UNIT 1

Physical geography

IES Rascanya
Josep Villarroya
 Unit 1 – Physical geography

● Find out about:

● How relief is formed
● Types of relief
● The relief and water of the continents
● The Earth's climates and landscapes
● The physical relief of Iberian peninsula
● Learn how to:
● Use maps to link geographical features to each other.
● Analyse the effects of cyclons.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography

1. Relief formation
1.1- What is
relief?
● The variations in
elevation of the
Earth's surface are
called relief.
● These variations
are found on the
surface of our
continents and on
the ocean bed.
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● Many
changes in
relief take
place over
an
extremely
long period
of time.
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1.2- How is relief
formed?
● The theory of plate
tectonics explain
relief formation.
● According to this
theory, the Eart's crust
is made up of plates
which float on the top
layer of the mantle.
● They separate, slide
against against each
other or collide.
● New types of relief are
then formed.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography

A- When the plates

separate, rifts (cracks)
are formed in the
ocean's crust. The
magma inside the earth
pushes up through the
cracks. When it cools, it
forms a new crust. This
separation also takes
place on the continents.
The Great Rift Valley is a
huge fracture crossing a
large area of easter
Africa.
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B- A plate on the
ocean's crust
sometimes collides
with the edge of a
continental plate, and
is pushed down into
the Earth's interior.
High temperatures
melt the crust, and
turn it into magma.
The area where the
crust is destroyed is
called a subduction
zone.
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C- Magma
pushes up
through the
continental
crust, creating
volcanoes on
the Earth's
surface. This
was the origin of
the Andes
mountain chain.
D- Two continental plates
Unit 1 – Physical geography
sometimes collide, and
the pressure forms folds
(undulations) in the
Eart's surface. Faults
occur when the crust is
rigid and fractures. In this
case, some blocks sink
while other rise and form
mountains.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
The biggest
changes in the
Earth's crust
take place at
the boundaries
between plates.
They are areas
of intense
seismic and
volcanic activity.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography

1.3- Exogenous processes

● In addition to forces beneath the earth's surface, relief
is also formed by exogenous (or external) processes.
– Erosion of rocks, which are worn away, fragmented or
dissolved.
– Transport of the eroded materials.
– Sedimentation, or the deposition of materials in another
place.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
● Erosion of rocks, which are worn away, fragmented or
dissolved.
● The erosion of rocks is caused by the interaction of
external agents over an extended period of time.
● These forces are mainly water, wind and temperature.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
● Rivers carve out deep
valleys and gorges.
Glaciers, or large masses
of ice, also cause erosion
when they move
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● The force of the sea erodes cliffs, changing
the coastline. Sea water transports the
material from the cliffs and deposits it in
other areas, forming new beaches.
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● Sharp changes in temperature can break up rocks.
Water sometimes filters down through the cracks in
hard rocks. If the waterfreezes, it then exerts
pressure on the rocks and may break them into
pieces. The scree on mountains are accumulations
of rock fragments which originated in this way.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
● Limestone and gypsum do not fragment. The
action of water dissolves them and they form
karstic relief. The karst rock formations in
caves and subterranean galleries were formed in
this way.
 2- The Earth's relief
2.1- Continental relief
The main forms of continental relief are the following:
- Mountains, which may be isolated or grouped together in
mountain ridges.
- Valleys are areas of low land between mountains.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
● Plains are flat
areas of land
near the coast or
in the basins of
large rivers.
● Plateaus are
high raised
plains.
● Depressions are
very low areas
that may even be
below sea level.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography

● On the coast
we find other
relief forms:
● Cliffs, which
are steep
rock
formations.
● Beaches,

which are
found in flat
coastal areas.
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● Plains are flat
areas of land
near the coast or
in the basins of
large rivers.
● Plateaus are
high raised
plains.
● Depressions are
very low areas
that may even be
below sea level.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
● Gulfs and
bays (small
gulfs) are
where the sea
extends
inland.
● Capes and
peninsulas
are areas of
land that
extend into
the sea.
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2.2- Oceanic relief

