What is Earth Science?

Consider these questions?

Why do volcanoes erupt?

What forces produce mountains?
Why is climate so variable?
How old is the earth?
Why do we have ocean tides?
Is there really global warming?
Is there really ice ages?
How do we get water out of the ground?
How does earth “fit” in our universe?

Earth Science:
Studding the earth and surrounding
universe – using geology, meteorology,
oceanography and astronomy
Geology – the study of the earth
Physical Geology:
•Materials that comprise the earth
• rocks, minerals, earths interior,
• processes acting below and above the
surface

storical Geology
•Understand the origin and development
• Understand the chronological order of
geologic events over 4.6 by old earth
The geologic time scale
Dating various geologic even
The significance of fossils
Physical Oceanography:
• The study of the ocean floor including
• Ocean chemistry
• Physics
• Sea floor geology
• Coastal processes
• Sea floor topography
Meteorology:
• Study of the atmosphere and
processes that produce climate and
weather.
Astronomy:
• The study of the universe
• the earth’s place in our universe
• the origin of our earth
• earth is related to all other
objects in the universe
What questions do you have about your earth?

How do you think these questions are answered

with accuracy?
How do we find “accuracy” in our answers?
The Scientific Method-Science Inquiry
A set of logical steps scientists use to “get to the truth”
of processes acting in the universe
Making Observations and Measurements
• Collecting facts, asking why questions

Formulating a Hypothesis (predictions as to why)

• Explaining how and why it works (after fact-
finding), “educated guessing”

Testing the Hypothesis (experimenting)

• performing experimentations that test the
accuracy of the hypothesis
How do we find “accuracy” in our answers?
answers
The Scientific Method
Scientific Theory
• well-tested hypothesis – widely accepted view
that explains observable facts

Scientific Law or Principle

• natural phenomena are observed to happen in
the same way – no deviations have ever been
observed
The Scientific Method
If you fail, try try
try again.

7
The Scientific Method in Action-- Astronomy
Observation/ Experimentation/ Theory
1,650 years of scientific method Isaac Newton
C. Ptolemy N. Copernicus J. Kepler Described the 3 laws
Almagest – Continued with Developed the of motion, Universal
accepted the the Gravitation, showed
three
geocentric heliocentric earth and planetary
planetary
model over theory– -- bodies are governed
laws of
the and was by universal laws of
motion
heliocentric widely physics – thus ending
model Revolutionized
geocentric theory
accepted astronomy
Astronomy
Timeline

A.D. 90 – 168 1473-1543 1571-1630 1643-1727

10
 IC
I Earth Science.
Discuss with a friend:

1. Explain why the scientific method is

a useful tool for learning about the
processes that occur in our universe.
2 Define the steps within the scientific
method.

I will get an A on my exams and quizzes.

How is the Earth studied? (Earth System Science)

Various “systems” within the earth that interact

with one another -– called Earth System Science
• Systems are NOT individually studied
• How one system impacts another
system

System:
An integrated set of “parts” that work together to
accomplish a goal or task (objective)
Give an example of various systems.
Earth as a System: Which system is the Earth?
• How systems exchange matter and energy

SUN SUN SUN

Isolated
System
Closed
System
? Open
System
No exchange of Exchange of energy Exchange of both
matter or energy but not matter matter and energy
 I IC
Earth Science.
Discuss with a friend:
3. Define a system as discussed in
earth science.
4. Differentiate between an open, closed,
and isolated system.
5. Explain why earth is considered a closed
system.
I will get an A on my exams and quizzes.
The fragile earth as a closed system is supported by four
interrelated open systems.

Lithosphere (geosphere)
Represents the solid earth:
minerals, rocks, and interior

Biosphere:
Includes all living Atmosphere:
organisms on land, Thin blanket of gas keeping
in water, and in air life alive, warm, and protected

Hydrosphere:
Interaction of all water processes,
only planet with water,
71% ocean 12,500 feet deep,
streams, lakes, groundwater
 I Earth Science.
Discuss with a friend:
6. Define the following:
lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere,
atmosphere
7. Provide an earth process that takes
place between two open systems.
8. What is the meaning of geosphere?
An Important Aspect of Earth System Science
• The earth maintains balance between the
open systems through positive and negative
feedback mechanisms.

