Environmental Science
THE DYNAMIC EARTH
Good overview with questions - http://youtu.be/0OLiT10vLsQ
Read chapter 3 pgs. 63-70 in your text and answer the following questions on pgs.1-3 about our
planet. Pages 4 – 6 are note sheets for you.
Scientists divide the Earth into 4 parts or spheres. What are these spheres?
http://youtu.be/uG3ql0vLioU and http://youtu.be/5FooHD0atuc?list=PLZ6BtLkOU0h5nukiKYfNtb-nKBd66X9K (the second video calls the geosphere another name called lithosphere.)
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GEOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE
BIOSPHERE
Now, describe each sphere:
1. Geosphere: (sometimes called lithosphere)
-solid part of the earth that consists of all rock, as well as the soil and loose rocks on Earth’s
surface. Most of the geosphere is located in Earth’s interior.
2. Atmosphere:
-mixture of gases that makes up the air we breathe. Most of the gases are found in the first
30km above Earth’s surface
3. Hydrosphere:
- all of the water on or near Earth’s surface. Much of this water is in oceans. Also found in
atmosphere, on land in soil
4. Biosphere:
-area on earth where life exists.
Made of parts of geosphere, atmosphere
and hydrosphere.
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THE GEOSPHERE
The composition of the Earth - http://youtu.be/Q9j1xGaxYzY
1. http://youtu.be/NAHY6965o08
2. http://youtu.be/1B4nRGFHzXs
Scientists divide Earth into three layers, based on their composition or chemical make up.
These layers are composed of progressively denser materials toward the center of the Earth.
These are known as compositional layers.
The 3 layers are the Crust, the mantle, and the Core.
Describe each of the layers below:
1. Crust:
Earth’s thinnest layer
5-70 km thick
Solid, brittle outermost layer of Earth
Continental crust is thicker (20-70km thick) and made of lightweight materials, while
oceanic crust thinner (5-8km thick) and made of denser materials
Makes up less than 1% of earth’s mass
2. Mantle:
Layer beneath crust
64% of mass of Earth
2900 km thick
Made of iron-rich and dense rocks
3. Core
Composed of densest elements
3400 km thick radius
Sphere of hot, dense nickel and iron a center of Earth
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NOTE: The Structure of the Earth – the video starts from the inner layer so it starts at #5 and
ends at layer #1 (outer layer) - http://youtu.be/aoV4dmXIt_8
If we consider the physical properties of each layer, instead of their chemistry, the Earth is
divided into 5 layers, called the physical layers. These layers are the lithosphere,
asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer core and inner core.
1. LITOSHERE :
 Earth’s outer layer
 Cool, rigid
 15 – 300 km thick
 Consists of crust and uppermost mantle
 Divided into huge pieces called tectonic plates, which move around on top of the
asthenosphere and can have both oceanic and continental crust
2. ASTHENOSPHERE :
 Layer of the mantle just beneath the lithosphere and above mesosphere
 Plastic, solid layer of mantle made of rock that flows very slowly, allowing
tectonic plates to move on top of it
 25 km thick
3. MESOSHPERE :
 Lower part of the mantle, between asthenosphere and outer core
 2550 km thick
 Aka “middle sphere”
4. OUTHER CORE :
 2200 km thick , a dense liquid layer
 Outer shell of Earth’s core
 Made of liquid nickel and iron
5. INNER CORE :
 A sphere of solid nickel and iron at the center of the Earth
 Solid because under enormous pressure
 1228 km radius, 4000 – 5000 degrees Celsius
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Label the 3 compositional layers
CRUST
MANTLE
Label the 5 physical layers
Litosphere
Asthenosphere
Mesosphere
CORE
Outher Core
Outher Core
The Theory of Plate Tectonics
Plate boundaries – The area where 2 plates meet is called a plate boundary
1. http://youtu.be/NtqumXEHKUs
2. http://youtu.be/dkELENdZukI
3, http://youtu.be/hqp_TbIZU64
4. http://youtu.be/6OHRb_ODo-Q
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Fill in the blank:
Continents
Pangea
Panthalassa tectonic plates
Earth used to be made up of a super-continent called Pangea, and all
the surrounding seas were called Panthalassa.
The Earth’s lithosphere is divided into pieces called tectonic plates.
These plates glide across the underlying asthenosphere in much the
same way as ice glides across a pond. The continents are located on
tectonic plate and move around with them.
The major tectonic plates include the Pacific, North American, South
American, African, Eurasian, and Antarctic plates. (see text p. 66)
Plate Boundaries - http://youtu.be/ifke1GsjNN0
http://youtu.be/engPC9hbjqM
The area where 2 plates meet is called a plate boundary.
