Earth System Science
How is Earth a system?
Understanding the System
Many different parts working together to make a whole.
Ex. A car engine
Forming the Earth
Q.) How did the Solar System form?
A.) From a large rotating solar nebula made up of hydrogen (H) and helium (He).
Layers on Earth
Iron (Fe) and Nickel (Ni) sunk to the center of the Earth.
Lighter materials floated outward = formation of atmosphere and oceans.
Earth’s System
Powered by 2 sources:
1. Sun – powers external processes (atmosphere, hydrosphere, surface)
2. Core– powers internal processes (volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain formation)
People and the Environment
Q.) How do people influence natural processes?
A.) By building, cutting down forests, agriculture, etc.
Resources
2 types:
1.) Renewable – replenished over short time
2.) Nonrenewable – take millions/billions of years to form
Population
Q.) How will our basic resources last with an increase in population every year?
A.) No one knows!
Environmental Problems
Major Threats are: Air Pollution Acid Rain Ozone Depletion Global Warming Lack of Fertile Soil And more!
4 Major Spheres
1. Hydrosphere –
2. Atmosphere –
3. Geosphere -
What Connects Them All?
4. Biosphere -
Hydrosphere Makes our planet
special!
What is the water cycle?
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=7708
Amounts of Water: 97% Ocean 3% Freshwater
Atmosphere
Keeps life going!
What does it do?
Why is it important?
Geosphere
3 parts: Core Mantle Crust
Different layers because of the composition.
Biosphere
Involves all life from the ocean floor to the atmosphere.
Do we change the environment we live in?
Plate Tectonics
How the Earth moves!
7 different plates
2 different forces: Destructive Constructive
Earth’s Surface
Reading the Maps
Use two things:
1. Latitude:
2. Longitude:
Projection Maps
Two types:1.) Mercator – the
directions were accurate
2.) Robinson- Distance, shape, size are accurate
Topographic Maps
Shows the Earth in 3-D in a 2-D way
They show elevation with contour lines.
Contour Lines
Contour Interval – the difference in elevation between adjacent lines.
Close lines- steep slope
Far Apart- gentle slope
Circle- hill
Scale
What is it?
What map makers use to show the distance on the map in relation to the Earth.
Ex. 1: 24,000
Geologic Maps
Shows the type and age of the rocks that are exposed.
The same rocks are the same color and/or pattern.
Advanced Technology
We are now able to analyze Earth’s physical properties more precisely.
Remote Sensing – using satellites to map the Earth
GPS
Scientific Method
What is it?
The process that all scientists follow to explore a question.
It is the same for everyone and allows for consistency.
The Method
Identify the ProblemCreate a HypothesisIdentify VariablesCollect DataAnalyze the DataCommunicate the Results