The Study of Earth ScienceThe Study of Earth Science

Chapter 1 Section 2Chapter 1 Section 2

Essential Questions Ch1 S2Essential Questions Ch1 S2

1.1.What are the big ideas of What are the big ideas of Earth science?Earth science?

2.2.What are the branches of What are the branches of Earth science?Earth science?

3.3.How do Earth scientists use How do Earth scientists use models?models?

Big Ideas of Earth ScienceBig Ideas of Earth Science

Earth Science is the term for the Earth Science is the term for the knowledge about Earth and its place knowledge about Earth and its place in the universe.in the universe.

Earth scientists use several big ideas to Earth scientists use several big ideas to guide their work: guide their work:

the structure of the Earth system, the structure of the Earth system, Earth’s history, and Earth’s history, and Earth in the solar system.Earth in the solar system.

The Structure of the Earth The Structure of the Earth SystemSystem

lithosphere

biosphere

hydrosphere atmosphere

The atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere work together to form one large system called Earth.

Earth's Major Spheres

Structure of the EarthStructure of the Earth

1. Hydrosphere• Ocean is the most prominent feature of the

hydrosphere.

- Is nearly 71% of Earth's surface

- Holds about 97% of Earth's water

• Also includes fresh water found in streams, lakes, and glaciers, as well as that found underground

Earth's Major Spheres

Structure of the EarthStructure of the Earth

2. Atmosphere • Thin blanket of air surrounding Earth

• One half lies below 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles)

3. Biosphere • Includes all life

• Concentrated near the surface in a zone that extends from the ocean floor upward for several kilometers into the atmosphere

Earth's Major Spheres

Structure of the EarthStructure of the Earth

4. Lithosphere• earth’s solid rocky outer layer

- Crust—the thin, rocky outer layer of Earth.

Picture: Model of the Earth

What Is a System?

Structure of the Earth Structure of the Earth SystemSystem

A system is any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole. (parts work together)

Change in one part effects the other parts (a change in one of the spheres

affects the other 3) Matter and energy move from one part

to the other

Energy is the ability to do work or cause change

•The sun provides energy for the water cycle and many other processes. The sun’s energy is transferred to Earth as radiation (a form of Energy that can move through space).

•The earth’s interior also produces heat that supplies energy for other processes. (like volcanoes)

Structure of the Earth Structure of the Earth SystemSystem

Overview of Earth Science

Earth science includes

1. Geology -- the study of the solid Earth (geologists) more

2. Oceanography - the study of the ocean and all related to it (oceanographer) more

Branches of Earth Branches of Earth ScienceScience

Branches of Earth ScienceBranches of Earth Science

4. Astronomy - the study of the universe (astronomers) picture more

5. Environmental science – the study of the Earth’s environments and resources (environmental scientist)

3. Meteorology - the study of the atmosphere and the processes that produce weather (meteorologist) more

Models of the Earth Models of the Earth Models help people study and

understand things that can’t be observed directly. There are different kinds of models that represent an object.

Terms related to a model of the EarthTerms related to a model of the Earth

Equator - An imaginary east-west line around the center of Earth that divides the planet into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere; a line set at 0° latitude.

Prime Meridian -An imaginary north-south line that divides the planet into the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. The prime meridian passes through Greenwich, England.

Determining Location

Terms related to Models of the Terms related to Models of the

EarthEarth

Latitude and longitude are lines on the globe that are used to determine location.

• Latitude is distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.

• Longitude is distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees.

equator

prime meridian

QuizQuiz

1.1. Latitude is a measurement of distance Latitude is a measurement of distance north or south of the _____________.north or south of the _____________.

a.a. HemisphereHemisphere b. Equatorb. Equatorc.c. Index contourIndex contour d. Prime meridiand. Prime meridian

2.2. The Earth is divided into four parts that The Earth is divided into four parts that work together as a_______________.work together as a_______________.

a.a. SphereSphere b. Energyb. Energyc. Systemc. System d. hydrosphered. hydrosphere

3. True/False 3. True/False

A geologist is a scientist that studies A geologist is a scientist that studies the solid Earth.the solid Earth.

4.4. Draw a circle like this one with the Draw a circle like this one with the lines.lines.

Label the Label the

prime meridianprime meridian

and equator. Labeland equator. Label

The line of longitude The line of longitude

And latitude.And latitude.

SpaceSpace

A

C

D

E

B

Return: Branches of Earth Science

OceanographyOceanography

• We will explore our We will explore our four major oceans, four major oceans, the properties of the properties of seawater, ocean seawater, ocean floor and coastline floor and coastline features, ocean features, ocean sediments, and sediments, and major ocean major ocean currents.currents.

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AstronomyAstronomy

• In astronomy we In astronomy we will study such will study such topics as the sun topics as the sun and other stars, and other stars, planets and other planets and other objects in our solar objects in our solar system, lunar system, lunar phases, tides, and phases, tides, and eclipses.eclipses.

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GeologyGeology

• Here we tackle a Here we tackle a variety of topics variety of topics including minerals including minerals and rocks, and rocks, volcanoes, volcanoes, earthquakes, faults earthquakes, faults and folds, soils, and folds, soils, erosion, mountains, erosion, mountains, plate tectonics, and plate tectonics, and geologic history.geologic history.

Back: Branches of Earth Science

MeteorologyMeteorology

• Here we will take a Here we will take a look at cloud and look at cloud and precipitation types, precipitation types, storms such as storms such as hurricanes and hurricanes and tornadoes, and tornadoes, and fronts, pressure fronts, pressure systems, and systems, and weather maps.weather maps.

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Model of the EarthModel of the Earth

Lithosphere

Return: Structure of the Earth