GEOG 155 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Spherical Earth, Land And Water Hemispheres, Centrifugal Force
Document Summary
The non-spherical earth: latitudes near earth"s equator bulge out from spherical shape. Centrifugal force: outward force experienced by objects following a curved path: earth is squashed into ellipsoid. Ellipsoid: three-dimensional object that is elliptical in cross-section: rugged terrain. Topography: natural and artificial features found at surface of the earth. 5 spheres: atmosphere: blanket of air that adheres to the earth"s surface. Heat energy from sun keeps atmosphere in motion. Densest at sea level and thins out as you go further up: lithosphere: outermost shell of the solid earth. Where landforms are, continues under the oceans: hydrosphere: contains all the water that exists on and within the solid surface of. Earth and in the atmosphere above: cryosphere: includes all forms of frozen water (glaciers, floating ice, permafrost, snow cover, biosphere: zone of life and home of all living things. 5 spheres are not separate and independent segments of our planet but constantly interacting subsystems of the total earth system.
