Chapter Chapter 11Introduction to Earth ScienceIntroduction to Earth Science

1.1.What Is Earth Science?What Is Earth Science?2.2.A View of EarthA View of Earth3.3.Representing Earth’s Representing Earth’s

SurfaceSurface4.4.Earth System ScienceEarth System Science5.5.What Is Scientific Inquiry?What Is Scientific Inquiry?

1. Observing: What features can you identify in the photo?2. Inferring: Where do you think this photograph came from?3. Designing Experiments If you were an Earth scientist, how

could you use this photograph in your work?

Section 1 What Is Earth Section 1 What Is Earth Science?Science?  

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

1.1. What is the study of Earth What is the study of Earth science?science?

2.2. How did Earth and the How did Earth and the solar system form?solar system form?

Earth scienceEarth science

the name for all the sciences the name for all the sciences that collectively seek to that collectively seek to understand Earth; It includes understand Earth; It includes _______, ____________, _______, ____________, __________, and _________.__________, and _________.

GeologyGeologythe science that the science that examines ____, its form examines ____, its form and ____________, and and ____________, and the changes it has the changes it has undergone and is undergone and is undergoingundergoing

What are the two areas of What are the two areas of Geology?Geology?

•Physical Geology•Historical Geology

Physical geology:Physical geology:The examination of the materials that make The examination of the materials that make up Earth and the possible explanations for up Earth and the possible explanations for the many processes that shape our planet. the many processes that shape our planet.

What are some of the processes which can shape our What are some of the processes which can shape our planet?planet?

Historical geologyHistorical geology

To establish a timeline of To establish a timeline of the vast number of the vast number of physical and biological physical and biological changes that have changes that have occurred in the past. occurred in the past.

OceanographyOceanography•The scientific study of the ______ The scientific study of the ______

and oceanic phenomena.and oceanic phenomena.•Oceanography integrates the sciences of Oceanography integrates the sciences of

chemistry, physics, geology, and biology. chemistry, physics, geology, and biology. Oceanographers study the composition Oceanographers study the composition and movements of seawater, as well as and movements of seawater, as well as coastal processes, seafloor topography, coastal processes, seafloor topography, and marine life.and marine life.

______________________________ •the scientific study of the the scientific study of the atmosphere and atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena; atmospheric phenomena; the study of weather and the study of weather and climate.climate.

_______________ _______________ the scientific study of the the scientific study of the

universe; It includes the universe; It includes the observation and observation and interpretation of celestial interpretation of celestial bodies and phenomena.bodies and phenomena.

Formation of Formation of EarthEarth The The nebular hypothesisnebular hypothesis

suggests that the bodies of suggests that the bodies of our solar system evolved from our solar system evolved from an enormous rotating cloud an enormous rotating cloud called the called the solar nebulasolar nebula. It was . It was made up mostly of hydrogen made up mostly of hydrogen and helium with a small and helium with a small percentage of heavier percentage of heavier elements.elements.

Why does Earth have little hydrogen and helium Why does Earth have little hydrogen and helium but large amounts of heavier elements?but large amounts of heavier elements?

Layers Form on Earth Layers Form on Earth Why does Earth have Why does Earth have layers?layers?

Where did the oceans Where did the oceans and atmosphere come and atmosphere come from?from?

Earth’s Place in the Universe

Section 2 Section 2 A View of EarthA View of Earth

Key ConceptsKey Concepts What are the four major What are the four major spheres into which Earth spheres into which Earth is divided?is divided?

Section 2 Section 2 A View of EarthA View of Earth

Key ConceptsKey Concepts What defines the three What defines the three

main parts of the solid main parts of the solid Earth?Earth?

Which model explains the Which model explains the position of continents and position of continents and the occurrence of the occurrence of volcanoes and volcanoes and earthquakes?earthquakes?

Earth’s Major SpheresEarth’s Major Spheres

____________________: the water : the water portion of Earth; one of portion of Earth; one of the traditional the traditional subdivisions of Earth’s subdivisions of Earth’s physical environmentphysical environment

Earth’s Major SpheresEarth’s Major Spheres _________: _________: the gaseous the gaseous

portion of a planet; the portion of a planet; the planet’s envelope of air; planet’s envelope of air; one of the traditional one of the traditional subdivisions of Earth’s subdivisions of Earth’s physical environmentphysical environment

Earth’s Major SpheresEarth’s Major Spheres

______________________: layer of : layer of Earth under both the Earth under both the atmosphere and the atmosphere and the oceans; It is composed oceans; It is composed of the core, the mantle, of the core, the mantle, and the crust.and the crust.

