Hello …

What is Earth Science?


Life


Earth

 water


Study of

A name for the group of sciences that deals with
Earth and it’s neighbors in space

Study of the physical material and historical make-up of the Earth.

Study of the composition and movements of seawater, coastal processes, seafloor topography, and marine life.

Study of the atmosphere and the processes that produce weather and climate.

Study of the universe

Overview of Earth Science

Earth science is the name for the group of sciences that deals with Earth and it’s neighbors in space.

Earth Science is divided into four main sub-categories.
 Geology – study of the
Earth

Physical Geology – examination of the materials that make up the Earth and the possible explanations that for the many processes that shape our planet.

Historical Geology – understand Earth’s long history and establish a “timeline”

Earth Science is divided into four main sub-categories.
 Oceanography - Study of the composition and movements of sea water, coastal processes, seafloor topography, and marine life.

Earth Science is divided into four main sub-categories.

Meteorology - Study of the atmosphere and the processes that produce weather and climate.

Earth Science is divided into four main sub-categories.
 Astronomy - Study of the universe

Formation of Earth
 Nebular Hypothesis – suggests that the bodies of our solar system evolved from an enormous rotating cloud called the solar nebula. It was made up mostly of hydrogen and helium, with a small percentage of heavier elements.

“That’s Random”

 3-dimensionally round
“ball”

Water portion of the earth

Gaseous envelope around the Earth

Composed of the core, mantle, and crust

 Dense, heavy inner sphere of the Earth

 Located between the crust and core of the
Earth

 Thin outside layer of the
Earth’s surface

Earth can be divided into four major spheres
 Hydrosphere – water portion of the earth
 Atmosphere - gaseous envelope around the Earth
 Geosphere - composed of the core, mantle, and crust
 Biosphere - all life-forms on Earth

Hydrosphere
 All water on Earth

Oceans account for 97% of all Earth’s water
 3% is freshwater
(groundwater, streams, lakes, and glaciers)

Atmosphere
 Life-sustaining gaseous envelope
 Extends about 100km upward
 Protects us from sun’s heat and dangerous radiation

Geosphere


Lies beneath both the atmosphere and the ocean
The geosphere is not uniform and is divided into 3 main parts based on composition.



Core – dense center of the
Earth
Mantle – middle layer of the Earth
Crust – thin, outer layer of
Earth

Biosphere
 Consists of all life on
Earth

Plate Tectonics - Theory



Earth’s lithosphere is broken into several sections called plates
These plates move slowly and continuously due to the unequal distribution of heat within Earth
The movements of these plates generate earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the deformation of large masses of rock into mountains.


The distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees


The distance east or west of the prime meridian, measure in degrees.

 A map that represents
Earth’s surface in three dimensions (3-D). It shows elevation, distance, directions, and slope angles.


Line on a topographic map that indicates an elevation; Every point along a contour line is an elevation.

 On a topographic map, tells the distance in elevation between adjacent contour lines.

Determining Location

Global Grid

Scientists use two special
Earth measurements to describe location.

The distance around Earth is measured in degrees.

Latitude is the distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.

Longitude is the distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees.

Determining Location

Maps and Mapping

A map is a flat representation of
Earth’s surface

No matter what kind of map is made, some portion of the surface will always look either too small, too big, or out of place.
Mapmakers have, however, found ways to limit the distortion of shape, size, distance, and direction.

The Mercator Projection Map

The Conic Projection Map

The Gnomonic Projection Map

Determining Location

Topographic Maps

A topographic map represents Earth’s three dimensional surface in two dimensions.

Topographic maps differ from the other maps discussed so far because topographic maps show elevation.

Topographical maps show elevation of
Earth’s surface by means of contour lines.

The elevation of the land is indicated by using contour lines.

The contour interval tells you the difference in elevation between adjacent lines.

Geologic maps show the variations of rock type and age that are exposed at the surface.

Determining Location
 Advanced Technology

Today’s technology provides us with the ability to more precisely analyze Earth’s physical properties.

Satellites

Computers

GPS (Global Positioning
Systems)

“Old School” GPS Systems

 Any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole

“Hot” ….. “On Fire” … Quite the Match!

Earth System Science

A way at looking at Earth from what we know in other sciences such as geology, chemistry, and/or biology.
 The goal is to understand
Earth as a system made up of numerous interacting parts, or subsystems.

What is a System?

A system can be any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole.

What is a System?

The Earth system is powered by energy from two sources

Sun – The sun is the source that drives external processes that occur in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and at the earth’s surface.

Earth’s Interior – The heat from the interior of Earth power processes like earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountains.

Humans are also part of the
Earth’s system

Our actions produce changes in all of the other parts of the earth system

People and the Environment

Environment – everything that surrounds and influences an organism
 Environmental Science – the relationships between people and the natural environment
 Resources are the foundation of modern civilization and include water, soil, metallic and nonmetallic minerals, and energy.

Renewable resources – can be replenished over relatively short time spans

Examples - trees (wood), solar, wind, and water

Non-renewable resources – take long periods (millions of years) to create and replenish

Examples – natural gas, oil, and coal

Environmental Problems

Two main attributes caused increased population (1) Agricultural Revolution as better nutrition = longer life span, and (2) Industrial Revolution as nonrenewable resources were used (fossil fuels) = Increase technology and medical improvements.

Significant threats to the government include air pollution, acid rain, ozone depletion, and global warming.

“That’s Random”


A tentative explanation that is tested to determine if it is valid


The testing of an idea


In conducting an experiment, a person encounters one or more errors


Those parts of an experiment that can change during an experiment and influence the results


A decision that is reached after thinking/analyzing about certain facts or information


A well-tested and widely accepted view that explains certain observable facts.


Results from many scientists repeatedly reaching the same conclusions.

Scientific Method

BCHS Graduate ….

Scientific Method
 The process of gathering facts through observations and formulating scientific hypotheses and theories
 Steps in Scientific Method

Collection of scientific facts through observation and measurement

Development of one or more working hypotheses to explain these facts

Development of observations and experiments to test hypotheses

Acceptance, modification, or rejection of the hypothesis based on extensive testing

Hypothesis
 Once data have been gathered, scientists try to explain how or why things happen in the manner observed.
 Scientists do this by stating a possible explanation called a hypothesis
 A hypothesis must be “testable”

Theory
 A scientific theory is a well tested and widely accepted by the scientific community and best explains certain observable facts.

THE END
….. for this chapter.