The Nature Of Science
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The Nature Of Science
Earth Science
• Earth Science is the study of the Earth and the universe around it
• Earth Science is divided into 4 different branches:
– Geology
– Oceanography
– Meteorology
– Astronomy
Importance Of Earth Science
• Earth Science has helped us:
– Predict catastrophic events
– Gather information about the universe
– Find clues to Earth’s past environments
– Provide valuable resources
Geology
• Geology is the study of the origin, history and structure of the solid Earth and the processes that shape it
Geology
• Some things Geologist do are:
– Explore the Earth’s crust in search of resources
– Study the forces within the Earth to forecast events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
– Study fossils to learn more Earth’s history
Oceanography
• Oceanography is the study of Earth’s Oceans
Oceanography
• Some of the tasks that Oceanographers have are:
– Study waves, tides and ocean currents
– Search for mineral deposits on the ocean floor
– Study marine and plant life
Meteorology
• Meteorology is the study of the air that surrounds our planet
• Meteorologists study the processes that cause that atmosphere to change and produce weather
Meteorology
• Meteorologists try to predict the weather and how it affects the Earth’s climate
• They also predict weather events such as:
– Tornados
– Hurricanes
– Tropical Storms
Astronomy
• Astronomy is the study of the universe beyond Earth
• Is the oldest branch of Earth Science
• Has been studied for almost 4000 years
Astronomy
• Today scientists have sophisticated equipment to study the universe
• Before astronomers merely studied the locations of objects in relation to other objects.
Astronomy
• Many space probes that have provided us essential information: – Pioneer – Voyager – Galileo – Ulysses
• Some important aspects of Astronomy are: – The Moon – The Planets – The Sun and other Stars – The Universe
Earths Systems
• Scientists have identified 4 main Earth Systems:
– Lithosphere
– Hydrosphere
– Atmosphere
– Biosphere
Lithosphere
• The lithosphere is the rigid outer shell of the planet
• The lithosphere includes the:
– Crust
– The upper part of the mantle
Lithosphere
• There are 2 types of Crust: – Continental Crust-Made up of granite
– Oceanic Crust-Made up of basalt
• The mantle is either a solid or is molten and flows like a soft plastic
• The Asthenosphere is portion of Earth’s mantle that is partially molten, and located below the lithosphere
Hydrosphere
• The Hydrosphere is the portion of the Earth that is composed of water
• This includes: – Oceans
– Seas
– Lakes
– Rivers
– Glaciers
– Water Vapor in the Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
• Water covers over 70% of Earth’s surface
• Of this 70%:
– 97% is Ocean water (salt water)
– 3% is fresh water
• 77% is Icecaps and Glaciers
• 22% is groundwater
• 1% is in Lakes, Rivers, Soil moisture, and the atmosphere
Atmosphere
• The atmosphere is the blanket of gases that surrounds our planet
Atmosphere
• It is believed to have formed billions of years ago as a result of volcanic activity
• The atmosphere is responsible for:
– Respiration
– Protecting us from harmful UV rays
Atmosphere
• The atmosphere is composed of:
– 78% Nitrogen
– 21 % Oxygen
– The remainder is Water Vapor, Argon, Carbon Dioxide and other trace gases
Biosphere
• The biosphere includes all life on Earth and the physical environment that supports it
• This includes organisms that live:
– On Earth’s surface,
– Below Earth’s surface
– In the ocean
Biosphere
• Earth is the only known planet to have a biosphere
• We do not know of any life that exists on other planets
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