How natural complexes change. Natural complexes and natural areas

The geographic envelope is not tripled in the same way everywhere, it has a "mosaic" structure and consists of separate natural complexes (landscapes). Natural complex - it is a part of the earth's surface with relatively homogeneous natural conditions: climate, topography, soils, waters, flora and fauna.

Each natural complex consists of components between which there are close, historically established relationships, while a change in one of the components sooner or later leads to a change in others.

The largest, planetary natural complex is the geographic shell; it is subdivided into natural complexes of a smaller rank. The division of the geographic shell into natural complexes is due to two reasons: on the one hand, differences in the structure of the earth's crust and the heterogeneity of the earth's surface, and on the other hand, the unequal amount of solar heat received by its various parts. In accordance with this, zonal and azonal natural complexes are distinguished.

The largest azonal natural complexes are continents and oceans. Smaller - mountainous and flat areas within the continents (West Siberian Plain, Caucasus, Andes, Amazonian lowland). The latter are subdivided into even smaller natural complexes (Northern, Central, Southern Andes). Natural complexes of the lowest rank include individual hills, river valleys, their slopes, etc.

The largest of the zonal natural complexes - geographic zones. They coincide with climatic zones and have the same names (equatorial, tropical, etc.). In turn, geographical zones consist of natural zones, which are distinguished by the ratio of heat and moisture.

natural area called a large land area with similar natural components - soils, vegetation, wildlife, which are formed depending on the combination of heat and moisture.

The main component of the natural zone is the climate, because all other components depend on it. Vegetation has a great influence on the formation of soils and wildlife and is itself dependent on soils. Natural zones are named according to the nature of the vegetation, since it most obviously reflects other features of nature.

The climate naturally changes as you move from the equator to the poles. Soil, vegetation and wildlife are determined by climate. This means that these components should change latitudinally, following climate change. The regular change of natural zones when moving from the equator to the poles is called latitudinal zoning. Moist equatorial forests are located near the equator, and icy Arctic deserts are located near the poles. Between them are other types of forests, savannas, deserts, tundra. Forest zones, as a rule, are located in areas where the ratio of heat and moisture is balanced (equatorial and most of the temperate zone, the eastern coasts of the continents in the tropical and subtropical zone). Treeless zones are formed where there is a lack of heat (tundra) or moisture (steppes, deserts). These are the continental regions of the tropical and temperate zones, as well as the subarctic climatic zone.

The climate changes not only latitudinally, but also due to changes in altitude. As you climb up the mountains, the temperature drops. Up to a height of 2000-3000 m, the amount of precipitation increases. A change in the ratio of heat and moisture causes a change in the soil and vegetation cover. Thus, unequal natural zones are located in the mountains at different heights. This pattern is called altitudinal zonation.

The change of altitudinal belts in the mountains occurs approximately in the same sequence as on the plains, when moving from the equator to the poles. At the foot of the mountains there is a natural zone in which they are located. The number of altitudinal belts is determined by the height of the mountains and their geographical position. The higher the mountains, and the closer they are to the equator, the more diverse the set of altitudinal zones. The most complete vertical zonality is expressed in the Northern Andes. Moist equatorial forests grow in the foothills, then there is a belt of mountain forests, and even higher - thickets of bamboos and tree-like ferns. With an increase in altitude and a decrease in average annual temperatures, coniferous forests appear, which are replaced by mountain meadows, often turning, in turn, into stony placers covered with moss and lichens. The tops of the mountains are crowned with snow and glaciers.

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Geography textbook for grade 8

natural zoning

§ 21. Diversity of natural complexes of Russia

• Remember what a natural complex is.
• What natural complexes of the Earth did you get acquainted with when studying the initial course of physical geography; geography of continents and oceans?
• What components of nature are part of the natural complex, how do they interact with each other?

Variety of PTK. All components of nature are closely and inextricably linked with each other. A change in one of them causes a change in the others.

