What Is Earth System What Is Earth System Science?Science? “Tug on anything

at all and you'll find it connected

to everything else in the universe.”

-John Muir (*naturalist, writer, conservationist, and Sierra Club founder)

Earth System Science Earth System Science Defined…Defined…

How the World How the World Works!Works! • Multidiscipline science: Earth is comprised of four

closely related components: earth, water, air, and life.• Change over time: Components are continually

changing through geophysical processes and biogeochemical cycles.

• Responds to forcings from space and earth’s interior.

The The ““SphereSpheress””• Atmosphere (air, wind, greenhouse gasses, oxygen)

• Hydrosphere (oceans, rivers, groundwater, glaciers, Evian…)

• Biosphere (plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, protists…)

• Lithosphere (rocks, minerals, volcanoes, beach sand…)

(And sometimes cryosphere)

Earth Systems Science

How do

spheres

relate? How do other spheres impact the Lithosphere?

How does the Lithosphere impact other spheres?

How do other spheres impact the hydrosphere?

How does the hydrosphere impact other spheres?

How do

spheres

relate?

Fluids have density

- Liquids are fluids

- Gases are fluids- Fire Extinguisher Activity

- Floating Bubbles Activity

- Balloon Bath

- Density Jar Observation

The AtmosphereIs made of:

Where we live…The troposphere:-- extends from surface to average of 12 km

-- temperature average 15oC at bottom to -57oC at top.

-- Density and air pressure decrease as altitude increases.

78% N220% O2

Weather is caused by:

Changes in the

• Temperature,

• Pressure &

• Humidity

of the air in our atmosphere.