Physical GeographyCGC1D: Unit 2

Definition

• Physical Geography examines processes and patterns in the natural environment.

• e.g. Geomorphology: the study of the various landforms on earth, how they were created and how they are changing. (“geo”-earth, “morph”-to change, “ology”-the study of)

• Pedology: the study of soils• Meterology: the study of weather• Climatology: the study of climate

Earth SpheresIn the study of physical geography, the “earth

system” is divided into several “spheres” (sub-systems). What are they? (discuss in groups)

Earth Spheres• Hydrosphere: The Earth’s water system.

(rivers, lakes, oceans, seas)

• Lithosphere: The Earth’s landmass.(mountains, deserts, prairies, steppes)

• Atmosphere: The air surrounding the Earth.(atmospheric layers: e.g. troposphere, stratosphere)

• Biosphere: The living organisms on Earth.(animals, plants, fungus, etc)

Other Spheres

• Cryosphere: the Earth’s ice.

(glaciers, ice caps, snow)

• Pedosphere: the Earth’s soil.

• Anthrosphere: the Earth’s humans

-That’s right, we have our own sphere.

The Age of the Earth

• Researchers have studied age of the earth by “dating” (determining the age of) rocks in different parts of the world.

• Based on this method, it is estimated that the Earth is 4.6 billion years old.

• In order to better understand the history of the earth, we divide it into different ‘eras’ using the geological time scale.

Geological Time Scale• If all of geological

time could be compressed into the height of the Eiffel tower, human history would take as much space as the coat of paint on the very top.

Geological Time ScaleIf the age of the Earth were portrayed along a human

arm (the shoulder as the beginning), the palm is the Paleozoic, the first two digits of the middle finger is the Mesozoic, the last digit of the middle finger is the Cenozoic, and finally, a single pass of a nail file eliminates the history of humans.