Understanding Isostasy, Hydrosphere, Climate & Elements
Understanding Isostasy
Theory of Isostasy: This theory explains how mountains are supported. It suggests that the mass of a continent floats on a denser layer. Isostasy states that pressures are equal, which supports previous hypotheses. There are two models of isostasy: one vertical, proposed by Airy, and another horizontal, by Pratt.
The Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere definitively encompasses all the oceans, covering a surface area of 360 million km². These areas are vital spaces for natural resources. They cover approximately 4/5 of the southern hemisphere and more than 3/5 of the northern hemisphere. The average density of the hydrosphere is 1 g/cm³. The composition of the seas is approximately 96.4% water, 3.5% salts (including Cl, Na, Mg, S, Ca, K, Br, B, Sr), and 0.1% other elements.
Global Climate and Climatic Zones
The climatic zones of the Earth are important characteristics that determine the landscape, vegetation, and animal life, establishing a limit to human activity. Climate has a profound effect on culture. Climatic conditions determine levels of economic activity, influencing industrial developments within regions with temperate climates.
Polar Climate
Like Vostok in Antarctica and Greenland, polar climates exhibit long, cold winters and almost no precipitation, essentially being polar deserts.
Taiga Climate
Like Alaska and the Siberian Yakutsk Peninsula, taiga climates show light precipitation, short summers, and very cold, long winters.
Mountain Climate
Like Mexico City and the Andes in South America, mountain climates vary with altitude, latitude, and exposure to sunlight.
Steppe Climate
Like Cloncurry in Australia, Iran, and Nigeria, steppe climates show light precipitation, warm summers, and cold winters in some areas.
Tropical Climate
Like Manaus in Brazil, Borneo, Java, and Sumatra, tropical climates exhibit dense rainfall with only one or two dry months and consistently high heat.
Temperate Climate
Like Amsterdam in the Netherlands and the Great Lakes region, temperate climates show precipitation in all seasons and variable temperatures.
Subtropical Monsoon Climate
Like Madras in India, Florida, and the eastern plains and north coast of Colombia, subtropical monsoon climates are always hot and often present dry and rainy seasons.
Mediterranean Climate
Like the north coast of Africa and California, Mediterranean climates are warm, with light precipitation in the winters and mild, dry summers.
Warm Desert Climate
Like Aswan in Egypt, the California peninsula, and northern Namibia, warm desert climates have insignificant precipitation and consistently hot temperatures.
Elements of Climate
These are a set of phenomena with much variability. The most important elements include temperature, precipitation, and air, combined with relative humidity and other elements such as solar brightness, cloudiness, radiation, and winds.
Precipitation
Life would not exist without water. It contributes to soil formation and erosion. Rainfall is measured in pluviometers in millimeters, where 1 mm equals 1 liter per square meter of water.
Temperature
Temperature has a close relationship with the distribution of crops and is caused by the radiant energy of the sun. It also varies with altitude, allowing us to classify thermal zones as hot, temperate, cold, and frigid, varying with altitude.
Radiation and Irradiation
Radiation is the direct impact of the sun’s rays on the Earth’s surface, and irradiation is the subsequent heat released from the land surface as it disperses into the atmosphere. The variation in temperature depends on the effect of day and night.
Air Humidity
The water vapor in the air is directly related to temperature.
Solar Brightness
This refers to the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth’s surface each year. Areas with high cloud cover experience less solar brightness.
Cloudiness
This refers to the amount of clouds present in the atmosphere, originating from the concentration of water vapor that can condense, producing rain.
Atmospheric Pressure
This is the weight of the air, which at sea level is 760 mm of mercury.
Winds
These are air movements caused by high and low pressure areas.