Earth System Science

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Earth System Science

• Our dynamic planet features several
  interconnected
• subsystems that profoundly influence one another.

Geosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
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4.6 Billion Years of Interaction
Geosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Atmosphere
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Major Themes
Scale Processes in the Earth system act on
length scales of microns to thousands of
kilometers, and on time scales of milliseconds
to millions of years.
Energy The Earth system is powered by one
external source (the Sun) and two internal ones
radioactive decay, and gravitational energy (heat
still being lost from planetary formation).
Cycles Material in the Earth system is
continually recycled in numerous overlapping
cycles.
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The Carbon Cycle
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The Rock Cycle
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The Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
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The Biosphere
Includes all life. Concentrated near the
geosphere surface, from the ocean floor to the
lowermost level of the atmosphere.
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The Hydrosphere
World Ocean 71 of Earth's surface, ____ of
Earths water Fresh Water Lakes Streams
Atmosphere Groundwater Glaciers
____ ____ ____
____ The Hydrologic Cycle Precipitation,
Evaporation, Runoff, Infiltration, etc...
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The Atmosphere
gt50 of all air molecules are within 6 km of
surface. Air consists mostly of N (78) and O
(21). Origin volcanic eruptions, comets,
life Predicted surface T of Earth -18C
(0F) Actual surface T of Earth 15C
(60F) Thank you, greenhouse effect. Thank you,
atmosphere.
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What is climate?
How does climate differ from weather?
TIME
Weather Hours to weeks Climate Months to
millenia
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What characteristics does a climate have?
Air temperature Humidity Precipitation (type
amount) Wind (speed direction)
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Atmospheric Heating
Heat is transferred from warmer to cooler hosts.
Conduction via molecular activity.
Convection via mass vertical movements of a
substance.
Electromagnetic radiation (300,000 km/sec in a
vacuum)
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What Affects Air Temperature?(at climatic time
scales)
Unequal amounts of solar radiation (axial tilt,
seasons, etc.) Unequal heating of land
water Altitude (cooler at higher
elevations) Geography (esp. regarding winds)
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Land vs. Water
Land has a lower specific heat than water.
(Specific heat Energy to raise 1 gram of a
substance 1C) Therefore, heats faster
than gets hotter than cools faster than
Land
Water
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Elevation Effects
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Geographic effects
Cascade Range blocks moderating coastal winds