Work sheet 1

PLANET EARTH TECTONICS

Name

Form

1. Before you start watching the film, try and answer these questions on our planet. Here’s some help: five billion years old  mass 6 million billion billion kg  mass of atmosphere 5.1x1018 kg  mean density 5.52x103 kg/m3  equatorial radius 6378.2 km  polar radius 6356.2 km

What is the size of Earth, radius, mass, volume etc? How old is the Earth? What is meant by age of Earth? How does the Earth form? How does water form? What is the gravity of Earth? What is the structure of Earth? Where is Earth in the Solar System?

2. Inside the Earth: Look at this table about the shell structure of the Earth and label your drawing. Distance from surface / km

Shell name

Density / 103 kg m-3

Description

0 - 15

Crust

3

30-50 km for continents 5 km under ocean floor 0.35 % of Earth mass

15 - 900

Upper mantle

3.5

Higher density than crust

900 - 2700

Lower mantle

5-6

The mantles: 84 % of Earth by volume 67 % of Earth by mass

2700 - 2900

Mantle core boundary

6

Transition region

2900 - 5000

Outer core

12-13

The cores:

5000 - 5150

Transition region

13

Transition region

5150 - 6371

Inner core

13-14

© Quelle der Grafik:http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/inside.html

15 % of Earth by volume 32 % of Earth by mass

12 Schulfernsehen SÜDWEST, Heft 4 (Mai/Juni/Juli) Schuljahr 2003/2004

Work sheet 2

PLANET EARTH TECTONICS

Name

Form

3. Complete this text about the inside of the Earth. The table (page 12) and the film will help you:

Aside from the atmosphere and oceans, the outer surface of Earth is a Below the

is a 3650-kilometer thick shell called

The Earth core is mostly

and

The upper portion is mostly molten iron and nickel but

the centre is a solid iron and nickel core. Between the inner and the crust are

.

, outer

, mantles,

zones.

3.1 Look at the simplified geologic map of Surtsey. With the film in mind, try and explain how the island of Surtsey was formed.

0 metres 400 1975 shoreline 1991 shoreline tephra 1963/64 lava 1966/67 west crater lava 1964/65 east craters

3.2 Read this text and say when and how plant and animal life began on Surtsey. On 14 November 1963 seamen saw the beginnings of an undersea eruption that began at a 130 metre depth. An island eventually rose to a height of 169 metres above sea level that had an area of 2.5 km2. This island was named Surtsey. For three and a half years Surtsey rumbled and lava flowed. The first living found in the ash deposits close to shore. In May of the same year a fly was found on the island. Sea gulls visited the tide waters. The sea rocket was the first flower along the shore in 1965. By 1987, twenty-five species of higher plants had been observed, transported there by seed in the sea currents, some from a nearby island, others from the southern Icelandic coast 40 kilometres off. Other species of plants have been carried there by the winds or birds from Europe.

3.3 Collect photos and diagrams of the island of Surtsey and make a collage to show how it developed over the years. This website may help you: www.watson1999-69.freeserve.co.uk/surtsey/info.html

© Vorlage der Grafik für Surtsey: http://volcano.und.nodak.edu

lava 1966/67

13 Schulfernsehen SÜDWEST, Heft 4 (Mai/Juni/Juli) Schuljahr 2003/2004

Work sheet 3

PLANET EARTH TECTONICS

Name

Form

4.1 What happens when plates move towards each other? This block diagram may help you to explain.

These expressions may help you: Surface forms a solid crust Earth’s crust is cracked The plates float on a dense mantle The movements in our planet’s crustal plates have created some dramatic features of the earth: mountain ranges – islands – earthquakes – volcanoes

4.2 Describe the map showing the Mid-Atlantic Ridge splitting Iceland and separating the North American and Eurasian Plates. 4.3 What else does the map show? On a map of Iceland find some active volcanoes. 4.4 Collect information about earthquakes in California, particularly in San Francisco, and design a poster. Include what to do to prepare when an earthquake strikes. This may give you some good ideas: http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/prepare/future/now/index.html 5.1 Closely watch those scenes of the film that show what happens within a volcano to make it erupt. Then put the sentences in the right order. What happens within a volcano to make it erupt? 1. molten magma pushes up 2. when it rains water mixes with ash into a heavy mud flow 3. shattered rocks crash down the mountain 4. gas boils out and foaming magma rushes up 5. this causes tremor 6. the cloud drop boulders and ash on the surrounding land 7. the dome gets too big and heavy and is forced apart