Relief on the ocean floor is as varied as
continental relief.
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- A continental
shelf is a large
plateau that
surrounds a
continent, reaching
a depth of 200 m.
- A continental
slope leads down
from the
continental shelf
into the deeper
part of the ocean..
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● Abyssal plains are
vast plateaus at a
depth of 3,000-
7,000.
● Mid-ocean ridges
are long mountain
ridges that are
found on the
abyssal plains.
Some of the peaks
of underwater
mountains rise
above the ocean's
surface and form
islands..
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- Oceans
trenches are
long, deep
cracks in the
ocean floor.
The deepest
ocean trench
is Challenger
Deep (11,000
m) in the
pacific Ocean.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
2.3- The
influence of relief
on our lives

The nature and

altitude of relief
influences climate,
vegetation and
land use. It affects
both population
and economic
activity.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
● Most of the world's
population lives in flat
areas below an
altitude of 500 metres.
● These areas are
mainly near the coast
and in river valleys.
● The climate is mild,
conditions are
favourable for
agriculture and there
are good
communications.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
● Most of the world's
population lives in flat
areas below an
altitude of 500 metres.
● These areas are
mainly near the coast
and in river valleys.
● The climate is mild,
conditions are
favourable for
agriculture and there
are good
communications.
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● Mountainous
areas are usually
sparsely populated.
● The climate is cold
and wet, there is
little agriculture and
communications are
expensive.
● The economy is
often based on
livestock or mining
and, more recently,
tourism.
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However,
technological
advances have
reduced our
dependence on
the environment.
For example,
modern
communications
reduce the
isolation of
mountain
communities..
3- The continents
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● Africa. The
continent has a high
average elevation of
750 metres because
of its many plateaus.
There are great
deserts, like the
Sahara and Kalahari.
The main mountain
ranges are the Atlas
Mountains and the
Drakensberg
Mountains. The
Great Rift Valley is in
the east. The
coastline is regular.
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●
Asia. Mountain ranges are mainly in the centre. The Himalayan
mountain range contains Mount Everest, the highest peak in the
world. Plateaus include the Plateau of Tibet, the highest in the
world. Vast plains are crossed by long rivers. The main basins
contain inland seas: the Caspian, Aral and Dead Seas. The
coastline is irregular. There are many peninsulas, gulfs, islands
and archipelagos: Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia...
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
America. The great
mountain ranges (the
Rocky Mountains,
Sierra Madre and the
Andes) run parallel to
the Pacific Coast. In
the interior, plateaus
include the Matto
Grosso and the
Bolivian Altiplano. The
Great Plains are in
North America. The
coastline of North
America is more
irregular than taht of
Souh America.
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Europe. Great plains occupy the centre and east of the continent.
The oldest mountains are in the north (Scandinavian mountains)
and east (Urals), but they are not high because of erosion. High,
young mountain ranges form an arc around the Mediterranean
Sea: the Pyrenees, Alps, Carpathians, Balkans and Caucasus.
The coastline is irregular. It has many peninsulas and islands like
Iceland and Sicily.
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Oceania. Relief
varies from one
island to another.
Australia has
coastal plains,
low desert in the
interior and the
Great Diving
Range in the
east. New Guinea
and New Zealand
are mountainous.
The Pacific
islands are
mainly low..
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- Antarctica. It has the highest average altitude
(2,000 metres) and is mainly covered by ice.
 4- Water
Water
covers
more than
70% of the
earth's
surface.
Some
water is
found on
the
continents,
but most of
it is in the
oceans
and seas.
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4.1- Continental water
Rivers, lakes,groundwater and ice contain fresh water.
They make up about 3% of all the Earth's water

