86 / Basics of Environmental Science
End of chapter summary
All living organisms, including us, depend entirely on the materials from which the physical Earth is
made and on the energy our planet receives from the Sun. It is important, therefore, to understand, at
least in a very general way, how rocks and minerals form and how the landscape changes over long
periods of time.
Ocean currents and all atmospheric movements are driven by energy the Earth receives from the Sun
in the form of electromagnetic radiation. The movement of air and water produce the climates of the
world, and the weather we experience day by day. Climate is the principal factor in determining the
plants and animals that live in a particular area.
Climate is not constant, however. It has changed many times in the past. At present we are living in
an interglacial and one day the ice sheets and glaciers may begin the advance that marks the dawn of
a new ice age. Meanwhile, many people fear we may be inadvertently modifying the climate ourselves.
End of chapter points for discussion
Why are the oceans so important climatically?
What evidence is there that glaciations occurred?
Why are there deserts in the tropics of both hemispheres?
How does climate affect the distribution of plants?
See also
Formation and structure of the Earth (section 6)
Formation of rocks, minerals, and geologic structures (section 7)
Weathering (section 8)
Evolution of landforms (section 9)
Solar energy (section 11)
Albedo and heat capacity (section 12)
Greenhouse effect (section 13)
Structure of the atmosphere (section 14)
Atmospheric circulation (section 15)
Ocean circulation (section 16)
Weather and climate (section 17)
Glacials, interglacials, interstadials (section 18)
Dating methods (section 19)
Climate change (section 20)
Fresh water (section 22)
Soils (section 26)
Transport by water and wind (section 27)
Soil, climate, and land use (section 28)
Mining for fuels (section 30)
Mining and processing of minerals (section 31)
Biogeography (section 32)
Nutrient cycles (section 33)
Transnational pollution (section 62)
Further reading
Air: The Nature of Atmosphere and the Climate. Michael Allaby. 1992. Facts on File, New York. A popular
science book providing useful information on atmosphere and climate.
Climatology: An Atmospheric Science. John J.Hidore and John E.Oliver. 1993. Macmillan, New York. Provides
a broad overview of its subject, clearly written in simple language.