Welcome to Environmental Science!

What do you think of when you hear “environmental science”??

Make a list of anything that comes to mind.

Chapter 1: Planet Earth

What we will learn:o What are the unique traits of Earth that enables it to support life?o What are the features of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere & biosphere that are important to living organisms?

1.1 Planet of Life

• Characteristics of planets in our solar system are determined by distance from sun, density & composition

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars = inner planets, mostly rock

• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune = outer planets, mostly gas

• Earth is only planet that contains life

1.1 Cont.• Organism – any living thing• To have life:–need just the right mix of materials, like

carbon, oxygen, water, etc. –need the right temperatures for life,

most other planets are too hot or too cold. –need an atmosphere that would

protect any life from the sun’s radiation.

• So what characteristics does Earth have?

1.1 Cont.On Earth: • liquid water – stores and then releases

heat, keeping temperatures steadier. • Atmosphere supports life – nitrogen,

oxygen, CO2.• Energy comes from the sun and travels in

wavelengths–Visible Spectrum is very small = ROYGBIV

• Ozone Layer protects us from the sun’s radiation.

• Life is found on the ground, in the air, and in the water.

1.1 Cont. Lithosphere – the layer of land that forms the Earth’s surface

Hydrosphere – all parts of the Earth made of water (oceans, lakes, rivers, underground, clouds)

Atmosphere – the layer of air that surrounds the Earth

Ecology – interactions between the living & nonliving parts of earth

1.2 Earth’s Land & WaterLithosphere:• 10-200km thick• 3 main types of rocks• Igneous: formed by the cooling of liquid

rock (ex. Granite)• Sedimentary: layers of sediments

compressed (ex. Sandstone)• Metamorphic: rock transformed by heat

and pressure (ex. Marble and Slate)

1.2 Cont.

Hydrosphere:• 70% of Earth’s surface = water• 97% of that is salt water• Fresh water:–Surface water: lakes, streams–Groundwater: underground, moves

between rocks• 2/3 of fresh water is frozen in glaciers

and ice caps

1.2 Cont.

Hydrosphere Cont.:• Aquifer = underground layer of porous

rock that contains water. Replenishes slowly

• Artesian well = well where water flows to surface because high underground pressure

• We pump water out of aquifers faster than it can be replenished, many are drying up.

Think About It:Water, like all liquids, expands when it is

heated. Many scientists are worried about the temperatures of Earth rising.

Please answer the following questions & turn them in.

1. If the temperature of Earth’s oceans were to rise, what would happen to the size of the oceans?

2. What might happen to the land along the coasts of the continents?

1.2 Cont.

Remember:• What is a hypothesis?• Hypothesis – possible explanation for a

set of observations

• Set-up atmosphere activity

1.3 The Atmosphere• Atmosphere: Envelope of gases

surrounding Earth• What do you think it is made up of?• Nitrogen = 78%, Oxygen = 21%, Carbon

Dioxide = 0.04%, other matter = 0.06% (water vapor, dust particles, small amount of other gases)

• Why is CO2 important? • Plants need it for photosynthesis to

make O2

1.3 Cont.

4 Layers:

Thermosphere (>85km)Mesosphere (50-85km)Stratosphere (18-50km)Troposphere (8-18km)

1.3 Cont.

1.3 Cont.

Troposphere – touches surface of Earth.

• Contains most of the water vapor in atmosphere.

• Where most of weather occurs• Winds are important factor in

climates. • Wind patterns are caused by rotation

of the earth (pg. 10)

1.3 Cont.

Stratosphere • Contains ozone layer = form of oxygen

gas containing 3 oxygen atoms per molecule. (in troposphere O2)

• Ozone layer filters most ultraviolet radiation, which would destroy much of the life on Earth.

Mesosphere • Coldest layer of atmosphere, as low as

-100C

1.3 Cont.

Thermosphere • Outermost layer, higher temps, as high as

2000C, air pressure very low.• Gas molecules in one part of

thermosphere are bombarded with rays from sun, cause gas molecules to lose electrons, becoming ions. Therefore called ionosphere.

• When gas molecules interact with free electrons light is given off. Usually occurs near poles and results in light displays called an aurora.

1.3 Cont.

1.4 The Biosphere• Biosphere – all the parts of the

earth that support and contain life• About 20 km thick• Most life is between 500m below

sea level – 6km above sea level• Organisms find energy they need in

many different parts of biosphere.• Ex. Humans live on lithosphere,

drink water from hydrosphere & breathe from atmosphere

1.4 Cont.

Changes in environment can effect organisms and organisms can cause changes in environment.

Biosphere is a complex network of interactions.