20%
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
4- Continental water
Rivers are continuous
flows of water that
originates in rain,
melting ice or
groundwater. They flow
into a sea, a lake or
antoher river. Rivers
are important because
they provide water for
human consumption,
agriculture,
hydorelectric energy
and industry. They are
also important
communication routes.
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4- Continental water
Lakes are enclosed masses of water which accumulate
in depressions. Salt water lakes are called inland seas.
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4- Continental water
Groundwater accumulates when rain and river water inflitrates prous
ground. This water flows downwards until it reaches a layer of
impermeable rock and forms and underground deposti called an
aquifer. Groundwater feeds rivers and lakes, and it is our main
reserve of drinking water.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
4- Continental water
Ice is found at the polar ice caps and in mountain
glaciers. Antarctica holds most of the Earth's fresh water
in the form of ice.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
4.2- Marine water
Oceans and seas hold 97% of the Earth's water. They are
in constant movement: marine currents, tides and waves
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
- Marine currents are masses of water which move like
rivers through the oceans. A warm current has a higher
temperature than the surrounding water. A cold current
has a lower temperature. Currents have a considerable
influence on the climate on coastal regions.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
- Tides are the daily rise and fall in the sea level caused
by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun. High tide
is when the sea level rises, and low tide is when it falls.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography

- Waves are the undulating movements of

water on the surface of the sea. They are
caused by the wind.
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4.3- Water as a scarce resource
Water is a precious resource:
- Most water is not suitable for consumption. Nearly all the Earth's water
is salt water and cannot be used. Most fresh water is found in the form of
ice or deep under the ground.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
- Overexplotation
of the Earth's
water has led the
depletion of
aquifers, and a
sharp reduction in
the size on many
lakes.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
- The distribution of
water on Earth is uneven.
Its availability can vary
between seasons, and
from one year to the next.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
Hydraulic engineering (for example reservoirs,
canals, desalinations plants and wells) helps to
make water available all year round. These
infraestructres have a considerable impacton
landscapes and the environment.
5- Rivers and lakes of the world
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
Africa. Among the rivers that
flow into de Mediterranean Sea,
only the Nile River has an
abundant flow. It is the longest
river in the world. The rivers
that flow into de Atlantic Ocean,
like the Niger and Congo, have
an abundant flow. So too do the
rivers that flow into the Indian
Ocean, like the Zambezi River.
There are many lakes in Africa.
The biggest is Lake Victoria.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
Asia. Many rivers are long and
have an abundant flow, which
increases when they are fed by
melting ice and monsoons rains.
Their soruces are in inland
mountains, they flow across
extensive plains and they are
partly navigable. The Artic rivers
freeze in winter. The Yangtse
River is the longest Asian river.
Lake Baikal is the deepest lake
in the world, and the Caspian
sea is the biggest lake.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
America. On
the Atlantic
side, rivers like
Mississipi and
the Amazon
are the longest
and have the
greatest flow.
On the Pacific
side, rivers are
shorter
because their
sources are in
the mountains
near the coast.
The five Great
Lakes are in
Noth America.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
Europe. The flow of
European rivers is determined
by climate. The Atlantic rivers
have the greatest flow
because they receive
abundant rainfall all year. As a
result, they are navigable. In
general, the Mediterranean
rivers have a low, irregular
flow and their water levels
decrease in the summer.
Important European rivers
include the Danube, which
flows into the Black Sea, and
the Volga, which is the
longest on the continent. The
biggest lakes are Ladoga and
Onega in north-west Russia.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
Oceania. The longest rivers are the Murray and its tributary,
the Darling, in Australia.
 6- Climates and landscapes

