Part 2 Intro to Earth Science

Introduction to Earth Science : 

Introduction to Earth Science

What on Earth is Earth Science? : 

What on Earth is Earth Science? Earth Science is the name for a group of sciences that deals with Earth and its neighbors in space

What kind of Sciences? : 

What kind of Sciences? Main divisions of Earth Science Geology Oceanography Meteorology Astronomy Some subdivisions of Earth Science Geochemistry Geophysics Geobiology Paleontology Oceanography Meteorology Astronomy

What is Geology? : 

What is Geology? Geology is a word that means “study of Earth” Geology is divided into two area: Physical Geology Historical Geology

Physical Geology : 

Physical Geology This is a study of the materials that make up the Earth and the process that shape our planet. Earth quakes Volcanoes Erosion

Historical Geology : 

Historical Geology Tries to establish a timeline of the vast number of physical and biological changes that have occurred in the past.

What is Oceanography? : 

What is Oceanography? Oceanography blends the sciences of chemistry, physics, geology, and biology together to help understand the oceans and ocean life.

What is Meteorology? : 

What is Meteorology? It is the study of the atmosphere and the processes that produce weather and climate. One of the best schools for this is right here in Oklahoma at OU

What is Astronomy? : 

What is Astronomy? Astronomy is the study of the universe and is useful in understanding the origins of our own environment

SOOOOO……. : 

SOOOOO……. What exactly is this stuff called “Earth Science”? It is the combination of several sciences to study and better help us understand the world we live in and how to live in it BETTER! It is an orchestra of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feeling that enriches our lives and keeps life from ever getting boring!

Careers in Earth Science : 

Careers in Earth Science Seismologist Earth Scientists who investigate earthquakes. They determine the location and size of earthquakes and use seismic waves to study Earth’s interior and help in designing earthquake proof structures.

Careers in Earth Science : 

Careers in Earth Science Meteorologist They study how the physical characteristics, processes, and movements of the atmosphere affect the environment. They use the info to forecast the weather and study weather patterns.

Oceanographers : 

Oceanographers Oceanographers study what makes up oceans, the movement of seawater, and coastal processes, seafloor topography, and marine life.

Careers in Earth Science : 

Careers in Earth Science Surveying Technician They work to measure and map the Earth’s surface. Assist land surveyors who measure distances, directions, and contours on, above, and even below the Earth’s surface.

Careers in Earth Science : 

Careers in Earth Science Commercial Diver Their work ranges from operating submersibles to helping map the ocean floor. They perform underwater surveys or carry out underwater rescue and salvage operations.

Careers in Earth Science : 

Careers in Earth Science Archaeologist They excavate, preserve, study, and classify objects and structures from past cultures. They must be able to identify different types of soil and notice the smallest of changes in soil characteristics.

Careers in Earth Science : 

Careers in Earth Science Astronomer They use the laws of physics and mathematics to study the universe. The may use what they know about astronomy to help develop satellites and spacecraft.

And, of course, our favorite…. : 

And, of course, our favorite….

Slide 20: 

How did the Earth become the planet we know and live on?

Formation of the Earth : 

Formation of the Earth The Earth is one of 8 planets that revolve around the sun. Scientists understand that the Earth and the other planets all formed during the same time and from the same material as the sun. This hypothesis is called, “The Nebular Hypothesis”.

The Nebular Hypothesis : 

The Nebular Hypothesis The nebular hypothesis suggests that the bodies of our solar system evolved from an enormous rotating cloud called the solar nebula. The solar nebula was made up mostly of hydrogen and helium, with a small amount of heavier elements.

The Nebular Hypothesis : 

The Nebular Hypothesis Our solar system began as an enormous cloud of dust and gases made mostly of hydrogen and helium with some heavier elements.

The Nebular Hypothesis : 

The Nebular Hypothesis This cloud is called the nebula It started to rotate and collapse toward the center of the cloud

The Nebular Hypothesis : 

The Nebular Hypothesis The cloud began to cool This cooling caused rocky and metallic materials to form tiny solid particles

The Nebular Hypothesis : 

The Nebular Hypothesis The particles began to hit each other as the spun around Repeatedly hitting each other caused some to stick together and form asteroid sized particles

The Nebular Hypothesis : 

The Nebular Hypothesis The asteroid sized particles eventually stuck to each other forming the inner planets The lighter particles and gases moved farther away and formed the outer planets

The Structure of the Earth : 

The Structure of the Earth Shortly after Earth formed it began to develop layers. This was caused because of density differences of the materials Very heavy elements such as nickel and iron began to drift toward the molten center of the planet Lighter, rocky components floated toward the surface

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres Looking closely at the earth from space it can be seen that we are more than just a sphere of rock. Earth’s oceans and swirling clouds show the importance of water on the planet.

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres The physical environment of Earth is divided into three major spheres: Hydrosphere Atmosphere Geosphere Our environment is characterized by the continuous interactions of air and rock rock and water water and air.