These relationships are expressed in the exchange of matter and energy. Relationships can be traced through various examples. Thus, a change in the amount of solar radiation entering the earth's surface leads to a change in the nature of vegetation, and this, in turn, changes the soil cover, wildlife, affects the processes of relief formation, etc.

We already know that the various components of nature change from place to place, that is, they change in space. They also change over time. The relief and climate of the Russian Plain were different before the Quaternary glaciation.

A change in any component of nature occurs within a particular territory.

Therefore, the natural territorial complex - NTC - is a natural combination of interconnected components of nature in a certain area.

The doctrine of natural territorial complexes - landscape science- was founded at the end of the last century by V. V. Dokuchaev. It is of great practical importance for agriculture, forestry, land reclamation, recreation, construction of cities, roads, and various enterprises. Without knowledge of the characteristics of a particular natural complex, there can be no question of the rational use, protection and improvement of the natural environment.

There are three main levels in the hierarchy of natural complexes: local, regional, global.

The formation of natural complexes at the local level is associated with local factors that have a small radius of action, for example, with individual relief elements. This level includes facies- an elementary indivisible geographical unit, that is, a homogeneous complex. Regional natural complexes are formed as a result of the influence of factors with a wider range of action: tectonic movements, solar radiation, etc. Natural zones and regions are characteristic of this level.

The global level is geographical envelope, which covers the interpenetrating and constantly interacting troposphere, hydrosphere, upper layers of the lithosphere and the biosphere.

Think about what changes in nature a person is able to fix during his life. Analyze again the geochronological table and determine during what period of time there are any significant changes in the nature of the Earth, in the PTC.

Physical-geographical zoning. Any PTK is the result of a more or less long-term development. Scientists record slow tectonic movements, secular climate changes, the advance and retreat of the seas, etc. Even a person who has lived a long life does not have time to notice these changes.

Smaller PTCs are especially diverse. Different geological structure, diversity of relief and climate from place to place lead to a change in the soil and vegetation cover.

On the territory of Russia, there are many different PTCs. Natural, or physical-geographical, zoning serves as the main method for identifying NTCs and establishing their boundaries. The identification of large NTCs on the territory of Russia is based on differences in the geological structure and topography, as well as significant climatic differences. According to these features, scientists physico-geographers usually distinguish on the territory of Russia:

1. North Caucasus.
2. Ural.
3. West Siberian lowland, or plain.
4. Central Siberia.
5. North-East of Siberia.
6. Belt of the mountains of Southern Siberia.
7. Far East.

In this tutorial, we will look at six major natural regions:

1. Russian (East European) Plain.
2. North Caucasus.
3. Ural.
4. West Siberian Plain.
5. Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia includes: Central Siberia, North-East Siberia and the mountain belt of Southern Siberia).
6. Far East.

Within these large natural regions, territories with the most typical latitudinal zonality in the plains and altitudinal zonality in the mountains are identified, as well as natural uniques and natural monuments of the region are shown.

PTK natural and anthropogenic. Our time is characterized by everything big stature anthropogenic load on the landscape. Man is extracting more and more minerals from the bowels of the Earth, spending more and more water for household and household needs, occupies more and more areas for arable land and construction sites, cutting down forests, destroying meadows. Therefore, there are fewer and fewer natural landscapes. Almost all natural complexes have been modified by man to some extent. Natural landscapes changed under the influence of human activity are called anthropogenic.

Questions and tasks

1. What is a PTC?
2. Name the PTK of different ranks.
3. What is the basis of physical-geographical zoning?
4. What large natural complexes stand out in Russia?
5. Give examples of anthropogenic landscapes. Explain why their number especially increased in the 20th century.

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Natural complexes of the Earth

The geographic envelope has a mosaic structure, this is due to the different natural complexes that it includes.

The part of the earth's surface, which has the same natural conditions, is commonly called a natural complex.

Homogeneous natural conditions are relief, water, climate, soil, flora and fauna.

Separately, natural complexes consist of components that are interconnected by historically established relationships.

That is why, if there is a change in one of the components of nature, then all components of the natural complex also change.

The geographic envelope is a planetary natural complex and the largest. The shell is divided into smaller natural complexes.

