Earth’s Spheres & Branches
of Earth Science
Module E Intro Unit 1 Lesson 1
Pages 4-7
I will be able to describe and identify the two types
of systems.
What is a System?
• Systems
– a group of interacting
parts that work to
together to do a job or
to form a whole.
• Open Systems
• Closed Systems
I will be able to describe and identify the two types
of systems.
What is a System?
• Systems
– Open System
• Matter and energy
can flow into and out
of the system.
– Uncovered pan of
boiling water.
– Vegetable Garden
– Natural
Environment
I will be able to describe and identify the two types
of systems.
What is a System?
• Systems
– Closed System
• Matter cannot enter
or leave, energy can.
– Covered pan of
boiling water.
– Terrarium
– Greenhouse
I will be able to describe and identify the two types
of systems.
Open or Closed Systems?
I will be able to describe the parts of Earth’s System and
explain how matter and energy are transferred through it.
What is the Earth’s System?
• Earth System
– A complex system made up
of:
• Matter
– Living Things
– Nonliving things.
• Energy
• Processes within Earth’s
– Matter and energy
continuously cycled
through the smaller
systems that make up
Earth’s spheres.
I will be able to define and describe the five main
spheres that make up the Earth.
What is the Earth’s Geosphere?
• Geosphere
– Mostly solid, rocky
part of the Earth.
– Divided into 3 Layers
1. Crust
2. Mantle
3. Core
a. Inner Core
b. Outer Core
I will be able to define and describe the four main
spheres that make up the Earth.
What is the Earth’s Hydrosphere?
• Hydrosphere
– Part of the Earth that is
liquid water.
– Always moving, through
all spheres.
– 71% of Earth’s surface is
the ocean.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lakes
Rivers
Marshes
Rain
Underground water
Droplets in clouds.
I will be able to define and describe the five main
spheres that make up the Earth.
What is the Earth’s Cryosphere?
• Cryosphere
– Made up of all frozen
water on Earth.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ice
Sea Ice
Glaciers
Ice Shelves
Ice Bergs
Snow
I will be able to define and describe the five main
spheres that make up the Earth.
What is the Earth’s Atmosphere?
• Atmosphere
– Mostly made of invisible
gases that surround the
Earth.
– Contains the air we
breathe.
– Composition
• 71% Nitrogen
• 23% Oxygen
• 1% Trace Gases.
– Traps Heat Energy from
the sun.
• Greenhouse effect, keeps
the planet warm.
I will be able to define and describe the five main
spheres that make up the Earth.
What is the Earth’s Biosphere?
• Biosphere
– Made up of living things
and their habitats.
– Must Have:
•
•
•
•
•
Oxygen
Carbon Dioxide
Liquid Water
Moderate Temperatures
Source of Energy
– Sun
– Plants and Algae
(photosynthesis)
I will be able to describe the parts of Earth’s System and
explain how matter and energy are transferred through it.
How Do Earth’s Spheres Interact?
• Matter and Energy
– 1. By exchange of matter.
• Water Cycle
– Water evaporates into the
atmosphere.
– Water condenses forming clouds.
• Nitrogen Cycle
– Bacteria release nitrogen into the
soil from the atmosphere.
– Plants use nitrogen to grow.
I will be able to describe the parts of Earth’s System and
explain how matter and energy are transferred through it.
How Do Earth’s Spheres Interact?
2. By exchange of energy
• Moves back and forth between
spheres.
• Plants use solar energy to make
food.
• Animals eat plants for energy.
• Solar Energy
– Drives winds and Weather
I will be able to describe the parts of Earth’s System and
explain how matter and energy are transferred through it.
What is the Source of Earth’s Energy?
• Earth’s Energy
– Most comes from the Sun.
– A tiny fraction
• Ocean Tides
• Geothermal
– Lava & Magma
– Moves or Changes form
– Not created or destroyed.
– Transferred between spheres
I will be able to describe the parts of Earth’s System and
explain how matter and energy are transferred through it.
What is the Source of Earth’s Energy?
• Energy Budget
– A way to keep track of
energy transfers into
and out of Earth’s
system.
– Unbalanced budget
• Can increase or
decrease Earth’s
temperatures.
I will be able to describe the parts of Earth’s System and
explain how matter and energy are transferred through it.
What can disturb Earth’s Energy Budget?
• Disturbed Energy Budget
– 1. Increasing Greenhouse
gases.
– 2. Melting Polar Ice Caps
I will be able to define matter and describe the
properties of matter.
What are the Branches of Earth Science?
• 5 Branches
Astronomy
Environmental
Geology
Meteorology
Oceanography
I will be able to define and describe the five
branches of Earth Science.
What are the Branches of Earth Science?
• Astronomy
Astronomer
– The study of the
universe beyond
Earth.
– Astronomers study:
•
•
•
•
Stars
Planets
Galaxies
History of the
Universe.
Reason for
night/day
Telescopes
The Sun
Reason for
Seasons
Different
Galaxies
Mars
Reason for
tides
Stars
Planets
I will be able to define and describe the five
branches of Earth Science.
What are the Branches of Earth Science?
• Environmental Science
– The study of Earth’s
environment and
resources and the effect
of human activities
Global
Warming
– Environmentalists or
ecologist study
Conservation
problems like:
of Earth’s
• Pollution
• Global Warming
Melting Ice
Caps
Air Pollution
resources.
Effects of
fertilizer on
ground water.
Greenhouse
effect
Effects of oil
spills
Effects of
landfills
Ecologist
I will be able to define and describe the five
branches of Earth Science.
What are the Branches of Earth Science?
• Geology
– The study the solid
Earth.
– Geologists study the
forces that shape
Earth.
Volcanoes
Geologist
Seismic
Waves
Formation of
Mountains
Natural
Resources
Predicting
Earthquakes
Inside of
Earth
Effects of Soil
Erosion
Minerals
I will be able to define and describe the five
branches of Earth Science.
What are the Branches of Earth Science?
• Meteorology
– The study of Earth’s
atmosphere.
• Meteorologists
gather information
about conditions in
the atmosphere from
around the world.
• Forecast weather.
Meteorologist
Chasing
Tornadoes
Predicting
Hurricanes
Predicting the
Weather
Wind Patterns
in North Wales
The Ozone
Layer
The Layers of
the
Atmosphere
I will be able to define and describe the five
branches of Earth Science.
What are the Branches of Earth Science?
Studying
• Oceanography
Oceanographer
– The study of
Earth’s oceans.
• Oceanographers
study:
– Chemistry of
the ocean.
– Shape of the
ocean floor.
– Organisms
living in them.
Tsunamis
Coral reefs
Cold/Warm
Ocean Currents
Studying what
makes up
ocean water.
Ocean life
zones
Recording
tides
Ocean floor
Studying the
Intertidal Zone
Wave patterns
at the beach