Chapter 5Chapter 5Views of the EarthViews of the Earth

5.1 Landforms5.1 Landforms Landform: general feature on the Earth’s general feature on the Earth’s

surfacesurface Three basic Landforms:Three basic Landforms:

• PlainsPlains:: Large, relatively flat areas Large, relatively flat areas

• Plateaus:Plateaus: Relatively flat, raised areas Relatively flat, raised areas

• Mountains:Mountains: Elevated surface features Elevated surface features

Pgs. 120 - 125

PlainsPlains Plains are divided into two typesPlains are divided into two types::

• Coastal PlainsCoastal Plains Broad areas along the ocean’s shoreBroad areas along the ocean’s shore As sediment dropped to the ocean floor the continental As sediment dropped to the ocean floor the continental

shelf formed. shelf formed. Sometimes referred to as “lowlands” due to minimal Sometimes referred to as “lowlands” due to minimal

elevationelevation• Elevation is determined from Sea Level (0 elevation)Elevation is determined from Sea Level (0 elevation)

Characterized by rolling hills, swamps, & marshesCharacterized by rolling hills, swamps, & marshes Rivers tend to carve water ways to the OceanRivers tend to carve water ways to the Ocean

• Interior PlainsInterior Plains Land locked, relatively flat, lowland areas Land locked, relatively flat, lowland areas Usually between mountain rangesUsually between mountain ranges Land is fertile so it is ideal for farming. Land is fertile so it is ideal for farming. The Great Plains in the central United States, The Great Plains in the central United States,

consist of nearly horizontal layers of sedimentary consist of nearly horizontal layers of sedimentary rock.rock.

PlateausPlateaus Relatively flat, raised areas of landRelatively flat, raised areas of land

• Composed of horizontal bedrock uplifted by natural Composed of horizontal bedrock uplifted by natural forcesforces

• Characterized by high, vertical cliff boardersCharacterized by high, vertical cliff boarders• They differ from plains in that their edges rise steeply They differ from plains in that their edges rise steeply

above the land around them.above the land around them.• River valleys and canyons often cut through these high, River valleys and canyons often cut through these high,

horizontal rock layers. horizontal rock layers. • Ex: Colorado PlateauEx: Colorado Plateau

Most famous for Grand CanyonMost famous for Grand Canyon

MountainsMountains Rise high above the surrounding landRise high above the surrounding land

• Mt. Everest:Mt. Everest: highest mountain peak highest mountain peak (Himalayan Mountains) 8800 m above Sea (Himalayan Mountains) 8800 m above Sea Level 29,029 FTLevel 29,029 FT

• Four main ways that mountain formsFour main ways that mountain forms FoldingFolding Upwarping (upwarped)Upwarping (upwarped) Fault-blockFault-block Volcanic Volcanic

Folded MountainsFolded Mountains Form by extreme opposing horizontal pressure (Like Form by extreme opposing horizontal pressure (Like

squeezing a pimple)squeezing a pimple) Layers buckle & foldLayers buckle & fold This type of mountain often shows spectacular layers of rock This type of mountain often shows spectacular layers of rock

that look like they have been pushed together or folded.that look like they have been pushed together or folded.• EX: Appalachian MountainsEX: Appalachian Mountains

Formed 300 to 250 million years agoFormed 300 to 250 million years ago Oldest & longest mountain range in North AmericaOldest & longest mountain range in North America Originally higher than the Rocky MountainsOriginally higher than the Rocky Mountains Weathering & Erosion have reduced the height below Weathering & Erosion have reduced the height below

2000 m (1200 ft)2000 m (1200 ft) Minersville is here – 1184 ft.Minersville is here – 1184 ft.

Upwarped MountainsUpwarped Mountains Form by extreme upward forcesForm by extreme upward forces Erode exposing igneous & metamorphic Erode exposing igneous & metamorphic

bedrockbedrock Characterized by high peaks & sharp ridgesCharacterized by high peaks & sharp ridges Examples:Examples:

• Southern Rocky MountainsSouthern Rocky Mountains• Black Hills (South Dakota)Black Hills (South Dakota)• Adirondack Mountains (New York)Adirondack Mountains (New York)

Fault-Block MountainsFault-Block Mountains Tilted faults slide diagonally in opposing Tilted faults slide diagonally in opposing

directionsdirections• Fault:Fault: large cracks in the Earth’s crust large cracks in the Earth’s crust

producing motionproducing motion Characterized by jagged peaks and steep Characterized by jagged peaks and steep

slopes. slopes. Separated from surrounding rock by faults, Separated from surrounding rock by faults,

or huge fractures in the rock. or huge fractures in the rock. Examples:Examples:

