Introduction to Earth Science

What is Earth Science?Earth Science

the name for the group of sciences that deals with Earth and its neighbors in space.

Branches of Earth Science

Oceanography Study of the oceans such as marine life, seafloor features, composition of seawater, and the movement of water

MeteorologyStudy of the atmosphere and the process that produce weather and climate

AstronomyStudy of the universe and space

GeologyStudy of the Earth

Parts of GeologyPhysical Geology•examination of the

material that make-up the Earth

Historical Geology•understanding

Earth’s history and the physical and biological changes that occurred in the past

Earth’s Major SpheresHydrosphere

All the water on EarthAtmosphere

Earth’s gaseous envelopeGeosphere

Earth below the hydrosphere and atmosphere 3 parts: Core, Mantle, and Crust

BiosphereAll living things on Earth

Determining Locations

Global GridsLatitude

• distance north or south of the equator (east and west circles around the globe)

Longitude• distance east or

west of the prime meridian (run north or south on a globe)

How is the Earth divided?Equator, 0˚latitude, divides Earth into northern and southern hemispheresPrime Meridian, 0˚longitude, passes through Greenwich, England divide the Earth into western and eastern hemispheres

Projection MapsMercator Map

Lines of longitude are parallelGrids are rectangularDirections are accurateDistorts sizes and distances on the map

Robinson Map

Most widely used mapDistances, sizes, and shapes are accurate

Conic Map Made by wrapping a cone paper around a GlobeUsed to make road maps and weather maps

Gnomonic Map

Distances and directions are distortedAllows sailors to navigate the oceans

Topographic MapsRepresents Earth’s 3-D surface in 2-D Shows elevations of the landUses contour lines that indicates elevations

Contour intervals indicate the differences in elevation between adjacent contour linesThe scale is when a certain distance on the map is equal to a certain distance at the surfaceEx: 1:24,000 means 1 unit on a map equals 24,000 units on the ground

What is Environmental Science?Used for things that focus on the relationships between people and the natural environmentExamples of Nonliving Factors Affected:

WaterAirSoilRockTemperatureHumiditySunlight

ResourcesRenewable

Can be replenished over relatively short time spanPlants, food, water, wind, and the sun

NonrenewableCannot be replenished easily (takes millions of years to replenish)Oil, natural gas, coal

Population GrowthEarth’s population is growing rapidlyGraph is a “J” curve showing exponential growth

Environmental Problems

Caused by HumansAir pollutionAcid rainOzone depletionGlobal warmingLoss of fertile soilContamination and depletion of water resources

Natural Hazards-Caused by nature

EarthquakesMud slidesFloodingHurricanesTornadoesDroughts

Scientific InquiryHypothesis

Stating a possible explanationEducated guess

TheoryExtensive tested hypothesis and widely accepted by the scientific communityStill can be proven wrong

Law99 % trueLaw of Gravity

Steps to the Scientific MethodProblem/question

What do you want to know

ResearchLearn about the topic

HypothesisExperiment

Test the hypothesis

Collect Data, measurements, and observationsAnalyze DataConclusion

Accept, reject, or modify the hypothesis

MeasurementsLength /Distance

How long something isUnit • m, km, cm, mm

tools to measure length: meter stick or ruler.

TemperatureHow much heat an object has (Molecular motion)Unit

• C˚, F ˚, K

Tools - Thermometer

Masshow much matter is in the objectUnit• g, kg, mg

Tools – balances, triple beam balance, and electronic scale

VolumeHow much space an object takes upUnit• L, mL, cm³, cc(ml)

Tools: graduated cylinders and rulersVolume of a regular object (block) • L x w x h

Volume of Liquids• Use graduated cylinders

Volume of irregular objects (rock)• Water displacement with a

graduated cylinder

Measurement Cont.Density

Mass per unit volumeUnit• g/ml or g/cm³

Formula• D = m/v

Hint: Density of Water = 1 g/mL