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Physical
Geography |
At the end of this unit you will ...
- be able to explain the reasons for the distribution patterns of landform, climate, soil and vegetation patterns across the earth
- describe selected ecosystems (biomes) in different parts of the world
- explain the relationships that link global patterns of landforms, climate, soils, vegetation and fauna to each other
- demonstrate an understanding of similarities and differences between different climatic zones and the landscapes found within them.
Click here to go to the Book Work section.
1. Introduction
Patterns exist across the surface of the earth. The PowerPoint located here will illustrate the distribution of landforms, climate, soils, vegetation and fauna. Our task in this concluding unit will be to explore the interrelationships between these different distribution patterns and comment on human impact on these elements.
2. Biome Study
Ecosystems can occur at a variety of scales – from a rotting log in a forest, a large lake, a mountain chain or a global scale ecosystem such as the Tropical Rainforest. We will now do a survey of world biomes (large-scale ecosystems) and share our results. Click here to begin.
Media Corner!
Click here to see a page with a view images on Soil
Flash
- Biological Productivity in Mid Latitudes
- Net Primary Productivity
- Snowball effect on the Earth
Flash - Soils
- What is a Soil
- Global Soil Zones
- Weathering of Soils
- Soil Profiles
Examples of different types of Soil
- Brown Earth
- Chernozem
- Latsols
- Podsols
- Rendzina soils
- Gleysols
Book Work - Chapter 20
"Energy and Life in the Biosphere" pages 338-353
- Do the Developing Skills section "Using Graphs Effectively" pages 350-353
Answer #1,2,4 on pages 352 - Do #1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,12,13
Book Work - Chapter 21 "Climate, Soils and Natural Vegetation working together" pages 356-373
- Do #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 on page 373-375
- Note: Ecoregion is similar to Ecozones
Very Important Charts to go over the class with:
1. Soil Taxonomy - Fig. 21.7 on page 265
2. Vegetation Communities - Fig 21.15 on page 371
3. Ecoregions of the World - Fig 21.16 on page 372