• Grand Tetons (Wyoming)Grand Tetons (Wyoming)• Sierra Nevadas (California)Sierra Nevadas (California)

Volcanic Mountains:Volcanic Mountains: Lava flows produce a massive cone of igneous Lava flows produce a massive cone of igneous

rockrock Example: Example:

• Mount St. Helens (Washington)Mount St. Helens (Washington)• Mauna Loa (Hawaii)Mauna Loa (Hawaii)• Mt. Rainer (Washington)Mt. Rainer (Washington)

US ELEVATIONSUS ELEVATIONS HIGHEST - Continental US – CALIFORNIA - HIGHEST - Continental US – CALIFORNIA -

MT. WHITNEY 14,494 ft. MT. WHITNEY 14,494 ft. ALASKA - MT. MCKINLEY 20,320 ft.ALASKA - MT. MCKINLEY 20,320 ft. LOWEST – DEATH VALLEY, CA -282 feet belowLOWEST – DEATH VALLEY, CA -282 feet below NEW ORLEANS, LA -64 feet below NEW ORLEANS, LA -64 feet below HIGHEST PA POINT – MT. DAVIS 3213 ft.HIGHEST PA POINT – MT. DAVIS 3213 ft. HIGHEST WORLD ELEVATION – MT. EVEREST 29,029 ft.HIGHEST WORLD ELEVATION – MT. EVEREST 29,029 ft. LOWEST WORLD ELEVATION – DEAD SEA -1349 ft LOWEST WORLD ELEVATION – DEAD SEA -1349 ft

belowbelow

5.2 Viewpoints5.2 Viewpoints Latitude & LongitudeLatitude & Longitude

• Precise way of determining locationPrecise way of determining location• System of imaginary gridlinesSystem of imaginary gridlines• Latitude:Latitude:

Horizontal lines paralleling the Equator (0Horizontal lines paralleling the Equator (000 Latitude) Latitude)• Equator divides Earth into 2 halvesEquator divides Earth into 2 halves• Above the Equator = Above the Equator = Northern HemisphereNorthern Hemisphere• Below the Equator = Below the Equator = Southern HemisphereSouthern Hemisphere

Measure position North & SouthMeasure position North & South Poles = 90Poles = 9000 North & South North & South

• Longitude:Longitude: Vertical lines (called meridians) intersecting at the Vertical lines (called meridians) intersecting at the

poles poles Measure position East & WestMeasure position East & West Begin with the Prime Meridian (0Begin with the Prime Meridian (000 Longitude) Longitude)

Pgs. 126 -129

Using Lines of LongitudeUsing Lines of Longitude

The The Prime Meridian (0Prime Meridian (000)) runs from pole to pole runs from pole to pole through Greenwich, Englandthrough Greenwich, England• West of Prime Meridian measure from 1 to 180West of Prime Meridian measure from 1 to 1800 0 WestWest• East of Prime Meridian measure from 1 to 180East of Prime Meridian measure from 1 to 18000 East East• The 180The 18000 meridian = International Date Line meridian = International Date Line

Opposite side of Earth to Prime MeridianOpposite side of Earth to Prime Meridian

Latitude and Longitude can be broken downLatitude and Longitude can be broken down• Degrees are the largest measureDegrees are the largest measure• Degrees are divided into minutesDegrees are divided into minutes• Minutes are divided into secondsMinutes are divided into seconds

When writing coordinates latitude is always firstWhen writing coordinates latitude is always first

Earth TimeEarth Time What time is it?What time is it?

• The answer actually depends on where you areThe answer actually depends on where you are• The Earth is divided into 24 Time ZonesThe Earth is divided into 24 Time Zones

Each time zone is one hour different to the ones beside itEach time zone is one hour different to the ones beside it Every time zone is 15Every time zone is 1500 longitude wide longitude wide 6 time zones cover the US6 time zones cover the US Every time you cross a time zone going Every time you cross a time zone going

west you lose an hourwest you lose an hour Every time you cross a time zone going Every time you cross a time zone going

east you gain an hour. (Lose part of that east you gain an hour. (Lose part of that day)day)

• Going East is like moving the clock ahead. Going East is like moving the clock ahead. • Going West is like going back in time, not really Going West is like going back in time, not really

but it should help you remember. but it should help you remember.

