Earth Science

I.

What is Earth Science?

• the study of the Earth and the universe around it… • the study of Earth systems and systems in space; including weather and climate systems, and the study of nonliving things such as rocks, oceans, and planets.

Nebular hypothesis

Dana’s Report

• . Astronomy: the study of objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

• Meteorology: the study of Earth’s atmosphere

Marjorie’s Report

• Geology: the study of the origin, history, and structure of Earth.

• physical geology

• historical geology

- aim is to understand Earth’s long history - examination of the materials that by establishing a timeline of the vast make up Earth number of physical and possible and biological explanations for changes that have the many occurred in the past processes that shape our planet

• Oceanography: the study of the life and properties of Earth’s oceans.

Joy’s Report

LAYERS OF EARTH

• CRUST - The thin, outermost layer of the earth. • MANTLE - is a layer between the crust and the outer core. It is a dense, hot layer of semi-solid rock

• CORE -The outer core is made of iron and is very dense. -The inner core is made of solid iron and nickel.

Lindy’s Report

Earth’s Major Spheres

1. Geosphere:  the area from the surface of Earth down to its center.

2. Atmosphere:  the blanket of gases that surrounds our planet.

Paola’s Report

3. Hydrosphere: 

all the water on Earth.

4. Biosphere:  all organisms on Earth and the environments in which they live.

Report

Plate Tectonics • is the theory that proposes that Earth’s outer shell consists of individual plates that interact in various ways and thereby produce earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and Earth’s crust itself. • Plate movement is driven by unequal distribution of heat within the Earth

Danghil’s Report

Two types of forces affecting the Earth’s surface destructive - weathering and erosion flatten the Earth constructive - mountain building and volcanism build up the surface

Rock Cycle • New Rocks Exposed by Erosion • Rocks Broken Down Mechanically and Chemically (Weathering) • Components Transported by Erosion • Components Cemented into Sedimentary Rocks • Burial and Heating creates Metamorphic Rocks • Melting Creates Igneous Rocks

Avegail’s Report

Representing earth’s surface

Latitude and longitude are lines on the globe that are used to determine location. •Latitude is distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees. •Longitude is distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees.

Earth System Science  Earth system science aims to understand Earth as a system made up of interacting parts, or subsystems. A system can be any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole. • In a closed system, matter does not enter or leave the system. • In an open system, energy and matter flow into and out of the system. • Most natural systems are open systems. • The Earth system is powered by energy from two sources. One source of energy for Earth systems is the sun, which drives external processes that occur in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and at Earth’s surface. • The sun’s energy drives weather, climate, ocean circulation, and erosion.