Introduction to Earth and Space Science

What is Earth Science?

Today’s Objectives Explain the significance of Earth and Space

Science, including: Identify the spheres of the Earth Identify the major branches of Earth and space

science and show how each branch relates to everyday life (e.g., mineral exploration providing raw materials for consumer goods)

Identify careers related to both local and regional Earth and space science (e.g., exploration or petroleum geologists)

What is Earth Science? Mind Map

What is Earth Science? Welcome to Earth Science 11! Earth Science is actually a collection of

sciences that study various aspects of our natural environment

Earth Science incorporates many other sciences that you are familiar with, such as biology, chemistry, and physics

Today, we will look at: The Earth and it’s four spheres Major branches of Earth Science Careers in Earth Science How Earth Science relates to your everyday life

Scale of Earth and Space Science Earth Science involves

investigations of phenomena that cover a vast range in scale

From atoms, to minerals and rocks, to entire planets, to solar systems and galaxies

The Earth’s Four Spheres When we view the Earth from space, we

notice that it is mostly covered by water We also notice there are continents, clouds,

and vegetation All of these features are representative of the

Earth’s four spheres: The Hydrosphere The Atmosphere The Geosphere The Biosphere

The Hydrosphere Our planet, our home: Earth Sometimes called the Blue Planet because it’s

surface is over 70% water

The Hydrosphere The Hydrosphere includes not only all of the

water on the surface of the Earth, but also the water underground, in the atmosphere, and frozen in glaciers and ice caps

The Hydrosphere provides us with water essential for life, and habitat for a plethora of plants and animals

The Atmosphere

The Atmosphere The Earth is surrounded by a life-giving

gaseous envelope called the Atmosphere The atmosphere extends from the Earth’s

surface to an altitude of a few hundred kilometers

The Atmosphere provides us with the air that we breath as well as protection from the Sun’s dangerous radiation

The atmosphere is also responsible for our weather and our climate

Atmosphere Our atmosphere is not just made of oxygen! Atmospheric composition:

The Geosphere

The Geosphere The solid part of the Earth is known as the

geosphere (sometimes called lithosphere*) The Geosphere extends from the core of the

Earth all the way to the Earth’s surface With a depth of 6,400 kilometers, it is by far

the largest of the four spheres The Geosphere provides us with important

minerals and resources, and provides habitat for the plants that grow on our planet, and even some animals

Soil, the uppermost part of the Geosphere can be thought of as part of all four spheres

The Biosphere

The Biosphere (or Ecosphere) The Biosphere includes all life on Earth:

Ocean life is concentrated in the sunlit surface waters of the sea

Terrestrial life is concentrated on or near the surface, extending below a few meters with tree roots, and burrowing animals in the soil

Some terrestrial animals such as birds and some flying insects can be found up to a kilometer into the Atmosphere

With some exceptions, these can be thought of as the boundaries of the Biosphere

The Earth’s Spheres

Branches of Earth Science Geology: The study of the solid earth, the rocks

of which it is composed, and the process by which they change Geomorphology: The study of landforms and the

processes that shape them Seismology: The study of earthquakes and the formation

of elastic waves that are produced by them Volcanology: The study of volcanoes, lava, magma, and

related processes Astronomy: The study of celestial objects, and

phenomena in space Oceanography: The study of the deep sea, and

shallow coastal oceans Meteorology: The study of the atmosphere

Why do we care? Weather forecasting Environmental concerns Resources/Conservation Energy supply Food supply Water supply/quality Construction ??

Are there careers involved in Earth Science? What careers can you think of?

Mineral extraction/mining Oil industry/Petroleum Geologists Water quality technicians Forestry/Forest Scientists Engineering Astronaut Seismologists Conservation officers Environmental consultants Fisheries Weather forecaster

Review Quiz! What are the four spheres of the Earth called?

Biosphere, Geosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere

What are their boundaries? Biosphere: all four spheres from a few meters in the soil to

hundreds of meters in the atmosphere Geosphere: Earth’s core to the surface Atmosphere: Earth’s surface to hundreds of kms altitude above Hydrosphere: Surface water, glaciers, ice caps, groundwater,

atmospheric water

What are the major branches of Earth Science? Astronomy, Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography

What are the foci of these branches? Astronomy: space, Geology: solid earth, Meteorology:

atmosphere, Oceanography: oceans/hydrosphere

Homework Create a poster diorama or box diorama

representing all four of the Earth’s spheres (with labels)

Due: Friday, September 13