1. Earth Science Studying the Earth
Section 1 – Introduction to Earth Science
Section 2 – Earth as a System
Section 3 – Models of the Earth

2. The Scientific Study of Earth
The scientific study of the earth began with careful observations.
Scientists in China began keeping records of earthquakes as early as 780 BCE.
The ancient Greeks compiled a catalog of rocks and minerals around 200 BCE.
Other ancient peoples, including the Maya, tracked the movements of the sun, moon, and the planets to make observations to create accurate calendars.
The invention of the telescope allowed hidden worlds to be found.

3. Earth Science – the study of the Earth and the Universe around it.

4. Branches of Earth Science
Geology – study of origin, history, and structure of the solid Earth
Oceanography – the study of Earth’s oceans that cover ¾ of the surface
Meteorology – the study of the Earth’s atmosphere
Astronomy – the study of the universe beyond the Earth
Environmental Science – a new field of study on the ways humans interact with the environment

5. Chapter 1 – Section 2 Scientific Method
Ask a question. Observation is the process of using the senses of sight, touch, taste, hearing and smell for gathering information. Observations often lead to asking questions.
A hypothesis is a possible explanation or solution to a problem. They are based on known facts.
Experiments test the hypothesis. Factors that can be changed by the person performing the experiment are independent variables.
Dependent variables are variables that change as a result of the change in independent variables.

6. Conclusions – after many experiments and observations, the scientist comes to a conclusion.
If the hypothesis fits the known facts it is accepted as true.
If the experimental results differ from what was expected, the hypothesis may be changed or discarded.

7. Scientific Measurements and Analysis
Scientists must gather information.
An important method of gathering information is measurement.
Scientists use a common system of measurement called the International System of Units or SI.
The system includes standard measurements of length, mass, temperature, and volume all based on intervals of 10…the Metric system.

8. Other Important Issues with Measurement
Accuracy – Refers to how close a measurement is to the true value of the thing being measured
Precision – Refers to the exactness of the measurement
Error – is an expression of the amount of imprecision or variation in a set of measurements
Model – a description, representation, or imitation of an object, system, process, or concept.

9. Chapter 2 – Section 1 The Unique Earth
The only known planet in solar system with liquid water on the surface and oxygen in the atmosphere
The third planet from the sun
71% of the Earth’s surface is covered with a thin layer of water – the global ocean
Not a perfect sphere – actually is an oblate spheroid or flattened sphere. It bulges at the equator.

10. The Earth’s Interior
Crust – the thin, solid outermost zone of the Earth’s surface
Mantle – the layer of rock between the Earth’s crust and core; denser than the core. Makes up 2/3 of the Earth’s mass. It has three layers:
Lithosphere – made up of a rigid layer 15 to 300 km thick and the crust above it.
Asthenosphere – about 200 to 250 km thick; the solid rock in this layer under enormous heat and pressure and has ability to flow – plasticity
Mesosphere – the layer of solid mantle rock below the asthenosphere