Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms (Lessons 6-7)

Physical Features of Earth Create Challenges and Opportunities

The physical features of Earth create both challenges and opportunities for the
people living here. For example, many people in the United States have settled
in the area shown in the picture below. Yet, this area is likely to flood. Why
would people settle in a floodplain? Although prone to floods, the flat land along
the Mississippi River is fertile and good for farming. This land is a perfect
example of how a place can offer both challenges (floods) and opportunities
(farming) for the people living there.

Since
the physical
features of Earth
present challenges and
opportunities for people, they
Figure 1: Source:
http://irjci.blogspot.com/2011/05/record-floodlevee-breach-lead-to-talk.html

Figure 2: Source:
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/
sid/47621/

influence the way people live in different areas. People who settle in a forest, for
example, may find the land is difficult to farm so they may turn to forestry as their
main economic activity. People who live near an ocean are likely to make a living
fishing while people living on a plain would probably farm.

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Figure 3: Natural features affect people. Source:
MC3 Project. Graphic organizer. SS060206.

The natural or physical features of

the earth affect how people live,
work, and play. People build their
homes, choose their clothing, and
grow their food differently based on
the physical features around them.
This is true for people around the
world. Can you think of how the
natural or physical features around
you affect how your family lives,
works, and plays?

Earths Physical Processes

The Earth is a dynamic place. The natural physical processes that created the
Earths physical features continue to affect Earth and its people. These natural
or physical processes are events that happen in nature and can be explained
scientifically. Physical processes are natures way of working. They produce,
maintain, or change the physical systems on the planet.
There are four components or parts of Earths physical systems: the
atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surround the earth. The
earths atmosphere contains 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and
0.03% carbon dioxide. The atmosphere redistributes heat and moisture it
receives from the earths surface.
The lithosphere is the solid part of the earth. It includes all the rock and
soil on Earth. Technically, geologists and geographers define the
lithosphere as the crust and part of the upper mantle. All landforms are
part of the lithosphere.
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 The hydrosphere is the watery part of the earths surface. It includes

oceans, lakes, water vapor in the atmosphere, and polar ice caps. Water
found on, under, and over the planets surface make up the hydrosphere.
The biosphere is the part of the earth and its atmosphere that is capable
of supporting life. From the polar ice caps to the equator, every part of the
earths surface features life of some kind. Thus, the biosphere contains
parts of the land, seas, and atmosphere in which living organisms exist or
that is capable of supporting life.
Earths physical processes can be organized based these four components.
Physical processes that operate in the atmosphere include climate and
meteorology. Climate is defined as weather over a period of time. For
example, the weather in Michigan changes from season to season, but the
climate in Michigan is defined as temperate.
Physical processes in the
lithosphere include plate tectonics,
soil erosion, and soil formation. A
tectonic plate is a massive slab of
solid rock that floats. Scientists
believe that tectonic plates
probably developed very early in
the Earth's 4.6-billion-year history,
and they have been drifting about
on the surface ever since-like slowmoving bumper cars repeatedly
clustering together and then
separating. When they move, they
can cause changes on the earths
Figure 4: The parts of the earth.
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/tekart/chapter-1surface. As the plates move they
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shape the physical features of the
earth. Physical processes on the earths surface include earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, soil formation, and soil erosion.
In the hydrosphere, physical processes include the water cycle, wave action, and
the circulation of the oceans. Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation are
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all part of the water

cycle. Evaporation is
when liquid turns to
gas. Condensation is
the process when gas
cools and turns to
liquid. This is different
than precipitation.
Precipitation occurs
when any form of water
falls from the sky.
Rain, mist, hail, sleet
and snow are
precipitation.
The physical processes
of the hydrosphere can
change the earths
Figure 5: The water cycle
surface. Rain water
Source: http://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycleshort.html
can erode mountains.
Water in the form of glaciers can modify the earths surface by creating lake
basins, such as the Great Lakes.
The biosphere also has physical processes that result from living organisms.
Photosynthesis and decomposition are two physical processes of the biosphere.
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy from the Sun
into chemical energy that can be used by plants. Decomposition occurs when a
dead plant or animal is broken down into smaller particles that can be used by
other organism. The biosphere -- the location of all living organisms on Earth is
affected by the processes in the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.
To learn more about the physical processes of the earth:
http://prezi.com/yxgpz2zgvkt-/physical-processes-that-shape-earth/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FooHD0atuc
Natural Hazards

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When natural physical processes are

unpredictable and have a negative effect on
people or the environment, we call it a natural
hazard. Some examples of natural hazards
are tornadoes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones,
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods,
droughts, landslides, and wildfires.

Figure 6: A volcanic eruption

Source: http://free-stockillustration.com/pacaya+volcano+guatemala+tou
rs

Figure 7: A funnel cloud is

characteristic of tornadoes.
Source:
http://www.wpclipart.com/weather/torna
do/tornado_2.png.html

Many natural hazards are

interrelated. For instance, an
earthquake on the ocean floor can
cause a tsunami. Hurricanes can lead to erosion and coastal flooding.
Not all areas of the world are equally at risk of experiencing the same natural
hazards. Since hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones occur in the ocean, a
landlocked area would be less likely to have to deal with the effects of one of
these events. Similarly, tornadoes are more likely to occur in flat areas.
Mountainous regions are not as prone to tornadoes.

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The map below shows areas of the world that are most likely to experience
tornadoes. The areas highlighted in red would have to prepare and plan
differently than those where the risk is significantly lower. By studying the
patterns created by natural hazards, scientists can better understand and
prepare people for natural hazards.

Figure 8: Tornado prone areas of the world

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Natural hazards are a good example of human environment interaction. These

naturally occurring events can have a significant impact on the people living in a
specific area. Oftentimes, geographers will use the geographic inquiry process
after a natural hazard to try and determine what the people in a specific location
could do to be better prepared the next time a similar event occurs.

Figure 9 from MC3 Project. Graphic Organizer

for SS060207.

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