earth system science our dynamic planet features several interconnected subsystems that profoundly...
Post on 21-Dec-2015
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Earth System ScienceOur dynamic planet features several interconnected
subsystems that profoundly influence one another.
GeosphereAtmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Geosphere
Atmosphere
BiosphereHydrosphere
4.6 Billion Years of Interaction
Major ThemesScale Processes in the Earth system act on length scales of microns to thousands of kilometers, and on time scales of milliseconds to millions of years.Energy The Earth system is powered by one
external source (the Sun) and two internal ones: radioactive decay, and gravitational energy (heat still being lost from planetary formation).
Cycles Material in the Earth system is continually recycled in numerous overlapping cycles.
TheCarbonCycle
TheRockCycle
The Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
The BiosphereIncludes all life.
Concentrated near the geosphere surface, from the ocean floor to
the lowermost level of the atmosphere.
The HydrosphereWorld Ocean ~71% of Earth's surface, ____% of
Earth’s water
Fresh Water Lakes & Streams Atmosphere Groundwater
Glaciers ____% ____% ____%
____%
The Hydrologic Cycle Precipitation, Evaporation, Runoff,
Infiltration, etc...
The Atmosphere>50% of all air molecules are within 6 km of
surface.
Air consists mostly of N (78%) and O (21%).
Origin: volcanic eruptions, comets, life
Predicted surface T of Earth: -18°C (0°F)Actual surface T of Earth: 15°C (60°F)
Thank you, greenhouse effect. Thank you, atmosphere.
What is climate?
How does climate differ from weather?
TIMEWeather: Hours to weeks
Climate: Months to millenia
What characteristics does a climate
have?Air temperature
Humidity
Precipitation (type & amount)
Wind (speed & direction)
Atmospheric HeatingHeat is transferred from warmer to cooler
hosts.Conduction via molecular
activity.Convection via mass vertical
movements of a
substance.
Electromagnetic radiation (300,000 km/sec in a vacuum)
What Affects Air Temperature?
(at climatic time scales)Unequal amounts of solar radiation
(axial tilt, seasons, etc.)
Unequal heating of land & water
Altitude (cooler at higher elevations)
Geography (esp. regarding winds)
Land vs. Water
Land has a lower specific heat than water.
(Specific heat: Energy to raise 1 gram of a substance 1°C)
Therefore,
heats faster thangets hotter thancools faster than
Land Water
ElevationEffects
Geographic
effects:Cascade Rangeblocks
moderatingcoastal winds