EARTH SCIENCE

CH. 1 SEC. 1 - PGS. 5 – 10 Objectives:

WHAT IS EARTH SCIENCE?

EARTH SCIENCE:

• The study of Earth and the processes and forces that change it, the materials from which it is made, its long history, and its place in the universe.

4 MAJOR AREAS OF STUDY IN EARTH SCIENCE

• ASTRONOMY

• METEOROLOGY

• GEOLOGY

• OCEANOGRAPHY

ASTRONOMY

• Study of objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere

• Examples:

– Planets

– Galaxies

– Sun

– Moon

– Stars

– Universe

METEOROLOGY

• The study of the air that surrounds our planet.

• Examples:

– Layers of the Atmosphere

– Energy Transfer

– Wind Systems

– Hurricanes

– Tornadoes

GEOLOGY

• Study of materials that make up Earth and the processes that form and change these materials.

• Examples:

– Rocks and Minerals

– Earthquakes

– Volcanoes

OCEANOGRAPHY

• Study of Earth’s oceans including the creatures that inhabit its waters, its physical and chemical properties, and the effects of human activities.

• Examples:

– Oceans

– Tides

– Salinity

– Currents

EARTH’S SYSTEMS

4 MAJOR EARTH SYSTEMS

• LITHOSPHERE

• HYDROSPHERE

• ATMOSPHERE

• BIOSPHERE

All of Earth’s systems are interdependent.

They depend on and interact with one another.

EARTH SYSTEMS - LITHOSPHERE LITHOSPHERE • Earth’s rigid outer shell, including the

crust and the solid, uppermost part of the mantle.

• Two kinds of crust: – oceanic (mainly basalt) – continental (mostly granite)

• Earth’s Mantle – composed of peridotite – upper mantle is rigid – other parts are partially molten =

asthenosphere – (not part of lithosphere)

• Earth’s Core (not part of the lithosphere)

– outer core – liquid – inner core – solid

EARTH’S SYSTEMS - HYDROSPHERE HYDROSPHERE

• All the water in Earth’s oceans, lakes, seas, rivers, and glaciers plus all the water in the atmosphere.

– 97% = salt water

– 3% = freshwater – glaciers, lakes, rivers and groundwater.

• ¾ is tied up in glaciers and icebergs

• Rest is mostly groundwater

EARTH’S SYSTEMS - ATMOSPHERE ATMOSPHERE • Blanket of gases surrounding Earth

that contains about – 78% Nitrogen

– 21% Oxygen

– and 1% other gases such as argon, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.

IMPORTANCE OF THE ATMOSPHERE

• respiration by living things

• protects Earth’s inhabitants from harmful sun rays

• keeps planet’s temperature suitable for life

EARTH’S SYSTEMS - BIOSPHERE BIOSPHERE

• All of Earth’s organisms and the environments in which they live.

– most organisms live within a few meters of Earth’s surface.

– ranges from the depths of the oceans to the highest mountain tops.

TECHNOLOGY

The study of Earth Science and Earth’s Systems would not be possible without technology.

TECHNOLOGY:

• The use of scientific discoveries.