This document provides an overview of key concepts about Earth's surface and topography. It discusses the four spheres that make up Earth (atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere). It then describes topography and the three factors that determine it: elevation, relief, and landforms. It outlines the three main types of landforms - plains, mountains, and plateaus - and provides examples of each in the United States. Finally, it instructs students to label and shade a map of US landforms.

1. Chapter 2
Mapping Earth’s Surface

2. Earth’s Four Spheres
Atmosphere: gaseous part of
Earth
Hydrosphere: liquid part of
the Earth
Biosphere: living part of
Earth
Lithosphere: solid part of
Earth
We will spend the next few
months on Geology!

3. The Shape of the Land
 Topography: the shape of the
land
 The ground looks like it does
because of internal and external
forces constantly changing its
shape.
 Think about the “shape” of
Shaler…. Why does it look this
way?
 Topography is determined by
three different things…

4. Topography Characteristics
Elevation: height above sea
level
Relief: difference between
high and low points
Landforms: features of
topography that shape the
land
Topographic Map

5. 3 Types of Landforms
Plains
Low elevation
Low relief
Two types of
Plains
Coastal
Interior

6. 3 Types of Landforms (continued)
Mountains
High elevation
High relief
Mountains are
arranged into:
Ranges
Systems
Belts

7. 3 Types of Landforms (continued)
Plateaus
High elevation
Low relief
Canyons form
on plateaus

8. Lewis and Clark
In 1804, an expedition set
out from St. Louis to
explore the land between
the Mississippi River and
the Pacific Ocean.
The United States had just
purchased a part of this vast
territory, called Louisiana,
from France.
(The Louisiana Purchase)

9. Lewis and Clark (continued)
The purpose of the expedition was to map America’s
interior. They saw many unique landforms along the way.

10. Landforms in the United States

11. Landforms Review:
Using the words High and Low, describe the following landforms.
 Plains have _____ elevation
and _____ relief.
 Plateaus have_____ elevation
and _____ relief.
 Mountains have_____
elevation and _____ relief.

12. This is your country… it is important that you can identify and
label the location of the major landforms in the United States!
Directions: Label and shade in the following landforms on the provided map
and then answer the seven questions.

13. 1. Coastal Plains – You’ll color in green!

14. 2. Interior Plains – You’ll color in Yellow!

15. 3. Plateaus and Highlands – You’ll color in Red!

16. 4. Great Basin– You’ll color in
Orange!

17. Folded Mountains
~formed by pressure from both sides~
5. Appalachian Mountains – Shade all mountain areas brown!

18. Up-Warped Mountains
~formed by pressure pushing up from below~
6. Rocky Mountains, 7. Black Hills, 8. Adirondack Mountains

19. Fault Block Mountains
~formed along a break in the crust~
9. Big Horn Mountains, 10. Sierra Nevada, 11. Cascade Mountains

20. Volcanic Mountains
~formed by volcanic eruptions~
12. Mount St. Helens