Characteristics of the Earth and the Lithosphere

Journey to the Inside of the Earth!

http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/structure.html

The Lithosphere

Definition – The outer shell of the earth made up of the crust and the upper mantle.

Comments – The lithosphere is where human beings live!

Diagram of the lithosphere

http://benoit.ramiere.free.fr/documents/4/cours/tectonique.htm

The Lithosphere and Human Activities

Tsunami Japon http://www.union-planetaire.org/category/

lithosphere/

Agriculture

Mining

Video mining in the Congo

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/video/the-perils-of-independent-mining/article4472991/?from=4487572

Connection to mobile phones minerals in the Congo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OWj1ZGn4uM

Land Use PlanningLand use planning is an essential tool

for pollution control and prevention. Land use categories refer to the different socioeconomic activities in a certain area, the human behaviors they create and their effect on the environment. These activities take place at a local level but contribute to global processes, such as climate change.

Land Use Planning Categories

Cave Home

http://money.cnn.com/video/pf/2012/09/13/pf-cave-home-arizona.cnnmoney/

Geological Relief (topology)

• Relief refers to the shape of the land and it is caused by many geological and geophysical phenomena:

The retreat of a glacier causes the formation of a plane.

Erosion can cause canyons and valleys.

Plates colliding cause mountains.

Plain

Glacial Retreat

Mountain Formation

1. Movement of the earth’s plates

2. Volcanoes

Mountain Formation - Orogenesis

Over time mountains change because of erosion.

Himalayas

Appalachians

Canadian Shield

Valleys are formed from erosion by rivers

Topology Map of the US

http://education.usgs.gov/secondary.html

Geological Phenomenon

Ocean expansion, Volcano eruptions http://www.biologieenflash.net/animation.php?

ref=geo-0032-1

Humans Contribute to the Transformation of Relief

• Construct roads

• Dig mines

• Build cities and towns

Cape Verde

Terrestrial relief has a huge influence on human activities

• Sports – mountain climbing, skiiing

• River plains are very fertile soil for agriculture.

• Volcano bases are very fertile for agriculture.

• Rivers provide an excellent source of transport from the oceans into the interior of the country.

• Building and road construction must plan carefully around the shape of the land.

• Canyons, mountains and valleys are often very valuable tourist sites.