Earth Science
is the name for the group of sciences that deals with earth"geology" means study of the earth, is divided into two sections : physical geology and historical geology
Meteorology
the study of the atmosphere to produce different weather conditions
Astronomy
the study of all the universe
Nebular Hypothesis
suggests that the bodies of our solar system evolved from an enormous rotating cloud called the solar nebula, it was made up mostly of hydrogen and helium, with a small percentage of heavier elements
Layers form on Earth
shortly after Earth formed, the decay of radioactive elements, combined with heat released by colliding particles; this allowed the denser elements to sink to the Earths center caused by gravity
Earths major spheres
hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere
Hydrosphere
1) all the water on the earth2) 71% of earth�s surface is water3) 97% of earth�s water is in the oceans4) Fresh water can be found in streams, lakes, andglaciers
Atmosphere
1) thin blanket of air-stays close to the earth (not lostin space)
2)One half of the atmosphere lies below 5.6km (3.5 miles)
Geosphere
*Because the geosphere is not uniform, it is divided into three main parts based on differences in composition- the core, the mantle, and the crust *
1) based on compositional differences, it contains threelayers
a) Crust- the thin, rocky outerlayer of earth.
b) Mantle (liquid)- the 2890 km(2,000 miles) thick layer of earth located below the crust.
c) Core- the innermost layer of earth, located beneaththe mantle
Biosphere
1) Includes all life
2) Concentrated near the surface
3) Extends from the ocean floor
Plate Tectonics
the theory that finally emerged, called Plate Tectonics, provided geologists with a model to explain how earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur and how continents move
Global Grid
Latitude is the distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees. Longitude is the distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees
Maps and Mapping
No matter what kind of map is made, some portion of the surface will always look either too small, too big, or out of place, mapmakers have, however, found ways to limit the distortion of shape, size, distance, and direction
The Mercator Projection
in 1569, a mapmaker named Gerardus Mercator created a map to help sailors navigate around Earth
Different Project Maps for different Purposes
Each map is projected to show something different and to serve its purpose different
Topographic Maps
differ from the other maps discussed so far because topographic maps show elevation using contour lines (for elevation)
Contour Lines
tells you the difference in the elevation when examining a map
Scale
gives you a key to go off of to measure a distance on the map or the certain amount of area on a specific part of the map
Geologic Maps
a map that shows the type and age of exposed rocks
Satellites and Information Technology
Todays technology provides us with the ability to more precisely analyze Earths physical properties
Earth System Science
aim to understand Earth as a system made up of numerous interacting parts, or subsystems
System
can be any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole
Earth AS a System
one source is the sun, which drives external processes that occur in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and at Earths surface. Earths interior is the second source of energyour actions produce changes in all of the other parts of the Earth system
People and the Enviornment
Environment refers to everything that surrounds and influences an organism; some of these things are biological and social
Resources
are an important focus of the Earth sciences; they include water, soil, metallic, and nonmetallic minerals, and energyRENEWABLE resources can be replenished over relatively short time spans although these other resources continue to form, the processes that create them are so slow that it takes millions of years for significant deposits to accumulate
Environmental Problems
Significant threats to the environment include air pollution, acid rain, ozone depletion, and global warming
Scientific Hypothesis
once data have been gathered, scientists try to explain how or why things happen in the manner observed; scientists do this by stating a possible explanation
Theory
is well tested and widely accepted by the scientific, community and best explains certain observable facts
Scientific Method
the process of gathering facts through observations and formulating scientific hypothesis and theories is called the scientific method
Dew Point
the temperature to which a parcel of air would nee to be cooled to reach saturation; if the same air was cooled further, the airs excess water vapor would condense, typically as dew, fog or clouds
Measuring Relative Humidity
hygrometer
Saturation
the number of vapor molecules returning to the surface will balance the number leaving which the air can now be called saturatedwarm air contains more water vapor than saturated cold air
Relative Humidity
moister content of airis a ratio of the airs actual water-vapor content compared with the amount of water vapor air can hold at that temperature and pressurewhen the water vapor content of air remains constant, lowering air temperature causes an increase in r.humidity, and raising air temperature causes a decrease in relative humidity
Solar Energy can...
reflect, scatter, or absorb
Convection
is the transfer of heat by mass movement or circulation within a substance
Conduction
is the heat transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity
The 3 types of Energy Transfer as Heat are...
conduction, convection, and radiation
Summer and Winter Solstice
Summer: June 21 or 22, 23.5 degrees toward the sun (N.Hemisphere)Winter: December 21 or 22, 23.5 degrees away from the sun
Fall and Spring Equinox
Spring: March 21 or 22, 0 degrees latitudeFall: September 22 or 23, 0 degrees latitude
Four layers of Earths atmosphere
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere
Land and Water
Land heats more rapidly and to higher temperature that water; Land also cools more rapidly and to lower temperatures that water
Isotherms
are the lines that connect points that have the same temperature.
Localized Convective Lifting
on warm summer days, unequal heating of Earths surface may cause pockets of air to be warmed more than the surrounding air.
Convergence
the collision of contrasting air mass forces air to rise
Degrees of Stability
air is stable when the temperature decreases gradually with increasing altitude; the most stable conditions happen when air temperature actually increases with height called TEMPERATURE INVERSION