equator, to the
Tropic of Capricorn:
direct rays =Tropical
climate zone
North and south of the
tropics = the Temperate
climate zones, 4 distinct
seasons
Always cold,only indirect
rays,south and north of
the temperate zones=
Polar climate zone
OTHER
INFLUENCES ON
CLIMATE:
Winds are
currents/masses of air
that blow around the
earth.
Sun heats the
current/air
expands,warm air
rises,pushes the cold
air
Front is the air that is
moving( expanding or
being pushed)
Winds carry
moisture(water vapor)
precipitation
OTHER
INFLUENCES ON
CLIMATE (cont.)
Winds carry water
vapor
Elevation:
high+winds= cooler
lower+winds= warmer
Distance from
ocean,size, shape of
landform all influence
climate.
NATURAL
RESOURCES
Materials found in
nature that people
can use
Water,air, soil,
animals
Unevenly dispersed
across the earth
MINERALS and
FOSSIL FUELS
Minerals/substances
found in nature, are not
plants /animals
– Metals: iron,copper,gold
– Non -metals: salt
Coal, natural gas,
petroleum= fossil
fuels
remains of plants/
animals
Important source of
energy
VEGETATION:
Trees,flowers,
grasses,all plant life
Forest: requires lots
of water found in
many climate zones
Grasslands :do not
require lots of water,
found in the
temperate zones
VEGETATION (cont)
Deserts have little to
no plant life
Tundra a plain found
in polar zones
– Soil is permanently
frozen
– Tiny plants and
mosses live here
Summary
Landforms,climate,and natural
resources shape the physical
geography of a place.
Which do you think has been the most
dominant in shaping the physical
geography of your community?