Spaceship Earth

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Spaceship Earth

• Geography Standard Two
• A look at our Home Planet, its Passengers and
  Crew

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Third Planet From the Sun
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Fragile Vehicle

• More than 6 Billion human passengers
• Countless other lifeforms
• Journey of undetermined length
• Closed system

Note No replacement vehicle is available.
Constant monitoring of systems is essential to
prolong viability.
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Power Source the Sun

• Supplies almost all of the energy to operate
  Earths systems
• Planetary systems redistribute the energy.
• All systems operate in a delicate balance.

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Three Main Planetary Systems

• The shell or physical structure
• The water system
• The heat distribution system

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What produces patterns of physical features on
Earths surface?

• Like the Space shuttle, Earths surface is
  covered with tiles or plates of rock.

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• The continents, made of lightweight material,
  float over the plates.
• The space between continents fills in with
  water.

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What shapes the surface?

• Mountain Building
• Erosion

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Mountains may be formed through volcanism

• Heat trapped in the planets core is slowly
  released as Earth continues to cool off.
• (Pressure from rock layers prevents rapid
  cooling)
• A series of pipes and vents bring heat to the
  surface.

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Volcanoes and ocean vents act as release
valves
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Wrinkles in the planets skin

• Mountains and mountain chains can result from
  tectonic plate collisions.
• Can cause sudden, violent movement- earthquake!

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Mountains of Coral

• Some islands are made of the bodies of tiny
  organisms.

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How is water circulated through the planet and
atmosphere to produce patterns of available
moisture for living things?
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About 75 of Earths water is salt water

• Found in the oceans and estuaries
• Saltiness comes from exposure to minerals on
  ocean floor and
• Minerals are left behind when water from the
  oceans evaporates.

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Most of the fresh water isstored

• in the planets ice caps and glaciers or
• in underground aquifers

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About 3 of the planets water is available for
passenger use.

• Water circulates above ground or
• Below ground

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What patterns of climate result from distribution
of heat from the sun?
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Most solar energy falls near the equator.
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Circulation in the atmosphere and oceans carries
heat toward the poles.
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Tilt!

• The tilt of the Earth on its axis causes
  seasonal variation of
• Temperature
• Precipitation
• Length of Day

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Earth goes through climate cycles, but within
each one there areFour Main Determiners of
Climate

• Latitude or Distance from the Equator
• Altitude or elevation
• Proximity to water bodies
• Wind and Ocean Currents

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Passenger Survey

• Should passengers be prohibited from areas of the
  ship that may be hazardous?
• Should all crew members conserve or restrict use
  of water? How?
• What actions should crew members take to prevent
  systems problems?
• What is the biggest problem for Spaceship Earth
• at the present time?

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