1. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Earth Systems 3209 Unit: 1 Introduction to Earth Science – The Evolution of Planet Earth Reference: Chapters 1, 17 and Appendix A

2. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Branches of Earth Science Unit 1: Topic 1.1 Focus on...  Identify the major branches of Earth Science  Identify the various fields within each branch  Relate the branches to other scientific fields

3. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Branches of Earth Science Earth Science is the name for all the sciences that collectively seek to understand Earth and its neighbours in space. Different branches study the different parts of Earth; 1) Solid Earth 2) Liquid Earth 3) Gaseous Earth 4) Space

4. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Solid Earth Geology – study of the solid Earth Divided into two broad areas; 1) Physical Geology - examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. 2) Historical Geology – seeks an understanding of the origin of Earth and the development of the planet through its 4.6 billion year history.

5. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Solid Earth Mineralology – study of minerals Volcanology – study of volcanic activity Crystallography – study of the arrangement of atoms in solids Petrology – study of the origin, composition and structure of rocks Sedimentology – study of sediment and the processes involved in their deposition

6. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Solid Earth Seismology – study of earthquakes and seismic waves Paleontology – study of fossils and life on Earth Geomorphology – study of landscape features on Earth Stratigraphy – study of rock layering

7. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Liquid Earth Oceanography Hydrology study of the composition and movements of sea water, as. well as coastal processes, seafloor topography, and marine life study of the oceans and oceanic phenomena study of Earth’s fresh water systems including, rivers, streams, and groundwater

8. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Gaseous Earth Meteorology – study of the atmosphere; weather and climate Space Astronomy – the scientific study of the universe and the relationship between Earth and the universe. It focuses on the observation and interpretation of celestial bodies in space.

9. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Connections with other Sciences …..   the study of fossils (i.e. paleontology) demonstrates the evolution of life, which is clearly related to biology  t  the study of rock and mineral compositions would utilize chemistry  t  the forces that create faults and folds would be studied through physics

10. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Example 1: Which of the following branches of Earth Science focus on the study of atmospheric conditions? (A) astronomy(B) meteorology (C) seismology(D) paleontology

11. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Example 2: Which branch of Earth Science focuses on the study of fossils? (A) astronomy(B) meteorology (C) palaeontology(D) seismology

12. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Your Turn... Take the time and complete the following questions... (Solutions to follow) Questions: Which branch of Earth Science would most likely study the origin of meteorites? (A) astronomy(B) geology (C) meteorology(D) oceanography Which branch of Earth Science focuses on the study of Earth’s water systems? (A) hydrology(B) palaeontology (C) petrology(D) seismology

13. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Solutions... Questions: Which branch of Earth Science would most likely study the origin of meteorites? (A) astronomy(B) geology (C) meteorology(D) oceanography Which branch of Earth Science focuses on the study of Earth’s water systems? (A) hydrology(B) palaeontology (C) petrology(D) seismology

14. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Common Errors and Misconceptions  Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere which focuses on weather and climate, whereas, meteorites fall under the study of astronomy.  The impact meteorites have on Earth’s surface falls under the study of Geology.

15. Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Summary... Overview of Points covered: Their are four main branches of Earth Sciences which are closely connected to other branches as outlined below: GeologyOceanographyMeteorologyAstronomy Crystallography; Geomorphology; Mineralogy; Paleontology; Petrology; Seismology; Stratigraphy; Volcanology; Sedimentology Hydrology