Earth Science 14.04 – Discuss earth science and its relation to the environment

Earth science A science that deals with the earth and the area surrounding it Areas of Earth Science Geology Hydrology Oceanography Meteorology Astronomy Seismology Geophysics

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 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 the physics of the Earth.

Earth Science Importance Includes major areas of natural environment Includes both materials and natural events Natural materials make life, as we know it, possible

Evolutionary development Process of growth, development, and change Earth in Outer Space Outer Space – the boundless area beyond the Earth Universe – Everything that exists.

Earth Science Standard Cosmological Model A 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.

Earth Science Earth’s Formation Formed from cooling of the molten material Theory is that all land was once one mass Mass split and formed continents. Continental Drift Theory

Earth as a planet Solar System Made up of the sun and the planets that revolve around it

Earth as a planet Planet Movement Rotation Revolution 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 = one year Equinox Sun is directly over the equator Solstice Earth’s axis tilts at the greatest angle toward or away from the sun Oval orbit Earth’s orbit is oval shaped

Earth as a planet Shape and Size Earth is round, but not a perfect sphere Larger at the equator than at the poles

Earth Materials & the environment Tectonics Study of the earth’s crust and forces that change it

Earth materials Lithosphere Three layers Surface – outer layer is called the crust Oceanic crust – crust beneath 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 Hydrosphere Hydrologic Cycle Oceans All the water on the Earth, which includes liquid, frozen, and gaseous forms Hydrologic Cycle Circulation of water from one part of the hydrosphere to another Process cleans and restores water for future use Oceans All oceans connect to form one global concern Big influence on our environment Major roles in climate Homes for fish, seaweed, and other aquatic life Action of water changes land areas

Earth materials Hydrosphere 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 Underground stream or pool in sand or gravel layers

Earth materials Atmosphere Contents Air that surrounds the Earth Air Mixture of gasses: nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and others Other materials Water (humidity) and particulate (particles)

Atmosphere Four layers Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere First layer next to the Earth Gasses and Weather Stratosphere Above the troposphere, about 30 miles above the earth Contains ozone layer Filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun Mesosphere Third layer extending about 50 miles above the Earth Cold layer of 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 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

Earth Movement Internal Movements Plate tectonics Earthquakes Plates on the Earth’s surface that move Earthquakes Shaking of the round 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 A large wave of water caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruption near the water.

Earth Movement Atmospheric Movement Planetary Winds Local winds Air movements that affect the entire planet Local winds Winds that are confined to a local area; sea and land breezes.

Using Cartography Act of map making Map Types of Maps An image of some type that represents an attribute of the Earth Types of Maps Globe Projection Bathymetry Topography Thematic Inventory Navigation

Cartography Maps Globe Projection Bathymetry A round map Represents round earth’s features on a flat map Bathymetry Shows measurements of water depth in large bodies of water

Cartography maps Topography Thematic Inventory Navigation 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.

Cartography Remote Sensing and Other Systems Gathering and recording information from a distance Satellites are 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 and satellites to establish locations.