3 Main Types of Plate Boundaries and Land Features They Create:
1. Divergent- plates spread apart; move away from each other. This causes earth quakes and
volcanic activity. Land features created: rift valleys and mid ocean ridges
Example: Mid –Atlantic ridge
Additional Notes:
North American Plate
African plates
Eurasian and
2. Convergent-plates move towards each other and collide.
Indian
Eurasian
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Three types of convergent boundaries:
a. Oceanic plate & Oceanic plate Cause earthquakes and trenches
b. Oceanic plate & Continental plateCause earthquakes and volcanic activity
c. Continental plate & Continental plate –
Cause earthquakes, volcanic activity and mountains
Example: Himalayas
3. Transform-plates slide past each other causing Earthquakes
Example: San Andreas Fault, CA
Pacific Plate
North American Plate
The major
tectonic
plates
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EARTHQUAKES - http://youtu.be/KwC1DXGwjM4
A fault is a break in the Earth’s crust along which blocks of the crust slide relative to one
another. When rocks that are under stress suddenly break along a fault, a series of ground
vibrations is set off.
So, an earthquake is – a series of vibrations of the Earth’s crust caused by slippage along a fault.
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Earthquakes occur all the time, but most are so small we don’t feel them
Earthquakes can be enormous and cause a great deal of damage.
Richter scale – used by scientists to quantify amount of energy released by earthquake
Magnitude – amount of energy released
Smallest magnitude felt = 2.0; largest recorded = 9.5!
Each increase in magnitude represents 31.7X more energy than the number below it
Magnitudes of 7.0 or greater cause major damage
Where do earthquakes occur? Most take place near plate boundaries.
VOLCANOES
(only watch 5 min)http://youtu.be/-iGJlYgp43s
A volcano is a mountain built from magma (melted rock) that rises from the Earth’s interior to
its surface. They often located near tectonic plate boundaries (convergent or divergent) and can
occur on land or under sea, where they can eventually form islands
When do volcanoes erupt?
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When pressure of magma inside becomes so great, it blows open the solid surface of
the volcano
Some volcanoes have magma flowing out of them all the time, so the pressure never
builds up and never erupt
Effects of volcanic eruptions
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Can be local or global
Clods of hot ash, dust and gases can flow down the slope really fast and burn everything
in their path
During an eruption, volcanic ash can mix with water and produce a mud-flow
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Ash that falls to the ground can cause buildings to collapse, bury crops and damage the
engines of vehicles
Volcanic ash can cause breathing difficulties
Eruptions can change Earth’s climate for several years – volcanic ash and sulfur-rich
gases can reach the upper atmosphere and reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches
the Earth’s surface
*Note: While plate movement brings rock to the surface and alters The Earth’s surface, rocks at
the Earth’s surface can be altered by wind and water as well.
THE ATMOSPHERE
http://youtu.be/BlDqJUjh38Q
Read chapter 3 pgs. 63-76 in your text and answer the following questions on pgs. 7-12 about
our planet.
Earth is surrounded by a mixture of gases known as the atmosphere. Nitrogen, oxygen, carbon
dioxide, and other gases are all parts of this mixture. The Earth’s atmosphere changes
constantly as these gases are added and removed.
What are two examples of gases being added or removed from the atmosphere? Hint: think
about biology when you learned about photosynthesis and cellular respiration. You can also
think about volcanoes and cars.
1. Oxygen is added to the atmosphere by respiration: humans and other animals bread
in (inhale) oxygen.
2. Carbon Dioxide is added to the atmosphere when humans exhale (bread out) and
trees and other plants take the carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. Carbon dioxide is
also added to the atmosphere when volcanoes erupt or when our cars and factories
are working.
The primary function of the Earth’s atmosphere is to _____COVER_____ the surface of the
Earth, which slows the rate at which heat is lost and keeps temperatures at which living things
can survive. Hint: a seal’s blubber helps to COVER the bear to keep it warm in the winter.
(same answer)
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Composition of the Atmosphere
Nitrogen makes up ___78___ % of the Earth’s atmosphere. It enters the atmosphere when
volcanoes erupt and when dead plants and animals ___decay (decompose). The second most
abundant gas in the atmosphere is __Oxygen__ and it enters the atmosphere primarily as an
end product of photosynthesis by plants.
What other gases in addition to nitrogen and oxygen
make up the atmosphere?
argon, carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor
In addition to gases, what other substances does the
atmosphere contain? Atmospheric dust (tiny, solid particles).
Air Pressure. Gravity pulls the Earth’s atmosphere toward the
surface of the Earth. This causes the atmosphere to be (more/less) dense near the Earth’s
surface? In addition, at higher elevations, the air becomes (more/less) dense.