Types of natural complexes

The division of the shell into separate natural complexes is due to the heterogeneity of the earth's surface and the structure of the earth's crust, as well as the uneven amount of heat.

In view of these differences, natural complexes are classified into zonal and azonal.

Azonal natural complexes

The main azonal natural complexes are oceans and continents.

They are the largest in size. It is customary to consider the flat and mountainous territories that are located on the continents to be smaller.

For example, the Caucasus, the West Siberian Plain, the Andes. And these natural complexes can be divided even into smaller ones - the Southern and Central Andes.

Even smaller natural complexes will be considered river valleys, hills, various slopes that are located on their territory.

Interrelation of components of natural complexes

The relationship between the components of natural complexes is a unique phenomenon.

This can be seen in a simple example: if the amount of solar radiation and its impact on the earth's surface change, then the nature of the vegetation in the given territory will also change.

This transformation will change the soil and landforms.

Human impact on natural complexes

Human activity has a significant impact on natural complexes since ancient times. After all, man not only adapts to the nature of the Earth, but also exerts a constant and extensive influence on it.

Over the centuries, man has improved his skills and created different ways of using nature to his advantage.

This had an extremely negative impact on the development of most natural complexes.

It is for this reason that more and more people talk about such a phenomenon as rational environmental management. Under this concept, it is customary to understand human activity aimed at the careful development of natural complexes and the preservation of natural resources in any circumstances.

After all, the negative impact on natural complexes harms the person himself, and it is necessary to protect nature both for one's health and for future generations.

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list of the main ingredients of the natural complex

Answer:

The environment around us is made up of parts or, as they are called, ingredients. Natural parts include topography, climate, water, plants, animals, and soil. All these components have come a long way in development, so their combinations are not random, but natural.

Due to their interaction, they are closely interconnected, and this interaction unites them into a single system, where all parts depend on each other and influence each other. Such a unified system is called a natural-territorial complex or landscape. The founder of Russian landscape studies was attributed to L. S. Berg. Natural-territorial complexes were defined as similar areas in accordance with the prevailing nature of the relief, climate, water, vegetation and soil.

One can single out natural complexes of deserts, forests, steppes, etc.

L. S. Berg wrote that a landscape (or a natural-territorial complex) is, in fact, an organism in which parts determine the whole and even affect parts. The size of natural-territorial complexes is different. The maximum can be considered as a whole geographical shell, the smaller - continents and oceans. The smallest natural and territorial complexes may include plains, plains, ponds.

It is important that all components of these complexes are closely interconnected, regardless of their size. The reason for the formation of natural-territorial complexes are natural ingredients. They are divided into two groups:

natural complexes are very diverse. Which of them are called natural zones?

natural components.

They are usually divided into two groups:
Zonal and azonal.
An example of zonal natural-territorial complexes are tundra,
animals and soils. All these components have come a long way of development,
districts) are the East European Plain, the Ural Mountains,
Amazonian lowland, Cordillera, Himalayas, etc.

natural-territorial complex, or landscape.

The reason for the formation of natural-territorial complexes are
one affects the other. Such a single system is called

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NATURAL COMPLEX

The nature around us consists of parts, or, as they are also called, components. Natural components include relief, climate, water, plants, animals and soils. All these components have come a long way of development, so their combinations are not random, but natural. Due to their interaction, they are closely connected with each other, and this interaction unites them into a single system, where all parts depend on one another and influence one another.

Such a single system is called a natural-territorial complex, or landscape. L. S. Berg is deservedly considered the founder of Russian landscape science. He defined natural-territorial complexes as areas similar in the prevailing nature of the relief, climate, waters, vegetation and soil cover. One can single out natural complexes of deserts, forests, steppes, etc. L. S. Berg wrote that a landscape (or a natural-territorial complex) is, as it were, an organism in which the parts determine the whole, and the whole affects the parts.

The sizes of natural-territorial complexes are different.

It is important that, regardless of size, all components of these complexes are closely interconnected with each other.