Positive feedback works to change the system

Negative feedback works to resist the change

“Tug of War”

Working to change the system and working to

resist the change maintains balance within the
system.
weight gain example
Positive/Negative Feedback Example:
Earth’s climatic system – positive/negative feedback

Positive feedback Negative feedback

Reflecting sunlight
SUN water vapor –increases
air temperature

Water vapor condenses,

forming clouds
Evaporates
sea water

Ocean Ocean
Increasing evaporation Decreasing evaporation
(working to change the system) (working to resist change)
Atmosphere maintains balance.
 I IC
Earth Science.
9. Describe the meaning of positive and
negative feedback mechanisms.
10. Explain how positive and negative
feedback mechanisms keep the earth
balanced.
11. Think of at least 2 positive/negative
feedbacks that balance the earth.
Discuss with a friend:
I will get an A on my exams and quizzes
 8.
The earth’s place in the solar system
Uranus
Neptune

Jupiter Saturn

Outer planets
Earth Jovian planets
Mars Gas planets
Venus

Mercury Low densities

Inner planets
Terrestrial planets
SUN
High densities
Asteroid Belt
 Lithosphere
cont/ocean crust
Upper mantle Crust
2.8 g/cm3
Asthenosphere
ductile rock
Mantle -Solid Mantle Why are densities
Si,O,Fe,Mg,Ca arranged from
5.5 g/cm3 heavy (core) to
lightest (crust)?
Outer Core Core
Molten – Ni, Fe Temp: Chemical
11.5 g/cm3 5000 C
Differentiation
Source of
Inner Core
magnetic
Solid- Ni, Fe
field
12.5 g/cm3
The earth’s interior
What makes
earth unique??
Oxygen, water, life
• oxygen atmosphere
• no O2 on other planets
• the hydrologic cycle
Soil accumulation
• weathering of rocks
• various soil types
Plate Tectonics
• moving continents
• formation of landforms
from interacting plates
 I Earth Science.
Discuss with a friend:
12. Name the planets in their proper order.
13. Describe the layering of the earth
using lithosphere, asthenosphere,
mantle, and core; explain properties.
14. Describe chemical differentiation.
15. Present at least 3 reasons why the
earth is unique.
I will get an A on my exams and quizzes.
So, why study Earth Science?
•We depend on earth’s resources.
• where to find resources and how to
manage the resources

• Understand earth (geologic) hazards

• how earthquakes, land sliding, volcanic
eruptions, floods, hurricanes, tornados,
“just to name a few” processes, work!

• Understand the complexity of the

interactions between the earth’s spheres
• open system relationships between the
lithosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and
hydrosphere
Oh yeah! – So you get your science requirement
Give the number of significant digits in each of the following measurements:

1. 1278.50 __________ 7. 8.002 __________ 13. 43.050 __________

2. 120000 __________ 8. 823.012 __________ 14. 0.147 __________

3. 90027.00 __________ 9. 0.005789 __________ 15. 6271.91 __________

4. 0.0053567 __________ 10. 2.60 __________ 16. 6 __________

5. 670 __________ 11. 542000. __________ 17. 3.47 __________

6. 0.00730 __________ 12. 2653008.0 __________ 18. 387465 __________

Round off the following numbers to three significant digits:

19. 120000 _______________ 22. 4.53619 _______________
20. 5.457 _______________ 23. 43.659 _______________
21. 0.0008769 _______________ 24. 876493 _______________
Answers to Significant Digit Worksheet:

Give the number of significant digits in each of the following measurements:

1. 1 278.50 6 7. 8.002 4 13. 43.050 5

2. 120 000 2 8. 823.012 6 14. 0.147 3
3. 90 027.00 7 9. 0.005789 4 15. 6271.91 6
4. 0.0053567 5 10. 2.60 3 16. 6 1
5. 670 2 11. 542 000. 6 17. 3.47 3
6. 0.00730 3 12. 2 653 008.0 8 18. 387 465 6

Round off the following numbers to three significant digits:

19. 120 000 = 1.20 x 105 22. 4.53619 = 4.54

20. 5.457 = 5.46 23. 43.659 = 43.7
21. 0.0008769 = 0.000877 or 8.77 x 10-4 24. 876 493 = 876 000 or 8.76 x 105