1. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science

2. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
I. What is Earth Science
(Note Objectives A-C On Page 3)
Topic 1 Branches of Earth Science
-Geology: surface and interior of earth
-Astronomy: universe
-Meteorology: weather
-Oceanography: oceans
-Hydrology: water budgets and water systems
-Others: paleontology, volcanology

3. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Topic 2 Activities of Today’s Geologists
-Origins of the earth
-History of the earth
-Structures of the earth
-Processes shaping the surface
-Searching for sources of oil, Uranium, geothermal
energy

6. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Topic 3 What Astronomers Do
-Study of things beyond our reach
-Development of investigating tools

10. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Topic 4 What Meteorologists Do
-weather forecasters
-study air pollution
-study long term climate changes

14. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Topic 5 What Oceanographers Do
-measure ocean depths
-look for ocean mineral deposits
-study ocean currents
-glacial movements
-touch on marine biology
-underwater earthquakes

17. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
II. The Origin of the Earth (and Solar System for that matter)
(Note Objectives A-C On Page 7)
Topic 6 Where Earth Science Begins: The Solar System
A. Hypothesis – A good guess explaining known facts

18. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Topic 6 B. Six facts of the solar system
1. All planets revolve around the sun in the same
direction.
2. Nearly circular orbits (Actually ellipses)
3. Most are in the same plane
4. Sun turns on axis (rotation) in same direction of
planets.
5. Most planets rotate in same direction as sun.
6. Seven planets have moons and these rotate in
same direction as rotating planets and sun.

19. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Topic 7 The Protoplanet Hypothesis
1944 von Weizsacker and 1950 Kuiper
A. Six steps
1. 5 billion years ago, gas and dust cloud
1 billion km in diameter existed.
2. It shrank, why?, and started to rotate
quicker.
3. Got hot and ignited fusion reaction.
4. % of material blown off in a disc.
5. Masses clung together within the disk
(Protoplanets)
6. Uncollected materials exist as comets,
meteoroids, and asteroids.

21. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Topic 8 Origin of Oceans (3 Steps)
1. Earth grew hotter, due to compression,
radioactive materials, and meteor showers.
2. Fe (iron) melted and sank, water and gasses were
released.
3. Upon cooling, water condensed into oceans.

22. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Topic 9 Origin of Atmosphere (2 Steps)
1. Original atmosphere was from volcanoes.
Mostly: water, carbon dioxide, and sulfur
dioxide
2. First oxygen from breakdown of water at high
temperatures, but most from photosynthesis
much later over billions of years. Nitrogen
came from Hydrogen cyanide.

24. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Topic 10 Structure of Solid Earth
A. Model – used to help us picture what we can’t see.

25. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Topic 10 B. The 4 parts of the earth
1. Inner core
1200 km in diameter
Made of solid Fe and Ni
2. Outer core
2250 km thick
Made of liquid Fe and Ni
3. Mantle
2400 km thick
Fe, Mg, Si
4. Crust
10-65 km thick
No drilling has penetrated it

27. Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Topic 11 How the Continents Formed (Not really sure)
A. Two Possibilities?
1. Immense single continent formed from forced
out rock.
2. From great lava flows over 100’s of millions of
years.
Remember: Today’s continents are different from
those long ago.