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Definition 1

natural complex - a set of natural objects, phenomena or properties that form a single whole.

This term was proposed by N.A. Solntsev. The concept of natural complex is the predecessor of the concept of natural system.

More broadly, the concept of a natural complex has three interpretations:

1. any interrelated phenomena of nature
2. regular spatial combinations of soils, vegetation and landscapes

The largest natural complex is the geographic shell of the Earth, which includes part of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. In general, a very large number of natural complexes of various scales and levels can be distinguished. Seas, continents, lakes, mountain systems, rivers are separate natural complexes. Natural complexes of the smallest scale are ravines, glades, ponds.

The concept of a natural complex is broader than a landscape or a natural-territorial complex, due to the fact that it does not contain restrictions on the territory or completeness of coverage. However, very often the concept of a natural complex is considered as a synonym for a natural-territorial complex.

Definition 2

Natural Territorial Complex (NTC) - a natural combination of geographical components or complexes of the lowest rank, which are in complex interaction and form a single inseparable system of different levels from the geographical envelope to the facies.

Individual components and PTC exchange energy and matter.

Remark 1

As a rule, the NTC is understood as a landscape that has not experienced (or does not experience) intensive anthropogenic impact. However, now, when human activity largely affects the planet, it is customary to single out a special type of NTC - anthropogenic landscapes.

Anthropogenic landscapes are divided according to the degree of change into:

• Slightly modified (hunting grounds);
• Changed (small settlements, arable land);
• Heavily modified (mineral development, cities, cutting areas);
• Improved (green zone around cities, clearing forests)

Formation of natural complexes

The reason for the formation of natural-territorial complexes are natural components, which are divided into zonal and azonal according to the features of the action.

Zonal called the factors of formation of PTC, determined by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface by the Sun. The effect of zonal factors varies depending on the latitude of the area, since as you move from the equator to the poles, the heating of the Earth's surface by the sun's rays increases. In connection with zonal factors, zonal natural-territorial complexes, such as geographical zones or natural zones, have formed.

The effect of zonal factors is most clearly expressed in the flat areas, where they extend in a sublatitudinal direction. In the mountains, the effect of zonal factors is compensated by altitudinal zonality.

Azonal called the factors of formation of PTC, determined by the processes that occur in the bowels of the Earth. The result of such processes is the geological structure and relief. Azonal factors form azonal PTCs, called physiographic countries.

Example 1

Azonal natural-territorial complexes are, for example, the Cordillera, the Himalayas, the Alps, the East European Plain, the Amazonian Lowland, South China, the Urals, and the Mesopotamian Plain.

Our planet is the product of the simultaneous influence of zonal and azonal factors. Moreover, azonal internal processes are the basis, and zonal processes are overlapping. The combination of various zonal and azoanl factors creates a variety of natural-territorial complexes on Earth.

Properties of natural-territorial complexes

Natural-territorial complexes are distinguished by the following properties:

• Integrity, consisting in the close connection of the components;
• Sustainability, consisting in the ability of complexes to return to their original state after external influence;
• Variability, consisting in a constant change in the direction of increasing sustainability (for natural PTCs);
• Rhythm, consisting in adaptation to external periodic influence,

Our planet is unique and inimitable. There are seas, oceans, land, glaciers, plants and animals, air, it rains, snows. All this is a whole complex that combines the geographical components of the planet. And here the question arises. What is a natural complex, and what does it consist of? As you know, the surface of the planet is heterogeneous: it has a relief, underground and aboveground waters, various types of organisms, and a climate. All these components are interconnected and a change in one complex leads to a change in another.

one system

Everyone knows that a natural complex is a system that belongs to a single whole. If we consider this from the very beginning, then a natural complex can be an area where there are components similar in origin and development history, composition. This area has a single geological foundation, a similar surface, groundwater, vegetation, microorganisms and wildlife. Such natural complexes have been formed for a very long time, and they are closely interconnected with each other. If you change at least one component of the complex, then the whole system will be broken.

Who started the study of complexes?

