Globe Skills

Movies about space almost always seem to be blockbusters. Why? Most people have a fascination with space, probably because it is so mysterious. We're learning more and more about it every single day. Including today! In this lesson, you will investigate some of the mysteries about the Earth and its relationship with the sun. This knowledge will help you understand practical applications in this course, like climates for example. Additionally, you will learn other valuable globe skills like understanding continents and oceans.

So, put on your shades before we look at the sun. Seriously though, you should never look at the sun. Even with sunglasses. It's not safe. It's really bright. You can however, put on your shades to look at that awesome photograph of the sun. It won't harm you at all!

Guide Point 🧭

Earth’s Revolution, Rotation, Tilt & Seasons

Imagine you're on a journey around the sun. Because you are. Earth doesn't just sit still; it revolves around or orbits the sun. This movement is called Earth's revolution. It's as if Earth is riding on a giant Ferris wheel, making one complete circle around the sun every 365.25 days. This orbital motion, combined with Earth’s tilted axis is why we have different seasons throughout the year. Wait... 365 POINT 25 days? What!? It’s true. The Earth takes approximately 365 and one-quarter days to complete one full orbit. That’s why on the globally accepted Gregorian Calendar, every fourth year there is an extra day, Leap Day, February 29^th added to the calendar to account for all those extra quarter days.

In addition to its orbit, Earth spins around its own axis. This spinning movement is known as Earth's rotation. Earth completes one full rotation approximately every 24 hours. This rotation is responsible for the cycle of day and night. As Earth rotates, different parts of the planet face the sun, experiencing daylight, while others face away, plunging into darkness. This rotation not only gives us day and night but also helps to define the 24 time zones of Earth.

Earth's axis is an imaginary line running from the North Pole to the South Pole, and it's tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees from perpendicular to its orbit. This tilt, in combination with the Earth’s orbit, is why we have seasons. When one hemisphere (either the Northern or Southern) is tilted toward the sun, it experiences summer, while the other hemisphere tilted away from the sun experiences winter. When the Earth's axis isn't tilted toward or away from the sun, it's either spring or autumn, also known as the equinoxes.

Understanding Earth's revolution, rotation, and tilt is crucial in comprehending the reasons behind the changing seasons, the variation in day length, and the distribution of sunlight around the world. These concepts are the key to understanding climate patterns, which are an essential part of geography.

True or False: The Earth’s distance from the sun determines the seasons. click to reveal answer

FALSE

Guide Point 🧭

Global Climate Zones

Three porridge bowls. One labeled “too hot,” another “too cold,” and the last “just right.”

Remember in a previous lesson learning about latitude and longitude? There are some significant lines of latitude that create climate zones around the globe. We will learn more about specific types of climates in certain places in the module on Physical Geography. But for now, let’s focus on global climate zones created by these significant indicators. The 0° line of latitude is the Equator. The Equator always receives roughly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of nighttime all year round, since it is not affected by the tilt of the Earth’s axis. Those 12 hours of daylight can be brutal though. The Equator is always receiving direct rays of sunlight. Direct rays of sunlight extend to about 23.5° north of the Equator, to the Tropic of Cancer, and 23.5° south of the Equator, to the Tropic of Capricorn. Between these two tropical lines is the Tropical Zone. This zone is characterized by a warm, rainy climate.

Further away from the Equator is a different story. At 66.5° north of the Equator is the Arctic Circle and at 66.5° south of the Equator is the Antarctic Circle. Between the Arctic Circle and North Pole at 90° north of the Equator is a Polar Zone. Between the Antarctic Circle and the South Pole at 90° south is also a Polar Zone. Polar Zones are characterized by brutally cold, mostly dry climates.

It’s in between the Polar Zones and Tropical Zones where we find most people in the world live. This is called the Temperate Zone. This Temperate Zone is characterized by a mild, moderate climate with sufficient precipitation. It’s kind of like Goldilocks. Not too hot. Not too cold. But just right.

True or False: Lines of latitude create global climate zones. click to reveal answer

TRUE

Guide Point 🧭

Hemispheres, Continents, & Oceans

An ariel photo of a rocky ledge meeting the sea.

The word hemisphere literally means “half of a sphere.” Earth is divided in half in two different ways to create four main hemispheres: the Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, Eastern Hemisphere, and Western Hemisphere. These divisions help us better understand the planet's geographical organization. The Northern and Southern Hemispheres are divided by the Equator, while the Eastern and Western Hemispheres are separated by the Prime Meridian and the International Date Line. Understanding these hemispheres is essential when you're trying to pinpoint locations on Earth's surface or comprehend regional differences.

Earth's landmasses are divided into seven continents. Ordered by total area of landmass they are Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Each continent is unique, with its own distinct characteristics, cultures, and landscapes. Knowing the continents and their relative locations is fundamental to geography. This knowledge helps us navigate the world, understand global patterns, and appreciate the incredible diversity of our planet.

Earth's oceans cover about 71% of its surface. Ordered by total surface area, there are five primary oceans on our planet: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic. Oceans play a vital role in our climate, ecosystems, and transportation. Learning about the oceans helps us comprehend the connections between continents, climate systems, and the distribution of marine life. All oceans are actually one large, connected body of water. However, geographers use names as a way to differentiate between portions of the vastness of the ocean.

Understanding Earth's hemispheres, continents, and oceans provides us with the geographical foundation needed to explore the world. As we dive deeper into this course, we'll continue to build on this knowledge to grasp the intricate and interconnected nature of our planet's geography.

True or False: The Earth has only two hemispheres – North & South. click to reveal answer

FALSE

Reflection

In these past two lessons, we explored the realm of globe skills, the complement to map skills. We learned the unique strengths of both maps and globes and recognized their significance in geography. We discovered that while globes offer an accurate depiction, maps provide portability and detailed representations. Understanding map projections and Earth's movements, such as revolution, rotation, and tilt, is crucial for comprehending seasons and climate patterns. We also explored Earth's hemispheres, continents, and oceans, gaining a solid geographical foundation.

How does the Earth Move? Crash Course Geography #5 | Video

For a more in-depth look at the Earth within the context of geography, please carefully watch this video.

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