WHY do airplanes fly at higher altitudes? What benefits would this have?
Layers of the Atmosphere –
1. http://youtu.be/WaikvaAw2nk
2. http://youtu.be/AV5T-40EG0U?list=PLF260DAA31E5ED448
The atmosphere is divided into __4__ layers based on temperature changes that
occur at different distances above the Earth’s surface. These layers are called the
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.
1. troposphere:
 Nearest Earth’s surface
 Extends to about 18km above the Earth’s surface
 Almost all weather occurs in this layer
 Most dense layer of the atmosphere (gravity pulls the molecules down)
 Temperature in this layer decreases as altitude increases
2. stratosphere:
 Above the troposphere
 Extends from 18km 50km
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Temperatures rise as altitudes increase because of the absorption of UV rays by ozone
(O3). Ozone is concentrated in the ozone layer in the stratosphere.
Ozone reduces the UV radiation that reaches Earth.
3. mesosphere:
 Above the stratosphere
 Extends from 50km-80km
 Coldest layer of the atmosphere
 Measured temps as low as -93⁰C
4. thermosphere:
 Layer farthest from the Earth’s surface
 Extends from 80km- 550km
 Nitrogen and oxygen absorb solar radiation, so temps as high as 2000⁰C
 Lower thermosphere absorbs X rays and gamma rays causing atoms to become
electrically charged ions. So this layer is called the ionosphere and results in spectacular
colors in the night skies near the poles. Ex. The aurora borealis or Northern Lights.
INRPRET THIS GRAPH:
1. What happens to temperature as you
rise through the Troposphere?
Decreases
2. What layer includes the ozone layer?
Stratosphere
Ozone (O3)
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Energy in the Atmosphere
The primary source of all energy on Earth comes from the SUN.
Solar energy reaches the earth as electromagnetic radiation (remember the Electromagnetic
Spectrum? radio waves  gamma rays including infrared, visible light and UV among others).
Only a small amount reaches the Earth’s surface. The rest is either reflected or absorbed.
Matching:
Reflected: _B_
Absorbed: _A_
A. refers to energy taken up by matter
B. refers to energy that changes direction
(bouncing back).
There are three important mechanisms responsible for transferring heat into the atmosphere:
http://youtu.be/iA2b7oj80h0
http://youtu.be/Atnjo7dD_bA
1. Radiation: Is the transfer of energy across space and in the atposphere. When you stand by
a fire, the heat you feel has reached you by radiation.
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2. Conduction: Is the flow of heat from a warmer object to a colder object when the objects
are placed in direct physical contact.
3. Convection: is the transfer of heat by air currents. Hot air rises and cold air sinks. Ex: if you
hold your hand above a hot iron, you will feel the heat because a current of hot air rises up
to your hand.
The Movement of Energy in the Atmosphere
Air that is constantly moving upward, downward, or sideways causes the Earth’s __ weather.
___. In the troposphere, less dense air warmed by the Earth’s surface, rise into the atmosphere
and currents of colder, more dense air sinks. As air current’s rise, they cool, become denser,
and sink.
So, air currents move back towards the Earth’s surface until they are heated and become less
dense. Then the currents begin to rise again. The continual process of warm air rising and cool
air sinking moves air in a circular motion, called a ___ convection current. __.
The Greenhouse Effect: The process in which gases trap heat near the Earth and without which
the Earth would be too cold for life to exist.
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How does this occur? http://youtu.be/dP-tg4atr5M
http://youtu.be/5zLuqSYF68E
Sunlight penetrates Earth’s atmosphere and heats the surface of the Earth. The Earth’s surface
radiates_ heat back to the atmosphere, where some of it escapes into space. The remainder of
the heat isabsorbed by greenhouse gases, that warm the air and is radiated back towards the
Earth’s surface.
Global Climate Regulation
Air currents move energy around and regulate global climate
Coriolis Effect- What is it and what causes it?
http://youtu.be/rdGtcZSFRLk
http://youtu.be/i2mec3vgeaI
The Coriolis Effect is a phenomenon that causes fluids, like water and air, to curve as they travel
across or above the Earth’s surface.
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CP Environmental Science 2014-15
THE HYDROSPHERE AND BIOSPHERE
Read chapter 3 pgs. 77-85 in your text and answer the following questions on pgs.13-19 about
our planet.
The Hydrosphere and the Water Cycle:
1. http://youtu.be/jZ0pyjNg4-8
2. http://youtu.be/MhMWIpLuPDI
3. water cycle - http://youtu.be/al-do-HGuIk
Water cycle: The continuous movement of water into the air, onto land, and then back to water
sources is known as the water cycle.