Global Time ZonesGlobal Time Zones

6 Us Time Zones6 Us Time Zones Eastern – The time zone we are in.Eastern – The time zone we are in. Central Central Mountain Mountain PacificPacific AlaskanAlaskan HawaiianHawaiian Let’s say you are going to London on Let’s say you are going to London on

business. If you leave @ 3:00 PM business. If you leave @ 3:00 PM what time is it in London?what time is it in London?

Calendar Dates:Calendar Dates:

New days begins at 12 midnight for that time zoneNew days begins at 12 midnight for that time zone• Crossing times zones gains or loses an hourCrossing times zones gains or loses an hour

Traveling West (Minersville to LA = gain 3 hrs.)Traveling West (Minersville to LA = gain 3 hrs.) Traveling East (LA to Minersville = lose 3 hrs.)Traveling East (LA to Minersville = lose 3 hrs.)

• Crossing the International Date Line gains or loses a dayCrossing the International Date Line gains or loses a day Traveling West (from US to Asia) = gain one dayTraveling West (from US to Asia) = gain one day Traveling East (from Asia to US) = lose one dayTraveling East (from Asia to US) = lose one day

Messing with your mind:Messing with your mind:• You leave New York City at noon, your plane trip lasts 5 You leave New York City at noon, your plane trip lasts 5

hours, you land in Hawaii at 11 am (the same day)hours, you land in Hawaii at 11 am (the same day) You have become a time traveler (Kinda’)You have become a time traveler (Kinda’) The time in New York is actually 5 pmThe time in New York is actually 5 pm

5.3 Maps5.3 Maps

Used to model the Earth’s SurfaceUsed to model the Earth’s Surface Made using projectionsMade using projections

• Trying to place a round sphere on flat paperTrying to place a round sphere on flat paper• All maps have some type of distortion (shape or area)All maps have some type of distortion (shape or area)

Mercator Projection:Mercator Projection:• Represents continental shapes correctlyRepresents continental shapes correctly• Areas are distorted (Polar regions get stretched)Areas are distorted (Polar regions get stretched)• Forms a grid of parallel lines of latitude & longitudeForms a grid of parallel lines of latitude & longitude• Mainly used for navigation (airplanes & boats)Mainly used for navigation (airplanes & boats)

Pgs. 130 - 136

Other Map Types:Other Map Types: Robinson Projection:Robinson Projection:

• Accurate continental shapes & areasAccurate continental shapes & areas• Distorts polar region onlyDistorts polar region only• Displays Earth as a flat top & bottom ovalDisplays Earth as a flat top & bottom oval

Conic Projection:Conic Projection:• Used to project maps of small areasUsed to project maps of small areas• Mainly Road & Weather mapsMainly Road & Weather maps• Produced by projecting latitude & longitude onto a coneProduced by projecting latitude & longitude onto a cone• Distorts latitudinal lines (they arc)Distorts latitudinal lines (they arc)

Topographic Maps:Topographic Maps: Map showing detailed elevations for an areaMap showing detailed elevations for an area Project height onto a flat page using contour linesProject height onto a flat page using contour lines

• Contour lines:Contour lines: connect areas of equal elevation connect areas of equal elevation• Contour interval:Contour interval: difference between contour lines difference between contour lines• Index contours:Index contours: lines marked with elevation lines marked with elevation

Using Contour MapsUsing Contour Maps Contour lines never crossContour lines never cross Contour lines close around hills, basins, or depressionsContour lines close around hills, basins, or depressions Contour lines form V’s that point upstreamContour lines form V’s that point upstream Map LegendMap Legend tells common symbols tells common symbols Map scaleMap scale tells ratio for determining distance tells ratio for determining distance

Typical map LegendTypical map Legend

5.4 Mapping our Planet5.4 Mapping our Planet Remote Sensing from SpaceRemote Sensing from Space

• Landsat SatellitesLandsat Satellites Detect different wavelengths of energy reflected or Detect different wavelengths of energy reflected or

emittedemitted Use Mirror with detectors to measure intensityUse Mirror with detectors to measure intensity Produce digital image of surface featuresProduce digital image of surface features

• Topex-Poseidon SatellitesTopex-Poseidon Satellites Topex = Topographical ExperimentTopex = Topographical Experiment Uses RADAR to detect underwater ocean featuresUses RADAR to detect underwater ocean features Develop maps of the ocean floorDevelop maps of the ocean floor

Remote Sensing Under WaterRemote Sensing Under Water• Sea BeamSea Beam

Uses SONAR to map the ocean floorUses SONAR to map the ocean floor

Pgs. 138 - 139

US at night (satellite view)US at night (satellite view)