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres There is a fourth sphere The biosphere This sphere is made up of all the life forms on Earth It interacts with the three physical spheres

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres So…. Earth can be thought of as consisting of four major spheres: The hydrosphere The atmosphere The geosphere The biosphere

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres Hydrosphere The water portion of the Earth This includes Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, glaciers, and even underground water Oceans make up 97% of the water The other 3% is fresh water

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres Although fresh water only makes up 3% of the total water on the earth, it is very important Streams, glaciers, and groundwater are responsible for: Sustaining life Creating many of Earth’s varied land forms

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres Atmosphere The life-sustaining, thin, gaseous envelope of the planet It reaches beyond 100 kilometers above earth But… 90% of it occurs within just 16 kilometers of the surface

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres Atmosphere It provides the air we breathe It protects us from the Sun’s intense heat and dangerous radiation It gives the sky it’s blue color If Earth had no atmosphere, then life as we know it could not exist

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres Geosphere The layer of Earth below both the atmosphere and the oceans

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres The geosphere is not uniform so it is divided into three main parts The three main parts are based on differences in what they are made of (their composition) It is made up of: The core The mantle The crust

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres The core The innermost layer of the Earth It is located beneath the mantle It is divided into an inner core outer core

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres The Inner Core The solid, innermost layer of the Earth It is about 1220 kilometers in radius

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres The Outer Core Below the mantle and above inner core About 2260 kilometers thick It contains liquid iron It generates the earth’s magnetic field

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres The Mantle It is located below the crust and above the outer core It is divided into the lower mantle and the upper mantle It is about 2890 kilometers thick

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres The Upper Mantle At the top of the Upper Mantle is an area called the Asthenosphere. Rocks are partially molten or melted They slowly flow and the crust floats on top of this area

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres The Lower Mantle Below the partially molten part of the upper mantle the rock becomes more dense This area is what we call the Lower Mantle

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres The Crust This is the thinnest layer of the geosphere It is thinnest in the ocean floors and thickest at the continents It is made up of: The Lithosphere The Oceanic Crust The Continental Crust

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres The Lithosphere is special in that it is both part of the Crust and part of the upper portion of the Upper Mantle called the Asthenosphere It is the rigid outer layer of the earth The crust is on top of the Lithosphere

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres Biosphere Includes all life on Earth It is concentrated to a zone that extends from the ocean floor upward for several kilometers into the atmosphere

Earth’s Major Spheres : 

Earth’s Major Spheres Plants and animals depend on the physical environment for life Plant and animal life also do their part to maintain and alter their physical environment

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science Thus far we have discussed about the Earth’s four main spheres. Earth Scientists study how these spheres are interconnected.

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science The way of looking at earth is called Earth System Science. It’s aim is to Understand Earth as a system made up of numerous interacting parts or subsystems. Instead of looking at just one branch (such as geology) scientist try to put together what we know from all the branches

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science What is a system? A system can be any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole. A natural system is driven by sources of energy that move matter and/or energy from one place to another Think of car’s cooling system! Think of your circulatory system!

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science There are two types of systems: Closed Systems: Energy moves freely in and out of the system, but nothing enters or leaves the system A car’s cooling system! Open Systems: Energy and matter freely move in and out of the system A river system!

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science Earth is a system The Earth is powered from two energy sources: The Sun The Sun drives external processes that occur in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and at Earth’s Surface Earth’s Interior There is heat from when the earth was formed as well as heat generated by the decay of radioactive elements

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science The parts of Earth’s systems are linked so that one part can produce changes in another part Lava can come onto the surface and block valleys. This would affect drainage and maybe cause a lake. Too much ash from a volcanic explosion could block out much of the sun’s heat and light from the Earth Lava and volcanic explosions could destroy life, yet new lakes and new soil would make way for new life.

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science The Earth System is characterized by changes over areas smaller than a millimeter to areas thousands of kilometers in size!

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science The Earth System is also characterized by time Time scales for Earth’s processes can range from time as small as milliseconds to time as large as billions of years!

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science Humans are also a part of the Earth System Our actions produce changes in all of the other parts of the Earth System If we do something to the Earth, then the Earth may react, sometimes in unforeseen ways

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science How do we affect our world? We burn gasoline and coal We build breakwaters along shorelines We dispose of our waste We clear land All of this is positive for us, but sometimes has a negative affect on the Earth

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science Environment refers to things that surround and influence a organism Some are living, some are social, some are non-living Water, air, soil, rock, temperature, humidity, and sunlight are non-living things

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science Environmental Science refers to the relationships between people and the natural environment We can influence natural processes! We may not be able to stop flooding, but we can control how often it happens by the use of levees, dams, clearing land, and building cities Sometimes our best ideas can have the wrong affects! Asswan Dam in Egypt

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science Resources are an important focus of Earth Scientists Resources are things that can be used for support or help Water, soil, metals, non-metals, and energy are all resources

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science There are two kinds of resources Renewable resources can be replenished over reasonably short periods of time Water, wind, natural fibers, wood, plants, and animals Non-Renewable resources cannot be replenished at all or take a very, very long time to be replenished Iron, aluminum, copper, oil, natural gas, coal When these are gone, they are gone forever

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science A greater demand for resources makes them disappear faster Our population growth is using up some resources very fast! One way to slow down this loss is to find alternative resources

Earth System Science : 

Earth System Science Environmental Problems Humans can cause problems Significant threats to the environment include air pollution, acid rain, ozone depletion, and global warming Other threats are: loss of soil to erosion, disposal of toxic wastes, contamination and depletion of water resources

Think About It! : 

Think About It! How do the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere affect the biosphere? Flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanoes, and earthquakes have caused loss of life and habitat

Think About It! : 

Think About It! Humans dig mines into the crust Burrowing animals affect the solid earth How do members of the biosphere affect the geosphere?

Think About It! : 

Think About It! How do members of the biosphere affect the hydrosphere and atmosphere? Humans have polluted both water and air Man-made dams and those built by Beavers can have a dramatic effect on the flow of rivers