The Nature Of Science

Earth Science

• Earth Science is the study of the Earth and the universe around it

• Earth Science is divided into 4 different branches:

– Geology

– Oceanography

– Meteorology

– Astronomy

Importance Of Earth Science

• Earth Science has helped us:

– Predict catastrophic events

– Gather information about the universe

– Find clues to Earth’s past environments

– Provide valuable resources

Geology

• Geology is the study of the origin, history and structure of the solid Earth and the processes that shape it

Geology

• Some things Geologist do are:

– Explore the Earth’s crust in search of resources

– Study the forces within the Earth to forecast events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

– Study fossils to learn more Earth’s history

Oceanography

• Oceanography is the study of Earth’s Oceans

Oceanography

• Some of the tasks that Oceanographers have are:

– Study waves, tides and ocean currents

– Search for mineral deposits on the ocean floor

– Study marine and plant life

Meteorology

• Meteorology is the study of the air that surrounds our planet

• Meteorologists study the processes that cause that atmosphere to change and produce weather

Meteorology

• Meteorologists try to predict the weather and how it affects the Earth’s climate

• They also predict weather events such as:

– Tornados

– Hurricanes

– Tropical Storms

Astronomy

• Astronomy is the study of the universe beyond Earth

• Is the oldest branch of Earth Science

• Has been studied for almost 4000 years

Astronomy

• Today scientists have sophisticated equipment to study the universe

• Before astronomers merely studied the locations of objects in relation to other objects.

Astronomy

• Many space probes that have provided us essential information: – Pioneer – Voyager – Galileo – Ulysses

• Some important aspects of Astronomy are: – The Moon – The Planets – The Sun and other Stars – The Universe

Earths Systems

• Scientists have identified 4 main Earth Systems:

– Lithosphere

– Hydrosphere

– Atmosphere

– Biosphere

Lithosphere

• The lithosphere is the rigid outer shell of the planet

• The lithosphere includes the:

– Crust

– The upper part of the mantle

Lithosphere

• There are 2 types of Crust: – Continental Crust-Made up of granite

– Oceanic Crust-Made up of basalt

• The mantle is either a solid or is molten and flows like a soft plastic

• The Asthenosphere is portion of Earth’s mantle that is partially molten, and located below the lithosphere

Hydrosphere

• The Hydrosphere is the portion of the Earth that is composed of water

• This includes: – Oceans

– Seas

– Lakes

– Rivers

– Glaciers

– Water Vapor in the Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

• Water covers over 70% of Earth’s surface

• Of this 70%:

– 97% is Ocean water (salt water)

– 3% is fresh water

• 77% is Icecaps and Glaciers

• 22% is groundwater

• 1% is in Lakes, Rivers, Soil moisture, and the atmosphere

Atmosphere

• The atmosphere is the blanket of gases that surrounds our planet

Atmosphere

• It is believed to have formed billions of years ago as a result of volcanic activity

• The atmosphere is responsible for:

– Respiration

– Protecting us from harmful UV rays

Atmosphere

• The atmosphere is composed of:

– 78% Nitrogen

– 21 % Oxygen

– The remainder is Water Vapor, Argon, Carbon Dioxide and other trace gases

Biosphere

• The biosphere includes all life on Earth and the physical environment that supports it

• This includes organisms that live:

– On Earth’s surface,

– Below Earth’s surface

– In the ocean

Biosphere

• Earth is the only known planet to have a biosphere

• We do not know of any life that exists on other planets