Name: Date:

Introduction to Earth ScienceText: 4-18 *This is required reading.

Lesson Objective: Explain the significance of Earth and Space science

Part A: What is Earth Science?

-Earth Science is the general name for all sciences studying

Earth and space, such as:

a) Astronomy: Study of the universe (Space, stars, planets)

b) Meteorology: Study of the atmosphere and processes that

produce weather and climate.

c) Oceanography: Study of the ocean and its processes. A

catch-all term for a variety of sciences.

d) Geology: Physical (materials and processes) and

historical (Origin and evolution of Earth).

-Choose one of the sciences above and relate it to your everyday life.

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Part B: Earth’s Spheres

-Earth Science takes the view that our planet’s materials and processes are divided into four

interconnecting spheres:

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-Why would this view of Earth as a system (interacting or interdependent parts of a whole) not

have been developed earlier than the late 20th century?

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-3-D satellite image of Earth’s atmosphere

showing the movement of airborne

particles into North America. This image

is being used by NASA to understand the

role of dust in climate change and air

quality.

http:www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/

dust-imports.html

-How has the idea of Earth systems science

changed humanity’s view of their world?

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-In this course we will be looking at each of the spheres

individually, but also consider the interactions between

them. It is important to keep these connections in mind

so that we do not continue to think of Earth as a

collection of independent systems!

-For example, after learning about the Geosphere by

studying minerals and rocks, we will explore how it is

modified by resource extraction from the Biosphere and

erosion/weathering from the Hydrosphere.

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Part C: Collecting Earth Science Data

-Earth Science information can be collected through two broad methods:a) Direct Observation: -Field work using manual and sensory instruments.

b) Indirect: -Satellite imagery-True and false colour images (Betsiboka River)-Electromagnetic spectrum (Curiosity Rover)

-The Curosity Rover ChemCham is a Chemistry and Camera instrument that fires laser pulses at Martian rocks to determine their chemical composition.

-The energy from the laser excites the atoms in the rock into an ionized, glowing plasma and the ChemCam captures the light from that spark and analyzes it with three spectrometers to determine what elements are present.

-For instance, the spectrum for Coronation (the first rock sampled) below reveals:

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Betsiboka River, Madagascar.Green: Sediment Red: Mangrove Trees

a) Hydrogen and magnesium on the surface of the rock (only present in the initil pulse).b) Minor traces of titanium and manganese.c) The carbon peak was from the carbon dioxide in Mars’ atmosphere

-What does all of this mean? Coronation is basalt!

Part D: Earth Science Careers-So, by now some of you might be thinking what can be done with a Earth Science background….Explore www.earthsciencescanada.com/careers and write down a few interesting jobs and what aspects of them appeal to you.

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