5.3 Watch one of these animations of what it looks like when a volcano erupts: http://giseis.alaska.edu/Input/affiliated/lahr/taurho/volcano/volcano.html www.sci.sdsu.edu/volcano/flyby.mov www.sci.sdsu.edu/volcano

©

http://www.usgs.gov

5.2 Build a model of a volcano. On this website you will find a volcano pattern: http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/education/volcano_bmod.doc

Next draw the different stages of an eruption. Label your drawing with the help of the sentences in the above box.

14 Schulfernsehen SÜDWEST, Heft 4 (Mai/Juni/Juli) Schuljahr 2003/2004

Work sheet 4

PLANET EARTH TEMPERATURE

Name

Form



1. While watching the film, try to add important notes to this mind map.

Gulf stream

Ocean currents

Climate zones

EARTH IN SPACE

Atmosphere

Continental climate vs. Maritime climate

2. This diagram shows June 21 March 21 September 23 December 22

Land-Water

Solar system

the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. Copy it and label it with the help of these statements: Summer solstice in the northern hemisphere Vernal equinox. Spring in the northern hemisphere, autumn in the south. Autumn equinox. Autumn in the northern hemisphere, spring in the south. Winter solstice in the northern hemisphere

Autumn

➤ ➤

Winter

Summer

Spring 3. Find examples for this statement, ”The seasons affect the activities we do, the foods we eat, the clothes we wear – and quite often, the moods we are in.”

15 Schulfernsehen SÜDWEST, Heft 4 (Mai/Juni/Juli) Schuljahr 2003/2004

Work sheet 5

PLANET EARTH TEMPERATURE

Name

Form

4. Read this article about the seasons and fill in the missing words:

Circle (2x) · equator (2x) · South · northward · twice · Cancer · maximum · vertically · Capricorn · September · tilt The Seasons The seasons are caused by the …........................ of Earth's axis (23.5°). The seasons are marked by solstices and equinoxes. The solstices mark the points at which the poles are tilted at their …..................................... toward or away from the sun. The solstices occur each year on June 20 or 21 and Dec. 21 or 22. The tilt of Earth's axis is responsible for four lines you find on every globe. When the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun as much as possible, the farthest points in the North which can still be reached by the Sun's rays are 23.5° from the pole. This is the Arctic …....................... The Antarctic …........................ is the corresponding limit 23.4° from the ....................… Pole; the Sun's rays cannot reach beyond this point when we have midsummer in the North. When the Sun is vertically above the …..........., the day is of equal length all over Earth. This happens …............ a year, and these are the “equinoxes” in March and in ….................. After having been over the equator in March, the Sun will seem to move …................... The northernmost point where the Sun can be straight overhead is 23.5° north of the …...................... This is the Tropic of …......................; the Sun can never be vertically overhead to the north of this line. Similarly the Sun cannot be …...................... overhead to the south of a line 23.5° south of the equator – the Tropic of ….......................... 5. Describe and compare these four climate graphs. Say what types of climate they represent and why these four cities have different types of climate. Compare the highest and lowest temperatures. How big are the temperature ranges between summer and winter? Compare the amounts of precipitation. Brest Month [mm] Jan 136 Feb 106 Mar 104 Apr 70 May 73 Jun 51 Jul 46 Aug 59 Sep 79 Oct 106 Nov 118 Dec 137 Year 1085

[° C] 6.3 6.2 7.3 8.8 11.4 14.2 15.9 16.0 14.7 12.3 8.9 7.3 10.8

Paris Month [mm] Jan 52 Feb 45 Mar 53 Apr 45 May 62 Jun 65 Jul 54 Aug 51 Sep 54 Oct 57 Nov 55 Dec 54 Year 639

[° C] 3.4 4.2 6.6 9.5 13.2 16.4 18.4 18.0 15.4 11.5 6.8 4.3 10.6

Stuttgart Month [mm] Jan 44 Feb 42 Mar 44 Apr 61 May 82 Jun 96 Jul 70 Aug 79 Sep 57 Oct 43 Nov 55 Dec 48 Year 720

