Intro to Earth Science

Chapter 1

What is Earth Science?

● Study of the Earth and its systems ● Study of Earth’s neighbors &

neighborhood

Earth as a System

What is a system?

System: a group of parts functioning together to form a complex whole.

What drives this system?

● The sun● The Earth’s interior

Earth’s 4 Major Spheres

1. Hydrosphere:

All the water on Earth

2. Atmosphere: Thin gaseous envelope which surrounds the Earth

3. Geosphere:The interior & exterior of the Earth

4. Biosphere: All life on Earth

Changes to one part of an Earth system can create changes in another.

●

What kind of event might cause changes to the Earth system ?

4 Major Fields of Earth Science

1. Geology

● Physical geology○ materials that make up Earth (rocks & minerals)○ Internal & external processes that shape our planet

● Historical geology○ Attempt to understand Earth’s history through the study

of rock composition on Earth’s surface

2. Oceanography: study of the ocean

● composition and movements of seawater, coastal processes, and marine life

3. Meteorology: study of the atmosphere

● processes that produce weather & climate

● Earth’s motions and energy from the Sun’s effect on global systems

4. Astronomy: study of the universe

● Earth’s position in the universe● Planets, stars, solar systems, and

galaxies

How did the Earth come to be?