1. Earth as a System What is Earth Science?
What are the Earth System’s four Spheres?
What are cycles and how do they work?

2. Is the Earth an Open or Closed System?
System: A kind of model often used to describe the natural world.
Closed System: ENERGY enters and may leave, but MATTER does not leave
Open System: ENERGY and MATTER are free to enter and leave

3. Earth is considered closed, there are a few exceptions: hydrogen escapes & meterorites enter.

4. OPEN or CLOSED? Volcano: OPEN Light bulb: CLOSED Tree: OPEN
Energy is released, matter released as lava
Light bulb: CLOSED
Electrical Energy enters, light is released
Tree: OPEN
Sunlight, water, & Carbon Dioxide in, water and oxygen released, seeds and leaves drop to ground
Ocean: OPEN
Sunlight enters, water enters through runoff and precipitation, water leaves through evaporation
Boiling Water: OPEN
Heat enters, heat and vapors are released

5. Humans and the planet Earth
Population
Resources
Impact
Science helps educate us and find solutions!!!

7. The Earth System’s four Spheres
Atmosphere: gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth. Provides Oxygen & Carbon Dioxide, also absorbs and blocks harmful radiation. Where all weather occurs.
Geosphere: all physical features of the Earth (except water) such as rocks, mineral resources, metals, mountains, beaches, and lithospheric plates.
Hydrosphere: Includes all of Earth’s water including oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater, it is continually recycled. 97% salt water, 3% fresh water, 1% usable.
Biosphere: All living things
Discuss interactions among the Spheres

8. Identify the 4 Spheres

9. Solar Energy Drives winds, ocean currents, waves, and weather.
It comes from nuclear reactions in the sun
99.985% of total energy
Drives winds, ocean currents, waves, and weather.

10. Geothermal Energy
Geo means Earth
Thermal means Heat
Drives the movement of Earth’s crust, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Geysers
Important role in the Rock Cycle

11. Tidal Energy
Results from the moon’s pull on the Earth’s oceans

12. Carbon-Based Energy
Energy that can be used from organic (living and/or dead) matter.