What is Earth Science?

Chapter 1.1 & 1.2

Earth Science

• The name for all the sciences that collectively seek to understand the Earth.

– Geology – the study of the solid Earth• Physical - Examines the materials & processes

that make up the Earth• Historical - establish a timeline of the changes that

have occurred in the past

Earth Sciences– Oceanography – the study of all aspects of

the ocean

– Meteorology – the study of the atmosphere and the processes that produce weather and climate

– Astronomy – the study of the universe

Physical vs. Living Physical vs. Living EnvironmentEnvironment

Physical EnvironmentPhysical Environment Hydrosphere – water portionHydrosphere – water portion Atmosphere – gaseous envelopeAtmosphere – gaseous envelope Geosphere – solid EarthGeosphere – solid Earth

Living EnvironmentLiving Environment Biosphere – all life forms on Earth Biosphere – all life forms on Earth

(interacts with physical environment)(interacts with physical environment)

The HydrosphereThe Hydrosphere

• Oceans 97% saltwaterOceans 97% saltwater

• IceIce

• Water VaporWater Vapor 3% 3% freshwaterfreshwater

• Lakes & RiversLakes & Rivers

• GroundwaterGroundwater

• protects us, keeps Earth the right protects us, keeps Earth the right temperature, and has the gases temperature, and has the gases needed for life to thriveneeded for life to thrive..

The Atmosphere

The Geosphere

The Crust, Mantle and Core

The BiosphereThe Biosphere

Living things depend Living things depend on the physical on the physical environment to environment to sustain lifesustain life

Organisms help Organisms help maintain and alter maintain and alter the physical the physical environmentenvironment

Forces affecting Earth’s Forces affecting Earth’s SurfaceSurface

ConstructiveConstructive– Build up the surface by raising the land and Build up the surface by raising the land and

depositing new materialdepositing new material– Examples: Mountain building, VolcanismExamples: Mountain building, Volcanism

DestructiveDestructive– Wear away high points work to flatten the Wear away high points work to flatten the

surfacesurface– Examples: Weathering, ErosionExamples: Weathering, Erosion