Name:
Hour:
Date:
Environmental Science
Chapter 3 Lecture Notes
The Dynamic Earth
Chapter 3 Targets
1. I can describe the composition and structure
of the 4 parts of the
.
2. I can define
.
3. I can describe how
erosion and alter the Earth’s surface.
cause
The Earth as a System
• The Earth is a system made of rock, air, water,
and living things all interacting with each other.
• Scientists divide this system into four parts:
1. The
(rock)
2. The
(air)
3. The
(water)
4. The
(living things)
T1
The Earth as a System
1. Geosphere: mostly solid, rocky part of Earth
extending from
of the core to the crust’s
surface.
2. Atmosphere: mixture of
we breathe.
making up air
3. Hydrosphere:
on or near Earth’s
surface.
– Much is in oceans, nearly
.
–
found in atmosphere, on land, and in soil.
T1
The Earth as a System
4. Biosphere: part of Earth where life exists.
– thin layer at Earth’s surface extending above
Earth’s surface down to bottom of ocean.
– made up of parts of geosphere, atmosphere,
and hydrosphere.
T1
Erosion
• Erosion: process in which
are loosened, dissolved, or worn
away and transported from one place to another
by a natural agent, such as wind, water, ice or
gravity.
– Wears down rocks and makes them
smoother as times passes.
– Older mountains are smoother
than younger ones.
T2
Water & Wind Erosion
• Water: Erosion by both
and
– Waves from ocean storms erode coastlines to
make a variety of landforms.
– Over time, rivers carve deep
gorges into the landscape.
• Wind: can also
of planet.
– Where few plants grow, such as beaches and
deserts, wind blows soil away very quickly.
– Soft rocks, such as sandstone,
erode more easily than
hard rocks, such as granite.
T3
Chapter 3 Targets
4. I can describe the
atmosphere.
of the Earth’s
5. I can describe the
atmosphere.
of the Earth’s
6. I can explain three mechanisms of
in Earth’s atmosphere.
7. I can explain the
.
8. I can explain the difference between the
and
The Atmosphere
• Atmosphere: mixture of gases
.
• Earth’s atmosphere contains 3 main gases:
–
– Oxygen
– Carbon dioxide
• Gases are added and removed from the
atmosphere through
Think of 3 examples how this happens.
.
T4
The Atmosphere
• Volcanic eruptions also
to atmosphere.
• The atmosphere
Earth’s surface:
– slows rate at which Earth’s surface loses heat
– keeps Earth temperature at which living things
can
T4
Composition of the Atmosphere
•
makes up 78% of Earth’s atmosphere
• Enters atmosphere when:
– volcanoes erupt
– dead plants and animals decay.
•
is second main gas in atmosphere,
mainly produced by plants.
• The atmosphere
many types of tiny,
solid particles, or atmospheric dust (particulates).
•
such as carbon dioxide, argon,
methane, and water vapor make up rest of the
atmosphere.
T4
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Atmosphere is divided into 4 layers based on
temperatures and distance from Earth:
1. The
2. The
3. The
4. The
T5
The Troposphere & Stratosphere
1. Troposphere: lowest layer where temperature
drops as altitude increases.
– Part of atmosphere where
conditions exist.
2. Stratosphere: lies above troposphere
– Almost all
(gas molecule made of 3 oxygen atoms)
is concentrated here
– Because ozone
, it reduces
amount of UV radiation that reaches Earth
• UV radiation that reaches Earth can damage
living cells.
T5
The Mesosphere & Thermosphere
3. Mesosphere: layer above
stratosphere
–
layer of atmosphere
where temperatures have
been measured as low as
–93ºC.
4. Thermosphere: atmospheric
layer located
from
Earth’s surface
– Nitrogen and oxygen absorb
solar radiation resulting in
temperatures measuring
above 2,000 ºC.
T5
Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere
•
•
•
: energy transferred as
electromagnetic waves, such as visible light and
infrared waves.
a material.
: transfer of energy as heat through
: movement of matter due to
differences in density that are caused by
temperature variations an can result in the
transfer of energy as heat.
T6
Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere
T6
The Greenhouse Effect
• Greenhouse effect: warming of
of Earth
– occurs when carbon dioxide, methane, water
vapor and nitrous oxides in the air absorb and
infrared radiation.
– Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be
for life to exist.
T7
The Greenhouse Effect vs. Global Warming
• Greenhouse Gases: gases in atmosphere that trap
and radiate heat
– Most abundant greenhouse gases are water
vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous
oxide.
– Amount of carbon dioxide and methane in
atmosphere vary because of natural and
industrial processes.
• Global Warming
T8
Chapter 3 Targets
9. I can name the major processes in the
cycle.
The Water Cycle
• Water cycle: constant
from
ocean to atmosphere to land and back to ocean.
• Evaporation: change of a substance from
.
– Water continually evaporates from Earth’s oceans,
lakes, streams, and soil, but most evaporates from
oceans.
• Condensation: change of state from a
.
• Precipitation: any form of water
to Earth’s
surface from clouds. Includes rain, snow, sleet, & hail.
• Transpiration: process where
of plants.
T9
Comprehension Check
Q: What is the difference between evaporation and
condensation?
A. Evaporation is the first stage of the water cycle;
condensation is the last stage.
B. Evaporation is the change from water to vapor; condensation
is the change from vapor to water.
C. Evaporation is the process where water is heated by the sea;
condensation is the process where water droplets fall from
clouds.
D. Evaporation is the process where water vapor forms
droplets; condensation is the process where water vapor
forms clouds.