OTHER TOPICS -----> Intro/Maps Atmosphere Climate / Hydrosphere
Biosphere / Soils Tectonics Specific Environments

INTRO AND MAPS CHAPTERS -----> Earth Intro Lat/Lon/Maps

The Earth and its Setting

I. EARTH / SUN CHARACTERISTICS AND RELATIONSHIPS

A. Solar System: a little perspective

  1. 3rd of 8 planets (science/scientific method)
    .... or is it 9? .... or is it 12??
  2. 150M km / 93M mi. from sun (map)
    • = 8 minutes travelling at light spd
    • elliptical orbit, NOT circular
      • perihelion = nearer (JAN)
      • aphelion = farther (JUL)
      • equinox and solstice
  3. revolution (orbit) = 365 1/4 days → leap year
B. The Earth
  1. 12,700 km / 8,000 mi. diameter
  2. 40,000 km / 25,000 mi. circumpherence
  3. shape = oblate spheroid
  4. 23 1/2° tilt from vertical = seasons
  5. rotation = 1,670 kph; 1,037 mph at equator
    ... one rotation = ~24 hours
  6. gravitational pull of sun and moon affect tides
  7. gaseous atmosphere = "just right" to sustain life
    • "right" amount of volcanic activity = "right" mix of gases
    • "right" gravity to maintain "right" mix of gases

INTRO AND MAPS CHAPTERS -----> Earth Intro Lat/Lon/Maps