The first Russian person who tried to understand what a natural complex is and how it works was L. Berg. He identified complexes with similar features, for example, he grouped them according to the relief. This is how forest complexes appeared, as well as natural complexes of the ocean, steppe, and desert. Berg noted that any system is similar to an organism consisting of parts, where each element performs its role, but this organism cannot live without it.

They are different

When comparing natural complexes, one can see slight differences from each other. For example, the geographic envelope of our planet is a huge natural complex, the same as its smaller components. Meadows and glades are even considered natural complexes, but these species are more homogeneous and have many similar properties than larger objects.

natural ingredients

All natural-territorial complexes are usually divided into two large groups:

1. Zonal.

2. Azonal.

Zonal components of the natural complex are external factors that depend on the heating of the planet by the Sun. This indicator changes from the equator to the poles in the direction of decreasing. Because of this feature, zones of natural-territorial complexes were formed: geographical zones, natural zones. The complexes are especially pronounced on the plains, where the boundaries run parallel to the latitudes. In the oceans, natural-territorial complexes change with depth and height. Examples of natural territorial complexes are alpine meadows, mixed forest zones, taiga, steppes, etc.

Non-zonal or azonal types of natural complexes are represented by internal factors on which the processes occurring in the bowels of the planet depend. The result of such complexes is the geological structure of the relief. It is because of azonal factors that azonal natural-territorial complexes were formed, examples of which are the Amazonian lowland, the Himalayas, and the Ural Mountains.

Zonal and azonal complexes

As already mentioned, all natural complexes of the Earth are divided into azonal and zonal. All of them are closely related.

The largest azonal complexes are the oceans and continents, while the smaller ones are plains and mountains. They are divided into even smaller ones, and the smallest ones are separate hills, river valleys, meadows.

Large-scale zonal complexes include geographic zones. They coincide with climatic zones and have the same names. The belts are divided according to heat and moisture level into areas that have similar natural components: vegetation, wildlife, soil. The main component of the natural zone is the climate. All other components depend on it. Vegetation influences the formation of soil and wildlife. All this characterizes natural areas by type of vegetation, character and helps to reflect the features.

Natural complexes of the oceans

Water complexes have been studied somewhat worse than land systems. However, the law of zoning also applies here. This territory is conditionally divided into latitudinal and vertical zones.

The latitudinal zones of the World Ocean are represented by equatorial and tropical zones, which are found in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Here the waters are warm, and at the equator the water temperature is lower. In the tropics, the water is very salty. Such conditions in the oceans have created unique conditions for the formation of various organic worlds. These zones are characterized by the growth of coral reefs, which are home to numerous species of fish and other aquatic creatures. In warm waters there are snakes, sponges, turtles, molluscs, squids.

And what natural complexes of the oceans can be distinguished? Scientists distinguish coral reefs, schools of fish, places with the same depth, where similar sea creatures live, into separate components. Separate groups include those parts of the oceans that are located in the temperate, tropical and other zones. Scientists then divide these zones into smaller components: reefs, fish, and so on.

The temperate zones include areas of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, where the average annual temperature differences are quite large. Moreover, the water in the Indian Ocean is colder than in the Atlantic and Pacific at the same latitude.

In the temperate zone, intense mixing of water occurs, due to which those waters that are rich in organic matter rise from the depths, and waters saturated with oxygen go to the bottom. This area is home to many commercial fish.

The polar and subpolar zones encircle the North Atlantic Ocean, as well as the northern regions of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. There are few species of living organisms in these places. Plankton appears only in the summer, and only in places that are free of ice at this time. Following plankton, fish and mammals come to these parts. The closer to the north pole, the fewer animals and fish.

The vertical zones of the ocean are represented by strips of land and ocean, where all the earth's shells interact. In such zones there are ports, many people live. It is generally accepted that natural complexes in such zones have been altered by man.

The coastal shelf warms up well and receives a lot of precipitation, fresh water from rivers flowing into the oceans. There are many algae, fish, and mammals in these places. The largest number of various organisms is concentrated in the shelf zones. With depth, the amount of heat entering the ocean decreases, but this does not have a strong effect on the diversity of aquatic life.