[° C] -0.4 0.8 4.2 8.0 12.5 15.7 17.7 17.0 13.7 9.0 3.9 0.6 8.6

Vienna Month [mm] Jan 38 Feb 42 Mar 41 Apr 50 May 61 Jun 74 Jul 62 Aug 65 Sep 45 Oct 41 Nov 50 Dec 44 Year 613

[° C] -0.7 1.3 5.3 10.2 14.8 18.0 19.9 19.2 15.4 10.1 4.8 1.0 9.9

These expressions may help you! metres above sea level, precipitation (rain, snow, hail, drizzle, etc.), temperature (xx degrees Centigrade) mean (average) annual precipitation, mean (average) annual temperature, maximum / minimum temperature temperature rise / fall (steadily / rapidly / …), … 6. In the film, you learnt a lot about the Gulf Stream and why and how it affects the climate in various regions on the Northern hemisphere. For example, a lot of tourists enjoy the mild climate on the island of Guernsey. Say why the climate is so attractive to many people. These websites may help you collect information: http://www.doc.mmu.ac.uk/aric/eae/Climate/Older/Gulf_Stream.html http://www.destinasjontromso.no/gulfstrmmens_historie_eng.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_stream

16 Schulfernsehen SÜDWEST, Heft 4 (Mai/Juni/Juli) Schuljahr 2003/2004

Work sheet 6

PLANET EARTH PRECIPITATION PREVAILING WINDS

Name

Form

1. What is precipitation? – Add the missing words from this list:

moisture · snow · cools · droplets · rain (2x) · condensation · hail · arger · clouds · condenses · sleet Precipitation is any form of ……….. that falls to the earth. This includes …….., …..…, …..… and …..…. Precipitation occurs when water vapour …...…. When the air reaches the …...… point the water vapour …...… and forms tiny …...… of water. These tiny droplets of water form ……..... . If the water droplets join to make …….... drops, they will fall as …......… .

2 3

1

(

) The drier air descends and warms.

(

) Warm wet air is forced to rise over the mountains or high land.

(

) Any moisture in the air (e.g. cloud) evaporates.

(

) As the air rises, it cools and condenses. Clouds form and precipitation occurs.

(

) When the condensation point is reached, large cumulonimbus clouds are formed.

(

) The sun heats the ground and warm air rises.

(

) Heavy rainstorms occur. These usually include thunder and lightning.

(

) As the warm air rises it cools and water vapour condenses to form clouds.

(

) An area of warm air meets an area of cold air.

(

) Where the air meets, the warm air is cooled and water vapour condenses.

(

) Clouds form and precipitation occurs.

(

) The warm air is forced over the cold air.

4

Convectional Rainfall

➞

➞

3

2

4

1

Frontal Rainfall

4 warm

3

➞➞ 1

2

cold

©

Relief Rainfall

Quelle: ww.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/topics/rain.html#precipitation

2. Below you can see three diagrams showing different types of rainfall. With the help of the film and the ideas in the boxes next to each diagram, explain these three types. Don’t forget to put the sentences in the right order!

17 Schulfernsehen SÜDWEST, Heft 4 (Mai/Juni/Juli) Schuljahr 2003/2004

Work sheet 7

Name

Form

PLANET EARTH PRECIPITATION PREVAILING WINDS

3. Describe this model of the global wind circulation in your own words. The questions in the box will help you. Polar easterlies Subpolar low Prevailing westerlies Subtropical high

Tropical easterlies Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

Tropical easterlies Subtropical high Prevailing westerlies 1. 2. 3. 4.

Where are areas of high and low pressures? Why are there such enormous differences? Keep the effect of the Sun on the equator and the polar regions in mind. In what direction do most winds on our planet blow? Why do winds that originally are south westerly winds on the Northern hemisphere become westerly winds? Think of the Coriolis Force!