HOT CLIMATES
Equatorial
Tropical wet
Tropical dry
Desert

TEMPERATE CLIMATES
Mediterranean
Humid subtropical
Oceanic

Continental

COLD CLIMATES
Polar
High mountain
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
The Sun doesn't warm all the Earth's surface to the same extent.
When the Sun's rays are perpendicular (as in the tropical zone), the
amount of solar energy is considerable. When the Sun's rays fall at an
obliqueangle (as in the polar region), the amount of energy is very low.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
In terms of latitude, there are
five main climates zones:
- A hot zone, between the
tropics. The average annual
temperature is over 20ºC.
- Two temperate zones,
between 30º and 60º latitude
in both hemispheres. Solar
radiation is not as high, and
there is a clear seasonal
difference between summer
and winter.
- Two cold zones, from 60º
to 90º latitude in both
hemisferes. Solar radiation is
weak and temperatures are
low all year round.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
Altitude, relief and proximity to the sea also influence climate.
There are different types of climates within each main climate
zone: hot (equatorial, tropical and desert), warm (Mediterranean,
oceanic and continental) and cold (polar and mountain)
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Climate has a great
influence on humans
societies. Extreme
temperatures and
humity make life
more difficult:
deserts, forests high
mountains and the
polar regions are
sparsely populated.
More than 70% of
the world's
population lives in
temperate zones.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
Equatorial climate.
Location: Near the
Equator, between 10º N
and 10º S.
Temperatures: Average
annual temperatures are
around 25ºC, with little
variation (less than 3ºC).
It is hot all year round.
Precipitacion: Total
annual precipitacion is
higher than 2,000 mm. It
rains every month.
Landscape: Rainforest
(dense green
vegetation)
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
Tropical climate.
Location: Between 10º and
30º N and S, at the same
latitude as the desert
climate.
Temperatures: Average
annual temperature is over
20ºC. Variation is between
3ºC and 10ºC, increasing
further from the Equator.
Precipitacion: The annual
total ranges between 2,000
mm (southeast Asia) and
less than 400 mm (near
deserts). Seasons alternate
between dry and wet.
Landscape: Tropical
rainforest and savannah (a
grassy plain with few trees)
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
Desert climate.
Location: It shares
latitudes with the
tropical climate.
Temperatures:
Average annual
temperatures are
high, over 20ºC.
There are big
differences between
day and night.
Precipitacion: Scarce,
under 250 mm, and
irregularly distributed.
Landscape: Desert.
Vegetation is only
found at oases.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
Mediterranean climate.
Location: Between latitudes
30º and 40º.
Temperatures: Average
annual temperature
between 10ºC and 18ºC.
Temperature variation are
between 12ºC and 16ºC.
Summers are hot and
winters are mild.
Precipitacion: This ranges
between 900 mm and 300
mm a year. Distribution is
irregular and summers are
very dry.
Landscape: Mediterranean
woodland (holm oak and
cork trees) and scrub.
Oceanic or Atlantic
climate. Unit 1 – Physical geography
Location: Between 40º
and 50º latitude (and
even up to 60º).
Temperatures: Average
annual temperature
ranges from 10ºC to
15ºC. Variation is low
(from 10ºC to 12ºC).
Winters are mild and
summers are cold.
Precipitacion: Annual
total is around 1,000
mm. It is regular
throughout the year.
Landscape: Deciduous
foprest (oak and beech)
and moorland (scrub
land with dense
vegetation)
Continental climate.
Unit 1 – Physical geography
Location: Inland, in North
America, Europe and
Asia.
Temperatures: Average
annual temperatures are
between 0ºC and 10ºC.
Variation is very high.
Winters are long and
cold, and summers are
short and hot.
Precipitacion: This
ranges between 750 mm
and 300 mm.It is
irregular, with maximum
precipitation in summer.
Landscape: Taiga o
conifer forests (evergreen
species like fir and pine
trees). Prairies and
steppes.
 Unit 1 – Physical geography
Polar climate.
Location: near
the poles.
Temperatures:
Average annual
temperatures are
below 0ºC. It is
never higher than
10ºC.
Precipitacion:
This is scarce,
less than 250 mm
annually. It mainly
falls as snow.
Landscape:
Tundra (an area
of mosses and
lichens)
High mountain Unit 1 – Physical geography
climate.
Location: High
mountainous areas.
Temperatures: These
decrease with altitude
(0.6ºC every 100
metres). Summers
are short and coll.
Winters are long and
very cold.
Precipitacion: This
increases with
altitude, especially on
the side where the
winds blows.
Landscape:
Vegetation varies
according to altitude:
trees, bushes, scrub
and prairie land.