Earth System Science How is Earth a system?. Understanding the System Many different parts working together to make a whole. Ex. A car engine.

Earth System Science

How is Earth a system?

Understanding the System

Many different parts working together to make a whole.

Ex. A car engine

Forming the Earth

Q.) How did the Solar System form?

A.) From a large rotating solar nebula made up of hydrogen (H) and helium (He).

Layers on Earth

Iron (Fe) and Nickel (Ni) sunk to the center of the Earth.

Lighter materials floated outward = formation of atmosphere and oceans.

Earth’s System

Powered by 2 sources:

1. Sun – powers external processes (atmosphere, hydrosphere, surface)

2. Core– powers internal processes (volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain formation)

People and the Environment

Q.) How do people influence natural processes?

A.) By building, cutting down forests, agriculture, etc.

Resources

2 types:

1.) Renewable – replenished over short time

2.) Nonrenewable – take millions/billions of years to form

Population

Q.) How will our basic resources last with an increase in population every year?

A.) No one knows!

Environmental Problems

Major Threats are: Air Pollution Acid Rain Ozone Depletion Global Warming Lack of Fertile Soil And more!

4 Major Spheres

1. Hydrosphere –

2. Atmosphere –

3. Geosphere -

What Connects Them All?

4. Biosphere -

Hydrosphere Makes our planet

special!

What is the water cycle?

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=7708

Amounts of Water: 97% Ocean 3% Freshwater

Atmosphere

Keeps life going!

What does it do?

Why is it important?

Geosphere

3 parts: Core Mantle Crust

Different layers because of the composition.

Biosphere

Involves all life from the ocean floor to the atmosphere.

Do we change the environment we live in?

Plate Tectonics

How the Earth moves!

7 different plates

2 different forces: Destructive Constructive

Earth’s Surface

Reading the Maps

Use two things:

1. Latitude:

2. Longitude:

Projection Maps

Two types:1.) Mercator – the

directions were accurate

2.) Robinson- Distance, shape, size are accurate

Topographic Maps

Shows the Earth in 3-D in a 2-D way

They show elevation with contour lines.

Contour Lines

Contour Interval – the difference in elevation between adjacent lines.

Close lines- steep slope

Far Apart- gentle slope

Circle- hill

Scale

What is it?

What map makers use to show the distance on the map in relation to the Earth.

Ex. 1: 24,000

Geologic Maps

Shows the type and age of the rocks that are exposed.

The same rocks are the same color and/or pattern.

Advanced Technology

We are now able to analyze Earth’s physical properties more precisely.

Remote Sensing – using satellites to map the Earth

GPS

Scientific Method

What is it?

The process that all scientists follow to explore a question.

It is the same for everyone and allows for consistency.

The Method

Identify the ProblemCreate a HypothesisIdentify VariablesCollect DataAnalyze the DataCommunicate the Results