4. In the film you can watch the damage typhoons may cause in a country like Bangla Desh. What are these damages? Where are typhoons or hurricanes born? Why? Find your answers in the following text: Hurricanes... What are they? Hurricanes are tropical cyclones with winds that reach constant speeds of 75 miles per hour or more, and blow in a large spiral around a relatively calm centre – the eye of the hurricane. Every year, these violent storms bring destruction to coastlines and islands in their erratic path. Hurricanes are giant whirlwinds in which air moves in a large tightening spiral around a centre of extreme low pressure, extending outward 20 or 30 miles from the rim of the eye. This circulation is counter clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Near the centre, hurricane winds may gust to more than 200 miles per hour. The entire storm dominates the ocean surface and lower atmosphere over tens of thousands of square miles. Hurricane winds do much damage, but drowning is the greatest cause of hurricane deaths. As the storm approaches and moves across the coastline, it brings huge waves and storm tides that may reach 25 feet or more above normal. The rise may come rapidly, flooding coastal lowlands. Waves and currents erode beaches and barrier islands, undermine structures and wash out highway and railroad beds. The accompanying torrential rains produce sudden flooding as the storm moves inland. As its winds diminish, rainfall floods constitute the hurricane’s greatest threat. The hurricanes that strike the eastern United States are born in the tropical and subtropical North Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The storms move forward very slowly in the tropics, (usually 15 mph, or less), and may remain almost stationary for short periods of time. Then, as the hurricane moves farther from the Equator, its forward speed tends to increase; at middle latitudes it may exceed 50 miles per hour in extreme cases. The storms are driven by the heat released by condensing water vapour, and by external mechanical forces. Once cut off from the warm ocean, it begins to die.

18 Schulfernsehen SÜDWEST, Heft 4 (Mai/Juni/Juli) Schuljahr 2003/2004

Work sheet 8

PLANET EARTH WATER ON THE LAND

Name

Form

1. While watching the film, try to add important notes to this mind map. retention basin

water cycle

flood plains

dams/dykes

flooding

steep cliffs

THE FORCE OF FLOWING WATER

glaciers

rivers

meanders

erosion

water falls valleys

Victoria Falls

U-form valleys

2. Watch the beginning of the film very carefully and add the missing information:

fresh · three-fourths · salt water · atmosphere · ice caps and glaciers · lakes · oceans · 97% · far Precipitation, evaporation, and transpiration are all part of the water cycle, a complex process that not only gives us water to drink, fish to eat, but also weather patterns that help grow our crops. Water covers more than of the water on Earth is

found in the

of the Earth's surface.

Only about 3% of Earth's water is

Two percent of the Earth’s water (about 66% of all fresh water) is in solid form, found in frozen and so

Because it is

away, the fresh water in ice caps is not available for use by people or plants. That leaves about

1% of all the Earth's water in a form useable to humans and land animals. This fresh water is found in streams, ponds, and in the ground. A small amount of water is found as vapour in the

, rivers, .

19 Schulfernsehen SÜDWEST, Heft 4 (Mai/Juni/Juli) Schuljahr 2003/2004

Work sheet 9

PLANET EARTH WATER ON THE LAND

Name

Form

3. Explain the water cycle with the help of the expressions next to the diagram.

➠ ➠ ➠

➠ ➠ ➠

Transpiration – the movement through plants

Evaporation – the vapor rises

➠ ➠ ➠

➠ ➠ ➠

Precipitation – the rain falls

Condensation – the clouds form

water evaporates · vapours rise · condense into clouds · clouds move over the land · precipitation falls water fills streams and rivers · flows back into the oceans · evaporation starts the process

4. Explain the process of weathering with the help of these expressions:

Weathering · cracks · melting snow · during the night · during the day · ice thaws · freezes · more water enters · pieces of rock break off - … 5. Here are some important facts about glaciers. Go to this website (http://nsidc.org/glaciers) and collect more information on glaciers like photos, stories, dangers, etc. When you have got enough material, start a collage or a Power Point Presentation to present your results. Facts about glaciers: Presently, 10% of land area is covered with glaciers. Glaciers store about 75% of the world's freshwater. Glacierized areas cover over 15,000,000 square kilometers. Antarctic ice is over 4,200 meters thick in some areas. During the last Ice Age, glaciers covered 32% of the total land area. If all land ice melted, sea level would rise approximately 70 meters worldwide. Antarctic ice shelves may calve icebergs that are over 80 kilometers long. Almost 90% of an iceberg is below water-only about 10% shows above water. The Antarctic ice sheet has been in existence for at least 40 million years.

20 Schulfernsehen SÜDWEST, Heft 4 (Mai/Juni/Juli) Schuljahr 2003/2004