Science & Technology in the

Environment Objective: Discuss earth science and its

relation to the environment.

Earth ScienceA science that deals with the earth and the area surrounding it

Areas of Earth Science:Geology-study of the structure of the solid part of the earth and how the earth was formed

Hydrology-study of water found in the land areas of the earth

Oceanography-the study of water found in the oceans

Meteorology-study of all aspects of the earth’s atmosphere

Astronomy-study of the universe beyond the earth

Seismology-study of seismic waves or movements produced by earthquakes or explosions

Geophysics-deals with physics of the earth

Importance of Earth Science

Includes the major areas of natural environment

Includes both materials and natural events

Natural materials make living, as we know it, possible

Evolutionary Development

Evolution-a process of growth, development and change

The Earth in Outer SpaceOuter space-boundless area beyond the earth

Universe-everything that exists

Standard Cosmological

ModelA theory used by scientists to explain the formation of the universe

Universe began about 15 billion years ago from a hot dense sea of energy and matter

Living organisms are more recent

The Earth’s Formation

Formed from cooling of the molten material

Theory is that all land was once one mass

The mass split and formed continentsThis theory is called the Continental Drift

The Earth as a Planet

Solar System-made up of the sun and the planets that revolve around in it

Planet MovementRotation-the spinning of the earth on its axis; takes 24 hours---one day

Revolution-the movement of Earth in space around the sun; one complete rotation takes one year

Equinox-when the sun is directly over the equator

Solstice-when the earth’s axis tilts at the greatest angle toward or away from the sun

Oval orbit-earth’s orbit is oval shaped

The Earth as a Planet

The earth is round, but not a perfect sphere

Earth is larger at the equator than at the poles

Earth Materials and the

Environment Tectonics-the study of the earth’s crust and forces that change it

The Lithosphere-has 3 layers Surface-outer layer is called the crust

Oceanic crust-crust beneath the ocean

Continental crust-part on land

Sea level-the point at which the surface of the water and land naturally meet

Mantle-located between the crust and the core

Core-center of the earth

Earth Materials and the

Environment The Hydrosphere-all the water on the earth, which includes liquid, frozen and gaseous forms

Water goes through the hydrologic cycleHydrologic cycle-circulation of water from one part of the hydrosphere to another

This process cleans and restores water for future use

Oceans-all the earth’s oceans connect to form one global ocean Oceans have a big influence on our environment

They play major roles in climate

Oceans are homes for fish, seaweed, and other aquatic life

Action of water changes land areas

Rivers and lakes usually contain freshwater

Ground water-water beneath the Earth’s surface Formed by rain, melted snow, and other water sources

Water may form an aquifer, which is an underground stream or pool in sand or gravel layers

Earth Materials and the

Environment Atmosphere-air that surrounds the Earth

Contents Air-mix of gases: nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and others

Other materials include water (humidity) and particulate (particles). Moisture in the air is called humidity.

The atmosphere has 4 layers Troposphere-first layer next to the earth

Gasses

Weather

Stratosphere-above troposphere; extend about 30 miles above the earth

Ozone layer-filters out harmful UV radiation from the sun

Mesosphere-3rd layer extending 50 miles above the earthCold layer of the atmosphere

Winds blow west to east in the winter and east to west in the summer

Thermosphere-uppermost layer of the earth’s atmosphere

Earth Movement & the

Environment SURFACE MOVEMENT

Water changes the earth’s surface

Weathering-chemical and physical process that changes solid rock into small particles

Glacial action-masses of snow and ice that move slowly over the land

Wind-natural horizontal air movement

INTERNAL MOVEMENT

Plate tectonics-plates on the earths surface that move

Earthquakes-shaking of the ground caused by movement in large sections of the earth’s crust

Volcanoes-opening in the earth through which ashes steam and lava are expelled

Tsunamis-large wave of water caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruption near the water

ATMOSPHERIC MOVEMENTS

Planetary winds-air movements that affect the entire planet

Local winds-winds that are confined to a local area; sea land breezes

Using Cartography

Cartography-the act of map making

Map-an image of some type that represents an attribute of the earth

Globe-round map

Projection-represents round earth’s features on a flat map

Bathymetry-shows measurements of water depth in large bodies of water

Topography-shows elevations of the land areas of the earth

Thematic-shows specific features of the earth, such as areas of forest or human population

Inventory-deals with a specific feature and its exact location

Navigation-shows the routes to take from one location to another

Using Cartography

Remote Sensing-gathering and recording information from a distance

Satellites are often used to gather information

GPS-Global Positioning System; uses satellites to accurately locate positions on the earth

Aerial photos are also used to record information

Onboard mapping systems in motor vehicles utilize GPS & satellites to establish locations