1introduction-to-earth-science

1、,Prentice Hall EARTH SCIENCE,Tarbuck Lutgens,?,,Chapter 1,Introduction to Earth Science,1.1 What Is Earth Science?,? Encompasses all sciences that seek to understand,Earth,Earth's neighbors in space

2、,? Earth science includes,4. astronomy, the study of the universe,3. meteorology, the study of the atmosphere and the processes that produce weather,1. geology, the study of Earth,2. oceanography, the study of the ocean,

3、1.1 What Is Earth Science?,The solar system evolved from an enormous rotating cloud called the solar nebula.,? Most researchers conclude that Earth and the other planets formed at essentially the same time.,? Nebular Hy

4、pothesis,1.1 What Is Earth Science?,? The nebula was composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.,? Nebular Hypothesis,1.1 What Is Earth Science?,? About 5 billion years ago, the nebula began to contract.,? It assumed a

5、flat, disk shape with the protosun (pre-Sun) at the center.,? Inner planets begin to form from metallic and rocky clumps.,? Nebular Hypothesis,1.1 What Is Earth Science?,? Larger outer planets began forming from fragm

6、ents with a high percentage of ices.,The Nebular Hypothesis,? Layers Form on Earth,1.1 What Is Earth Science?,? As Earth formed, the decay of radioactive elements and heat from high-velocity impacts caused the temperat

7、ure to increase.,? Lighter rocky components floated outward, toward the surface.,? Gaseous material escaped from Earth’s interior to produce the primitive atmosphere.,1.2 A View of Earth,1. Hydrosphere,? Ocean is th

8、e most prominent feature of the hydrosphere.,- Is nearly 71% of Earth's surface,- Holds about 97% of Earth's water,? Also includes fresh water found in streams, lakes, and glaciers, as well as that found undergr

9、ound,1.2 A View of Earth,2. Atmosphere,? Thin, tenuous blanket of air,? One half lies below 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles),3. Biosphere,? Includes all life,? Concentrated near the surface in a zone that extends from the

10、 ocean floor upward for several kilometers into the atmosphere,1.2 A View of Earth,4. Geosphere,? Based on compositional differences, it consists of the crust, mantle, and core.,- Crust—the thin, rocky outer layer of

11、Earth.,- Mantle—the 2890-kilometer-thick layer of Earth located below the crust.,- Core—the innermost layer of Earth, located beneath the mantle.,Earth’s Layered Structure,,1.2 A View of Earth,Plate tectonics is the

12、 theory that proposes that Earth’s outer shell consists of individual plates that interact in various ways and thereby produce earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and Earth’s crust itself.,1.3 Representing Earth’s Surfac

13、e,Latitude and longitude are lines on the globe that are used to determine location.,Latitude is distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.,Longitude is distance east or west of the prime meridian, meas

14、ured in degrees.,1.3 Representing Earth’s Surface,? No matter what kind of map is made, some portion of the surface will always look either too small, too big, or out of place. Mapmakers have, however, found ways to lim

15、it the distortion of shape, size, distance and direction.,1.3 Representing Earth’s Surface,? Topographic maps represent Earth’s surface in three dimensions; they show elevation, distance directions, and slope angles.,Co

16、ntour lines are lines on a topographic map that indicate an elevation.,Contour interval is the distance in elevation between adjacent contour lines.,1.4 Earth System Science,? Closed systems are self contained (e.g., a

17、n automobile cooling system).,? Open systems allow both energy and matter to flow in and out of the system (e.g., a river system).,? A system is any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole.,1.4 Earth

18、System Science,? Earth is a dynamic body with many separate but highly interacting parts or spheres.,? Earth system science studies Earth as a system that is composed of numerous parts, or subsystems.,1.4 Earth System

19、 Science,? Sources of Energy,? Sun—drives external processes such as weather, ocean circulation and erosional processes,? Earth’s interior—drives internal processes including volcanoes, earthquakes and mountain buildin

20、g,1.4 Earth System Science,? Humans are part of the Earth system.,? Consists of a nearly endless array of subsystems (e.g., hydrologic cycle),1.4 Earth System Science,? Environment,? Surrounds and influences organisms

21、,Physical environment encompasses water, air, soil, and rock,The term environmental is usually reserved for those aspects that focus on the relationships between people and the natural environment.,1.4 Earth System Sci

22、ence,? Resources,? Include water, soil, minerals, and energy,? Two broad categories,2. Nonrenewable—cannot be replenished in the near future (e.g., metals, fuels),1. Renewable—can be replenished (e.g., plants, energy f

23、rom water and wind),1.4 Earth System Science,? Population,? Population of the planet is growing rapidly,? Use of minerals/energy has climbed more rapidly than the overall growth of population,Growth of World Populatio

24、n,,1.4 Earth System Science,? Caused by people and societies,? Urban air pollution,? Acid rain,? Caused by natural hazards,? Landslides,? Ozone depletion,? Global warming,? Earthquakes,? Local, regional, and globa

25、l,1.5 What Is Scientific Inquiry?,? Science assumes the natural world is,? consistent,? predictable,? Goals of science are,? to use the knowledge to predict,? to discover patterns in nature,1.5 What Is Scientific I

26、nquiry?,? An idea can become a,hypothesis—tentative or untested explanation,theory—tested, confirmed, supported hypothesis,? Scientific Method,Formulate hypotheses,Gather facts through observation,Test hypotheses to form

27、ulate theories,1.5 What Is Scientific Inquiry?,? Scientific knowledge is gained through,? following systematic steps,1. Collecting facts,? theories that withstand examination,totally unexpected occurrences,2. Developi