Earth Environmental Review
EEn.1.1 Explain the Earth’s role as a body in space.
Big Bang Theory
Planetisimals
Accretion
Universe
Galaxies
Solar Systems
Celestial Bodies
Sun
Planets
Moons
Other Celestial Bodies
Meteoroids
Meteors
Meteorites
Comets
Asteroids
Explain the Earth’s motion through space
Kepler’s Laws
1.
2.
3.
Precession
Nutation
The barycenter
Gravity
Earth’s path about the galaxy.
Earth’s axial tilt / other planets
Earth’s rotation on it’s axis
Earth’s revolution about the Sun
Affect its shape
Motions related to seasons and tides.
Describe daily changes due to rotation
Seasonal changes due to the tilt and revolution of the Earth
Tidal impact due to the gravitational interaction between the Earth and moon and sun
Develop a cause and effect model for the shape of the Earth explaining why the circumference around the equator is
larger than that around the poles.
Fusion
Fission
Radiation
Radiant energy of stars
Light / electromagnetic waves produced by the sun / stars
How bad rays / waves / light are filtered by the atmosphere (Ultra Violet, X-rays, cosmic rays, etc.)
Summarize how energy flows from the sun to the Earth through space.
Explain how the tilt of the Earth’s axis results in seasons due to the amount of solar energy impacting the Earth’s
surface.
Explain differential heating of the earth’s surface (water temperature vs. land temperature)
Explain how solar energy is transformed into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
Explain how the earth’s magnetic field protects the planet from the harmful effects of radiation
Heliocentric
Geocentric
Dose the sun move?
As it’s self within the solar system…
Nutation?
Tugging?
As a system… Big Bang?
Hertzprung Russel l (H-R) Diagram
Evolution of a star
EEn.2.1 Explain how processes and forces affect the lithosphere.
Explain the rock cycle in enough detail to relate the cycling of materials
Formation and destruction of the three major rock types to the forces responsible
Physical weathering
Chemical weathering
Heat and pressure
Erosion
Deposition
Foliation
Bedding
The forms of energy that drives the rock cycle include heat and mechanical and gravitational potential energy
Explain how various mechanisms drive movement of the lithospheric plates
mantle convection
ridge push
Infer the relationship between the type of plate boundary and the locations of various features such as ocean
trenches, mountain ranges and mid-ocean ridges
Relate to the development of the theory of plate tectonics and geologic time
Compare magma and lava
Locate volcanoes and relate back to plate boundaries
Explain volcanic effects on the lithosphere and relate back to plate boundaries (convergent, divergent, transform)
including lahar (mud) flows and ash in the atmosphere
Describe the anatomy of an earthquake
Locate earthquakes – epicenter and focal point – and relate to different types of plate boundaries
Explain how the release of energy of various types of earthquakes relates to magnitude, and P and S waves
Summarize the major events in the geologic history of North Carolina and the southeastern United States
Explain how current geologic landforms developed such as Appalachian Mountains, fall zone, shorelines, barrier
islands, valleys, river basins, etc. using the geologic time scale
Explain how processes change sea-level over time—long- and short-term.
Infer the effects on landforms such as shorelines and barrier islands
Infer the locations of volcanoes, earthquakes and faults from soil, geologic and topographic map studies. (Relate fault
locations/types to plate boundaries.)
strike-slip
reverse
normal
Plate Boundaries and how they combine
Convergent
Divergent
Transform
Oceanic
Continental
Make predictions based on data gathered over time in conjunction with various maps.
Soil is the result of weathering of rocks and includes weathered particles: sand, silt and clay.
Humus
Soil Profile / Rock Layers
Stable Rock
Explain differences in chemical and physical weathering
How weathering rates are affected by a variety of factors including climate, topography and rock composition
Compare erosion by water, wind, ice, and gravity and the effect on various landforms
Conclude the best location for various types of development to reduce impacts by geohazards and protect property
Explain precautions that can be made to protect life from various geohazards and include meteorological hazards
Some examples include landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, sinkholes, groundwater pollution, and flooding
EEn.2.2 Understand how human influences impact the lithosphere
Explain the need for and consequences of various types of land
Urbanization
Deforestation
Agriculture
Mining
Aquaculture
Explain ways to mitigate(solutions) detrimental ( harmful or adverse) human impacts on the lithosphere and
maximize sustainable use of natural resources
Explain the effects of human activity on shorelines
Explain the effects of human activity on mountainsides
Development and artificial (man-made) stabilization efforts for
Shorelines
Mountains
Explain the effects, especially in development and artificial stabilization efforts
Compare the methods of obtaining traditional energy resources:
harvesting (peat and wood)
mining (coal and uranium/plutonium)
drilling (oil and natural gas)
What are effects of these activities on the environment?