Because the Because the geosphere is not geosphere is not uniform, it is divided uniform, it is divided into three main parts into three main parts based on differences based on differences in composition—the in composition—the ________, the , the __________, and the , and the ____________..

GeosphereGeosphere ____________: the innermost : the innermost layer of Earth, located layer of Earth, located beneath the mantle; The beneath the mantle; The core is divided into an core is divided into an outer core and an inner outer core and an inner core.core.

GeosphereGeosphere __________________: the 2890-: the 2890-kilometer-thick layer of kilometer-thick layer of Earth located below the Earth located below the crustcrust

______: ______: the thin, rocky the thin, rocky outer layer of Earthouter layer of Earth

Earth’s Major SpheresEarth’s Major Spheres

____________________: all life on : all life on Earth; the parts of the Earth; the parts of the solid Earth, hydrosphere, solid Earth, hydrosphere, and atmosphere in and atmosphere in which living organisms which living organisms can be found.can be found.

Plate TectonicsPlate Tectonics the theory that proposes the theory that proposes

that Earth’s outer shell that Earth’s outer shell consists of individual consists of individual plates that interact in plates that interact in various ways and thereby various ways and thereby produce earthquakes, produce earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and volcanoes, mountains, and the crust itself. the crust itself.

Section 3Section 3Representing Earth’s SurfaceRepresenting Earth’s Surface

Key ConceptsKey Concepts What lines on a globe What lines on a globe are used to indicate are used to indicate location?location?

Section 3Section 3Representing Earth’s SurfaceRepresenting Earth’s Surface

Key ConceptsKey Concepts What problems do What problems do

mapmakers face when mapmakers face when making maps?making maps?

How do topographic maps How do topographic maps differ from other maps?differ from other maps?

Determining LocationDetermining Location

Global GridGlobal Grid

Latitude:Latitude: the distance the distance north or south of the north or south of the equator, measured in equator, measured in degrees, circles running degrees, circles running around the globe east to around the globe east to west.west.

Determining LocationDetermining Location Global GridGlobal Grid

Longitude:Longitude: the distance east the distance east or west of the prime or west of the prime meridian, measured in meridian, measured in degrees, lines running north degrees, lines running north and south around the Earth. and south around the Earth.

Global GridGlobal Grid

Global GridGlobal Grid

Equator Equator – line running around – line running around the middle of the globe, at 0 the middle of the globe, at 0 degrees latitude.degrees latitude.

Prime Meridian Prime Meridian – line of – line of longitude that marks 0 degrees longitude that marks 0 degrees longitude.longitude.

Global GridGlobal Grid

Hemispheres – the equator divides Hemispheres – the equator divides the Earth into to halves the Northern the Earth into to halves the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. The Prime Meridian and Hemisphere. The Prime Meridian and the 180 degree meridian divide Earth the 180 degree meridian divide Earth into the Eastern and Western into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Hemispheres.

Global GridGlobal Grid

Maps & MappingMaps & Mapping

No matter what kind of map is made, No matter what kind of map is made, some portion of the surface will some portion of the surface will always look either too small, to big, always look either too small, to big, or out of place. Mapmakers have, or out of place. Mapmakers have, however, found ways to limit the however, found ways to limit the distortion of shape, size, distance, distortion of shape, size, distance, and direction. and direction.

Maps and MappingMaps and Mapping

The Mercator ProjectionThe Mercator Projection • Sizes & distances distortedSizes & distances distorted• Directions shown accuratelyDirections shown accurately

Maps and MappingMaps and Mapping Robinson Projection Map Robinson Projection Map

• Most widely usedMost widely used• Show distances, sizes and shapes Show distances, sizes and shapes

accuratelyaccurately• Distortions around edgesDistortions around edges

Maps and MappingMaps and Mapping

Conic Projection MapConic Projection Map• Accurate along the line of latitudeAccurate along the line of latitude• Distortion away from this latitude Distortion away from this latitude

Maps and MappingMaps and Mapping Gnomonic Projection Map Gnomonic Projection Map

• Accurately show the shortest distance Accurately show the shortest distance between two pointsbetween two points

• Distances and directions are distortedDistances and directions are distorted

Topographic MapsTopographic Maps

a map that represents a map that represents Earth’s surface in three Earth’s surface in three dimensions; It shows dimensions; It shows elevation, distance, elevation, distance, directions, and slope directions, and slope angles.angles.

