Unit 2

The Earth´s surface:

lithosphere and
hydrosphere
1. The Earth´s structure
1.1. The internal and external structure.:

Earth

Internal External

Lithosphere Biosphere
Core Mantle Crust Hydrosphere Atmosphere
1. The Earth´s structure
1.2. The lithosphere and tectonic
plates.
• The lithosphere is composed of tectonic plates
that move over the mantle.
1.2. The lithosphere and tectonic
plates.
The crust is formed or destroyed as a result of the separation or collision
of the plates.

Two plates are separating Two plates collide,

1.3. The Earth´s surface: continents,
islands and oceans.
1.3. The Earth´s surface: continents,
islands and oceans.
• Continents and islands are areas of land
surronded by oceans and seas.
• Oceans are large areas of salt water that cover
part of the Earth´s crust.

Oceans and seas

Continents
2. The Earth´s relief

Surface
Continenal
relief
Relief
Submarine
Oceanic
relief
2.1. Landforms of surface relief

Simple land forms of surface relief

D
P M
P e
l o p
l a u r
n
a t e
t s
i e a s
a i i
n u o
n
n
s s s s
2.1. Landforms of surface relief
2.1. Landforms of surface relief
2.1. Landforms of surface relief
2.1. Landforms of surface relief
2.1. Landforms of surface relief
• Large relief formation. (Animación p 21)
Simple landforms of relief can be grouped into
larger formations.
Shields
The most (escudos)
important Young
Mountains
2.1. Landforms of surface relief
• What is the diference between a young and old
mountain?

Old mountains Young mountains.

2.1. Landforms of surface relief
Landforms of coastal relief.
Coasts are where the continents meets the oceans
and the seas.
Most
important

Gulfs or
Capes Peninsulas Estuaries Fiords
bays
2.1. Landforms of surface relief
• Capes or headlands: a large area of land
that goes out into the sea
2.1. Landforms of surface relief
Gulf or bays: a large area of sea that has land almost
all the way around it
2.1. Landforms of surface relief
• Peninsula:an area of land almost completely
surrounded by water.
2.1. Landforms of surface relief
• Estuary: formed when the sea flows into the
mouth of a river.
2.1. Landforms of surface relief
• Fiords: narrow inlets eroded by glaciers and
penetrated by the sea.
2.2. Oceanic landforms.
• Submarine relief is much more regular than
continental relief.
Oceanic
lands forms

Continental Continental Abyssal

Shelf slope plains

Oceanic Oceanic
ridges trenches
2.2. Oceanic landforms
• Continental shelf (plataforma continental)
• Continental slope (talud continental)
2.2. Oceanic landforms.
• Abyssal plains (llanuras abisales)
• Oceanic ridges (dorsal oceánica) h. 3000m.
• Oceanic trenches (fosas oceánicas) h. 11.000 m.
2.2. Oceanic landforms.
3. Relief formation and transformation
Internal
forces

Relief
External
forces
3.1. How relief is formed.
• The relief is a consequence of the following
internal forces:

Orogeny/orogenia

Earthquakes/terremotos

Volcanoes
3.1. How relief is formed.
• Orogeny:

• Is the process through which mountains are

formed.
3.1. How relief is formed.
• Earthquakes (Map Andalucia)

• Caused by violent movements of the

terrestial crust.
3.1. How relief is formed.
• Volcanoes.

• Cracks in the crust that expel magma, ashes,

rocks and toxic gases.
3.2. How relief is transformed.
• External forces shape the relief.
• This transformation involves three types of
action:
Erosion

Sedimentation Transportation
3.2. How relief is transformed.
(Animación)
Temperature
Atmosphere
Wind
External
Water
forces

Living things
4. The hydrosphere.

Continental
Oceanic
waters
waters
(freshwater)
4.1. Oceanic waters
• The water in the seas ans¡d oceans is in constant
movement:
Tides
(mareas)

Waves Ocean
currents
(olas) (corrientes)

Movements
4.2. Continental waters.
Glaciers -glaciares

Rivers- ríos

Lakes - lagos

Aquifers - acuíferos