Earth’s Environmental

SystemsChapter 3 – Environmental Science

Central CaseAfter reading the Central Case, who do you think

is responsible for the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone?

What do you think is the best way to go about solving the problem?

Section 1 – What properties of matter are most important to environmental

systems?

Chemistry is CENTRAL in understanding what environmental problems are occurring and in how to correct them.

We begin this chapter with an introduction to basic chemistry….

Section 1 – What properties of matter are most important to environmental

systems?

Matter – Mass – Volume -

Atoms –

Element -

Section 1 – What properties of matter are most important to environmental

systems?

Parts of the atom

Nucleus – Protons –

Atomic Number –

Neutrons –

Electron CloudElectrons

Section 1 – What properties of matter are most important to environmental

systems?

BondingCovalent bonds –

Ionic bonds

Section 1 – What properties of matter are most important to environmental

systems?

Molecules and Compounds

Molecules -

Compounds –

Organic molecules –

Inorganic molecules –

Hydrocarbons –

Section 1 – What properties of matter are most important to environmental

systems?

Solutions

Section 1 – What properties of matter are most important to environmental

systems?

MacromoleculesProteins

HormonesEnzymes

Nucleic AcidsCarbohydratesLipids

Section 1 – What properties of matter are most important to environmental

systems?

Water

Properties of waterCohesionAdhesionResistance to temperature change Ice densityUniversal solvent

Section 1 – What properties of matter are most important to environmental

systems?

Acids, bases, and pH

Acid

Base

pH

Section 2- What types of systems play roles in environmental

science?System

InputsOutputs

Earth’s systems Inputs

Outputs

Section 2- What types of systems play roles in environmental

science?

Feedback loops

Negative feedback loops

Positive feedback loops

Section 2- What types of systems play roles in environmental

science?

Earth’s “spheres”GeosphereLithosphereBiosphereAtmosphereHydrosphere

Section 3 – What are the characteristics of the Earth’s

spheres?

The Geosphere

3 partsCrustMantleCore

Plate tectonics

Section 3 – What are the characteristics of the Earth’s

spheres?

Plate Boundaries

Divergent plate boundaries

Transform plate boundaries

Convergent plate boundaries

Section 3 – What are the characteristics of the Earth’s

spheres?Biosphere

AtmosphereLayers

TroposphereStratosphereMesosphereThermosphere

Section 3 – What are the characteristics of the Earth’s

spheres?

HydrosphereEarth’s waterThe water cycle

EvaporationTranspirationPrecipitationCondensation

Section 3 – What are the characteristics of the Earth’s

spheres?Hydrosphere

Groundwater

Aquifers

Section 3 – What are the characteristics of the Earth’s

spheres?

Nutrient cycling

Law of Conservation of MatterNutrientsBiogeochemical cycles

Section 3 – What are the characteristics of the Earth’s

spheres?The Carbon Cycle

Section 3 – What are the characteristics of the Earth’s

spheres?The Phosphorus Cycle

Section 3 – What are the characteristics of the Earth’s

spheres?The Nitrogen Cycle