Given all this, scientists have developed criteria that help determine the differences in the natural conditions of the oceans:

1. Global factors. These include the geological development of the Earth.
2. geographic latitude.
3. local factors. It takes into account the influence of land, bottom topography, continents and other indicators.

Components of the ocean complex

Scientists have identified several smaller components that make up oceanic complexes. These include seas, straits, bays.

The seas are, to some extent, a separate part of the ocean, where there is its own, special regime. A part of the ocean or sea is called a bay. It enters deeply into the land, but does not move away from sea or ocean areas. If there is a thin water line between land areas, then they speak of a strait. It is characterized by raising the bottom.

Characteristics of natural objects

Knowing what a natural complex is, scientists were able to develop a number of indicators by which the characteristics of objects are determined:

1. Dimensions.
2. Geographical position.
3. A type of living organism that inhabits an area or water.
4. In the case of the oceans, the degree of connection with open space is taken into account, as well as the flow system.
5. When evaluating the natural complexes of the land, soils, vegetation, wildlife, and climate are taken into account.

Everything in the world is interconnected, and if one link in this long chain is broken, the integrity of the entire natural complex is violated. And no living being, except humans, has such an impact on the Earth: we are able to create beauty and at the same time destroy it.

Question 1. What is nature?

Nature is everything that surrounds us, except for man-made. Nature is divided into living (plants, animals, insects, fungi, humans, bacteria, viruses) and non-living (Sun, Moon, mountains, soil, rainbow, water, sky).

Question 2. What are the components of nature?

Components of nature - earth, subsoil, soil, surface water, groundwater, atmospheric air, flora, fauna and other organisms, as well as the ozone layer of the atmosphere and near-Earth outer space, which together provide favorable conditions for the existence of life on Earth.

Question 3. Is there a geographical shell on other planets?

No, other planets do not have a geographic envelope.

Question 4. List the components of nature known to you.

Natural components: relief, climate, rocks, reservoirs, vegetation, wildlife.

Question 5. What is a natural complex?

A natural complex is a territory within which there is a certain regular combination of interconnected components of nature.

Question 6. What is the geographic envelope?

The largest natural complex of the Earth is its geographical shell, which arose due to the mutual penetration and interaction of the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere with each other.

Question 7. Using specific examples, describe the interaction between the components of nature.

When soil is formed, several natural components interact at once - the biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere.

Question 8. Prove that the geographic shell is the largest natural complex of the Earth.

Geographic shell, which is a natural combination of interconnected shells: lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere.

Question 9. What is the peculiarity of the natural component called "man"?

Man is also part of nature, part of the geographic shell. But we humans are not quite a normal part of nature. Because we are busy on this planet with a variety of economic activities. A person extracts minerals, cultivates the land, grazes cattle, smelts metals, builds power plants, produces hundreds of thousands of different items, and after all this work, he rests.

Question 10. Based on the illustrations of the textbook, tell us about the natural complex of your area and the relationship of its components.

The natural complex Sugomak is a protected area near the city of Kyshtym, Chelyabinsk region, 90 km north of Chelyabinsk, between the lake and the mountain with a cave, the Kyshtym - Slyudorudnik highway passes. The Kyshtym - Tyubuk highway passes nearby. It consists of natural monuments of the Sugomak cave, Sugomak mountain and Sugomak lake. In the natural complex Sugomak grows many species of rare plants, mixed forest. At the foot of the mountain, next to the marble cave, is the spring of Maryina's Tears. On the shore of the lake there is a small hill (50 m above the lake level) Naked Sopka, with gentle rocky and overgrown slopes, one of the favorite places for recreation of Kyshtym residents and tourists. In the neighborhood of Mount Sugomak is its sister mountain, Mount Egoza. There is a legend about these mountains. The cave has three grottoes. The length of the cave is more than 120 m. Mount Sugomak is 591 m above sea level, covered with forest and rocky at the top.