The Nature of Science

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Chapter 1

• The Nature of Science

Section 1.1 Earth Science
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What is Astronomy?

• Study of objects beyond Earths atmosphere.

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Astronomy

• In the past many astronomers merely described the
  location of objects in space in relation to one
  another.
• Today, these Earth scientist study the universe
  and everything in it, including Earth, its
  neighbors, and other bodies in the universe.

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What is Meteorology?

• Branch of Earth science that studies the air that
  surrounds our planet.

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Meteorology

• Meteorologists study the forces and processes
  that cause the atmosphere to change to produce
  weather.
• These Earth scientists also try to predict the
  weather and how changes in weather might affect
  Earths climate.

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What is Geology?

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

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Geology

• Geologist identify rocks, study glacial
  movements, interpret clues to Earths 4.6
  billions years history, and determine how forces
  change our planet, among many other things.

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What is Oceanography?

• Study of Earths oceans including the creatures
  that inhabit its water, its physical and chemical
  properties, and the effects of human activities.

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Oceanography

• Oceanographers study the creatures that inhabit
  salty water, measure different physical and
  chemical properties of the oceans, and observe
  various processes in these bodies of water.
• Some oceanographers study the effect of human
  activities on Earths saltwater bodies.

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What is Lithosphere?

• Earths rigid outer shell, including the crust
  and the solid, uppermost part of the mantle.

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The Lithosphere

• There two kinds of crust
• Continental Crust - Is made mostly of a rock
  called granite.
• Oceanic Crust - Is mainly basalt, a rock that is
  denser than granite.
• Earths mantle
• Is mainly composed of a rock called peridotite.

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The Lithosphere

• Earths upper mantle behaves like
• A rigid solid, while other parts are partially
  molten and flow like a soft plastic this part is
  the asthenosphere.
• Core made of iron and nickel. It is beneath
  Earths mantle
• The core is divided in two parts
• Outer which is the liquid part.
• Inner - which is the solid part.
• (The core and the asthenosphere are NOT parts of
  the Lithosphere, but they do interact with this
  system to produce many of features at the
  planets surface.)
• Lithosphere and asthenosphere interact to produce
  volcanoes, mountains and earthquakes.

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What is hydrosphere?

• All the water in Earths oceans, lakes, seas,
  rivers, and glaciers plus all the water in the
  atmosphere.

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The Hydrosphere

• About 97 of Earths water exists as salt water.
  
• The remaining 3 is fresh water contained in
• Glaciers
• Lakes
• Rivers
• Groundwater

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What is Atmosphere?

• Blanket of gases surrounding Earth that contains
  about
• 78 nitrogen,
• 21 oxygen,
• and 1 other gases such as argon, carbon
  dioxide, and water vapor.

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The Atmosphere

• Necessary for respiration by most living things,
• Protects Earths inhabitants from harmful
  radiation from the Sun,
• Helps to keep the planet at a temperature
  suitable for life.

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What is Biosphere?

• All of Earths organisms and the environment in
  which they live.

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The Biosphere

• Earths biosphere appears to be unique in that
  scientist have not yet found any confirmed
  evidence of life on other planets in our solar
  system or elsewhere in the galaxy.

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Interdependent Systems

• Earths biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and
  atmosphere are interdependent systems.
• For example - todays organisms, including
  humans, continue to change the atmosphere through
  their life processes and activities.
• (Earths present atmosphere formed millions of
  years ago as a result of volcanic activity,
  respiration and transpirations by ancient
  organisms, and photosynthesis.)

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Earth Science in Your Everyday Life

• We are all part of the biosphere.
• We live on Earths crust, which is part of the
  lithosphere
• We breathe the gases in the atmosphere.
• We also depend on water, which makes up the
  hydrosphere.