Topographic MapTopographic Map

Topographic MapsTopographic Maps

Contour LineContour Line: line on a topographic : line on a topographic map that indicates an elevation; map that indicates an elevation; Every point along a contour line has Every point along a contour line has the same elevation.the same elevation.

Contour Interval: Contour Interval: on a topographic on a topographic map, tells the distance in elevation map, tells the distance in elevation between adjacent contour lines. between adjacent contour lines.

Geologic MapsGeologic Maps

Map that shows the type and age of Map that shows the type and age of the rocks that are exposed, or crop the rocks that are exposed, or crop out, at the surface. out, at the surface.

Advanced TechnologyAdvanced Technology

Today’s technology provides us with Today’s technology provides us with the ability to more precisely analyze the ability to more precisely analyze Earth’s physical properties. Earth’s physical properties. • Remote sensing - using satellites and Remote sensing - using satellites and

computers to send and receive data computers to send and receive data from a distance from a distance

• Examples: Global Positioning Systems Examples: Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for directions, identifying location, (GPS) for directions, identifying location, speed, direction, elevationspeed, direction, elevation

What Is a System?

1.4 Earth System Science

Closed systems are self contained, energy may be exchanged but matter doesn’t enter or leave. (jar of tea, ocean submersible).

Open systems allow both energy and matter to flow in and out of the system (open jar of tea, a river system, island).

A system is any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole.

Earth as a System

1.4 Earth System Science

Earth is a dynamic body with many separate but highly interacting parts or spheres.

Earth system science studies Earth as a system that is composed of numerous parts, or subsystems.

Earth is considered a closed system, but not entirely.

Earth as a System

1.4 Earth System Science

Sources of Energy• Sun—drives external processes such as

weather, ocean circulation and erosional processes

• Earth’s interior—drives internal processes including volcanoes, earthquakes and mountain building

Earth as a System

1.4 Earth System Science

Humans are part of the Earth system.Our actions produce changes in all of the other parts of the Earth system.

Consists of a nearly endless array of subsystems (e.g., hydrologic cycle)

People and the Environment

1.4 Earth System Science

Environment

• Surrounds and influences organisms

• Physical environment encompasses water, air, soil, and rock

• The term environmental is usually reserved for those aspects that focus on the relationships between people and the natural environment.

People and the Environment

1.4 Earth System Science

Resources• Include water, soil, minerals, and energy

• Two broad categories

2. Nonrenewable—cannot be replenished in the near future (e.g., metals, fuels)

1. Renewable—can be replenished (e.g., plants, energy from water and wind)

People and the Environment

1.4 Earth System Science

Population

• Population of the planet is growing rapidly

• Use of minerals/energy has climbed more rapidly than the overall growth of population

Growth of World Population

Environmental Problems

1.4 Earth System Science

Caused by people and societies • Urban air pollution• Acid rain

Caused by natural hazards

• Landslides

• Ozone depletion• Global warming

• Earthquakes

Local, regional, and global

Science

1.5 What Is Scientific Inquiry?

Science assumes the natural world is

• consistent

• predictable

Goals of science are

• to use the knowledge to predict

• to discover patterns in nature

Hypothesis and Theory

1.5 What Is Scientific Inquiry?

An idea can become a• ____________:tentative or untested explanation

• ________:tested, confirmed, supported hypothesis

Scientific Method

• Formulate hypotheses

• Gather facts through observation

• Test hypotheses to formulate theories

Science Methods

1.5 What Is Scientific Inquiry?

Scientific knowledge is gained through• following systematic steps

2. Collecting facts

• theories that withstand examination

• totally unexpected occurrences

3. Developing a hypothesis

4. Conducting experiments

5. Reexamining the hypothesis and accepting, modifying, or rejecting it

1. Identify the problem