Evaporation: is the process by which liquid water is heated by the sun and then rises into the
atmosphere as water vapor.
Evapotranspiration: water evaporation from plants.
Condensation: water vapor forms water droplets on dust particle.
Precipitation: the water droplets form clouds, in which the droplets collide, stick together, and
create larger, heavier droplets. These larger droplets fall from clouds as rain in a process called
precipitation.
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Earth’s Oceans
The four major oceans are the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Indian Ocean ,
all of which are joined into a single, large, interconnected body of water called the world ocean.
Ocean waters cover 70% of the Earth’s surface and plays a major role in regulating
temperatures on planet Earth.
Considering the 5 oceans separately, how do their sizes compare? Rank them below from #1-4
(#1 as the largest and #5 as the smallest). http://youtu.be/Ggq07KgdGJo and
http://youtu.be/vy6dj_ZWOos
1. Pacific Ocean
2. Atlantic Ocean
3. Indian Ocean
4. Antarctic Ocean
5. Arctic Ocean
Which ocean has most of its surface covered by floating ice? Arctic Ocean
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Ocean Water
Ocean water differs from freshwater because it contains more salts, which have dissolved out
of rocks on land and been carried through rivers into
the ocean over millions of years. The term salinity
refers to the concentration of all of the dissolved
salts contained in the ocean.
Temperature Regulation
One of the most important functions of the world
ocean is to absorb and __store_ energy from
sunlight, which regulates temperatures in Earth’s atmosphere.
(use book)
The world ocean absorbs over half of the solar energy that reaches the Earth’s surface.
Remember, from chemistry that water has a high specific heat capacity meaning it takes a lot of
energy to change the temperature of 1 g by 1⁰C. So, the ocean absorbs and releases that solar
energy much more slowly than land. As a result, the temperature of the atmosphere changes
more slowly as well. If the oceans did not regulate atmospheric and surface temperatures, the
temperatures would be too extreme for life to exist.
Local temperatures in different areas of the world are also regulated by the oceans. Currents
that circulate warm water cause the land areas they flow past to have more moderate climates.
Ocean Currents - http://youtu.be/yhwkhAvRI9I
http://youtu.be/Hu_Ga0JYFNg
There are two types of Ocean Currents:
1. Surface Currents: stream-like movements of water that occur at or near the surface of
the ocean. Surface currents can influence the climates of land areas they flow past.
2. Deep Currents: are stream-like movements of water that flow very slowly along the
ocean floor.
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Let’s not forget that Earth’s land features play a major role in climate regulation as well!
Fresh Water
http://youtu.be/_LpgBvEPozk
http://youtu.be/Pz6AQXQGupQ?list=
http://youtu.be/2pXuAw1bSQo
Most of the water on Earth is salt water in the ocean (~97%). The remaining water on Earth is
fresh water, but of that most of the fresh water is tied up icecaps and glaciers. So, there is very
little readily available fresh water on Earth.
Where does readily available fresh water come from?
LAKES
RIVERS
Wetlands
The streams
Rock layers below the surface
The aquifers
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A _____river____ ____stream____ is a network of streams that drain an area of land. It
includes the main river and all of its tributaries.
Ground Water - http://youtu.be/R8NQUQDZ3N0
Rain or melting snow that trickles down through the ground and collects. Ground water
accounts for only ___2___% of all water on Earth, but fulfills the human need for fresh drinking
water and water for agriculture and industry.
An AQUIFER is a rock layer that stores and allows for the flow of ground water.
1. The Biosphere and Energy Flow in the Biosphere - http://youtu.be/jZ0pyjNg4-8
A reminder of the hierarchy of living things
Atoms  MoleculesOrganic molecules/Organelles  Cells Organisms Populations
Communitites Ecosystems  Biosphere
The Biosphere is the narrow layer around Earth’s surface in which life can exist.
The Biosphere is made up of the uppermost part of the geosphere, most of the hydrosphere,
and the lower part of the atmosphere.
What makes life possible in the biosphere? (book)
1. Liquid Water
2. Moderate Temperatures
3. Source of Energy
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What flow? What cycles? http://youtu.be/H0ThiRzQmWE
Energy (flows , cycles) in an ecosystem, while matter (flows , cycles) .
Earth is considered a (open/closed) system because the only thing that enters in significant
amounts is energy from the sun and the only thing that leaves in significant amounts is heat. In
an (open/closed) system both matter and energy are exchanged between a system and the
surrounding environment.
Review of plate tectonics with some questions - http://youtu.be/0OLiT10vLsQ
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