Earth's Structure, Landforms, and Climate Zones

Earth's Structure and Landforms

The Lithosphere

Earth was formed 4.6 billion years ago. Its internal structure consists of:

• The Core: The center of Earth.
• The Mantle: Surrounds the core.
• The Crust: A thin layer of solid rocks.

The external structure includes:

• The Lithosphere: Composed of the crust and the upper part of the mantle.
• The Hydrosphere: All the water on Earth.
• The Atmosphere: The gaseous layer surrounding Earth.

Continents

Continents are large expanses of dry land surrounded by oceans and seas, covering 29% of Earth's surface. The majority are located in the Northern Hemisphere:

• Asia
• America
• Africa
• Antarctica
• Europe
• Oceania

Islands

Islands are smaller masses of land surrounded by water, often located near the coast of continents. Some islands are grouped together, forming archipelagos.

Origin of Relief

Internal forces within Earth raise, lower, or displace blocks of rock, creating the basic forms of relief:

• Continental Relief: Plains, plateaus, mountains, depressions.
• Coastal Relief: Capes, gulfs, peninsulas, estuaries, fjords, deltas.
• Submarine Relief: Continental platforms, continental shelves, abyssal plains.

Climate Zones