Unit 2: The Planet Earth

Image shows different spheres interacting. Mount Tasman, South Island, New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES• Present the basics of Earth’s shape and

size• Define and highlight the five spheres of

the Earth System• Explore the Earth’s hemispheres• Highlight the general characteristics of

Earth’s landmasses• Introduce the world’s ocean basins and

the topographic characteristics of the seafloor

The Earth’s Geometry and Size

Due to rotation, the Earth is more elliptical than spherical.

The exaggerated Earth showing mountainous terrain

The smooth Earth more realistically drawn

The Earth’s Interacting Spheres

Earth’s sphere’s video: http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0102/es0102page01.cfm

Source: http://caaltd.org/images/rainforest/biosphere1.jpg

Distribution of land and sea

The Land HemisphereThis half of the globe contains most of the Earth’s

landmasses which surround Africa.

World ocean floor reveals features below the ocean’s waters

Features of the continental margins

Source: http://content.answcdn.com/main/content/img/McGrawHill/Encyclopedia/images/CE159100FG0010.gif