1. Section 1
Earth Science

2. Essential Questions
How do the areas of study within Earth science compare?
What are Earth’s systems?
What are the relationships among Earth’s systems?
Why is technology important?

3. Review Vocabulary
technology: the application of knowledge gained from scientific research to solve society’s needs and problems

4. New Vocabulary astronomy geosphere meteorology atmosphere geology
hydrosphere
oceanography
cryosphere
environmental science
biosphere

5. The Scope of Earth Science
The scope of Earth science is vast. This broad field can be broken into five major areas of specialization: astronomy, meteorology, geology, oceanography, and environmental science.
EastVillage Images/Shutterstock.com

6. Subspecialties of Earth Science

7. Earth’s Systems
Scientists who study Earth have identified four main Earth systems: the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Each system is unique, yet each interacts with the others.
Earth’s geosphere is composed of everything from the crust to the center of Earth. Notice how thin the crust is in relation to the rest of the geosphere’s components.

8. Technology
The study of science, including Earth science, has led to many discoveries that have been applied to solve society’s needs and problems. The application of scientific discoveries is called technology. Technology is transferable, which means that it can be applied to new situations.

9. Assessment 1. Which one of these is NOT a specialized area of
Earth science?
astronomy A
Environmental science B
technology C
CORRECT
oceanography D

10. Assessment 2. Identify the Earth system that is labeled A. atmosphere
CORRECT
biosphere B
hydrosphere C
geosphere D

11. Assessment 3. Identify the Earth system that is labeled B. atmosphere
biosphere B
CORRECT
hydrosphere C
geosphere D

12. Assessment 4. Which type makes up 97 percent of Earth’s water?
groundwater A
salt water B
CORRECT
freshwater C
spring water D