What is Earth Science?

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What is Earth Science?

• How does the Earths processes affect our lives
  and do people affect our environment?

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What is Earth Science?

• The study of Earth, including
• The processes and forces that change it
• The materials from which its made
• Its long history
• Its place in the universe

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The Four Branches of Earth Science

• Astronomy
• Meteorology
• Geology
• Oceanography

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Astronomy

• Study of objects beyond Earths atmosphere

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Meteorology

• Study of the air that surrounds Earth

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Geology

• Study of materials that make up Earth and the
  processes that form and change these materials

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Oceanography

• Study of Earths oceans and the creatures and
  processes within

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The Four Systems of Earth

• Earth has 4 interdependent systems
• Lithosphere
• Hydrosphere
• Atmosphere
• Biosphere

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Lithosphere

• Rigid outer shell of Earth
• Made up of crust and solid portion of mantle
• Includes oceanic and continental crust

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Layers of Earths Interior

• Crust
• Lithosphere (solid)
• Mantle
• Asthenosphere (liquid)
• Mesosphere (solid)
• Core
• Outer Core (liquid)
• Inner Core (solid)

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Hydrosphere

• All the water on Earth, including
• Oceans - Rivers
• Seas - Glaciers
• Lakes - Atmospheric Water
• Eath is 70 water
• 97 is saltwater, 3 is freshwater
• Most freshwater is in glaciers

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Atmosphere

• Gases that surround Earth
• 78 Nitrogen (N2), 21 Oxygen (O2)
• Rest is
• Water Vapor - Argon
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) - Trace gases

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Biosphere

• All organisms on Earth as well as the
  environments they live in