What are ways to mitigate the adverse effects of these activities on the environment?
EEn.2.3 Structure and processes within the hydrosphere
Explain how water is an energy agent
Currents
Heat transfer
Specific heat
Sea Breeze
Land Breezes
How the density of ocean water is affected by temperature
How this results in major ocean currents distributing heat away from the equator toward the poles.
Explain how coastal climates are moderated by water (due to its high specific heat capacity) in comparison to inland
climates.
Explain how ground water and surface and atmospheric water interact.
Seven stages of the water cycle, where they are, what they do.
Surface Water
Evaporation
Evapotranspiration
Condensation
Condensation Nuclei
Precipitation
Surface Runoff
Infiltration
Groundwater (and back again)
Water table
Salt water intrusion
Wet cycle
Dry Cycle
Explain river systems including NC river basins
Aquifers
Watersheds
Bedrock
Explain how flood events might be affected by groundwater levels.
Ebb and Flood
EEn. 2.4 How humans use water.
Evaluate human influences on freshwater availability.
Evaluate human influences on water quality in North Carolina’s river basins,
wetlands
tidal environments
estuaries
EEn. 2.5 Atmosphere and Weather… Whether you want it or not, everyone relys on the
weather. What is the most important tool?
Atmospheric Layers
Atmospheric properties
Analyze atmospheric graphs and charts, different types
Radiant energy
Air masses types
Movement
Pressure
Fronts
Cloud formation
Cloud types
Cloud prediction
Wind
Wind patterns
What affects air density?
Weather instruments
Weather technology
Weather maps
Barometric pressure… falling, steady, rising,
Barometric maps
Isobars
Temperature
Thermobars
Contour lines
Dewpoint
Wind chill/feel likes
Precipitation
Water vapor and clouds
Acid rain formation
pH of rain
Human activities impact the atmosphere
Aerosols
Chlorofluorocarbons
Burning hydrocarbons
Industrial byproducts
Over farming
Development / microclimates/ heat islands
Mitigation/Solutions
Severe/ Extreme weather precautions, predictions, preparedness to preserve property
and people(life).
Personal obsevations?
EEn. 2.6 Global Climate Change… We want the Earth to be warm???
Keep in mind that climates change over time… back and forth, comes and goes, ebb
n flood.
Weather vs. climate
Climate vs. weather
Global warming
Köppen Climate Classification
Polar
Temperate
Tropical
Marine
Continental
Arctic – so cold, no precipitation
El Nino
La Nina
Volcanic disruptions
Sunspots
Radiant energy
Ultra Violet Light – U.V.
Earth’s orbit shifts
Earth’s axial shifts
Carbon dioxide fluctuations and shifts
Greenhouse gases
Greenhouse effect
Why are humans concerned with CO2 ,carbon dioxide
Analyze patterns of changes - maps
Climate changes due to natural causes
Climate changes due to human activities
Burning hydrocarbons – fossil fuels
Ozone
Deforestation
Temperature changes and fluctuations
Ocean pH change due to climate/impacts
Sea level Changes due to climate/impacts
Deforestation increased industrialization
Burning fossil fuels increased industrialization
Development
Micro-climate
Heat island
Human impacts
Effects on agriculture, ocean life
Ecosystem balance
Glacial periods
Glaciations
Solutions
Why are agricultural areas losing rain?
EEn. 2.7 Sustainability… For who???
Keep in mind, “Not in my Back Yard” mentality and humans cause most of the problems.
Biosphere
Biome
Plants and animals that make up the different biomes
Biotic vs. Abiotic
Biodiversity
Human impact on the biosphere
Pollution
Point source pollution
Non-point pollution
Ecological Footprint
Ecological Carrying Capacity
Sustainability
Stewardship
Match Land Forms to Biomes
Variations of populations
Ecosystem
Nonnative Species
Invasive species
Human impact on the environment
Solutions
EEn. 2.8 Sustainability and Resources
Alternative Energies (Focus on N.C.)
Solar
Wind
Geo thermal
Wave action
Nuclear
Biofuels
Must nose…
Metric System
Phase changes / States of matter
Scientific method
Science and Lab Safety
Lab Equipment
Cycles
Photosynthesis