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Geology Chapter 1 Notes
Chapter 1 Objectives:
1. Define Earth Science.
2. Describe the formation of Earth and the solar system.
3. Compare and Contrast the Earth’s four major spheres.
4. Differentiate among the three parts of the geosphere.
5. State the value of the theory of plate tectonics to Earth Science.
6. Locate points on Earth’s surface by their latitude and longitude.
7. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of different types of maps.
8. Explain what makes topographic maps different from other maps.
9. Explain how humans affect Earth’s systems.
10. Compare renewable and non-renewable resources.
1.1 What Is Earth Science?
Earth science includes
1. __________, the study of Earth
2. oceanography, the study of the ocean
3. meteorology, the study of the atmosphere and the processes that produce weather
4. _______________, the study of the universe
 Most researchers conclude that Earth and the other planets formed at essentially the
same time.
 Nebular ____________________________
• The solar system evolved from an enormous rotating cloud called the solar
nebula.
 Nebular Hypothesis
• The nebula was composed mostly of _________________and helium.
• About 5 billion years ago, the nebula began to contract.
• It assumed a flat, disk shape with the ___________(pre-Sun) at the center.
 Nebular Hypothesis
• Inner planets begin to form from metallic and rocky clumps.
• Larger outer planets began forming from fragments with a high percentage of
___________________
 Layers Form on Earth
• As Earth formed, the decay of ___________________elements and heat from
high-velocity impacts caused the temperature to increase.
• Lighter rocky components floated outward, toward the______________.
• Gaseous material escaped from Earth’s interior to produce the primitive
_____________________
1.2 A View of Earth
1. Hydrosphere
• _________________is the 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 _____________________________
2. Atmosphere
• Thin, tenuous blanket of air
• One half lies below 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles)
3. Biosphere
• Includes all _________________
• Concentrated near the surface in a zone that extends from the ocean
floor upward for several kilometers into the ____________________
4. Geosphere
• Based on compositional differences, it consists of the crust, mantle, and
core.
- ____________—the thin, rocky outer layer of Earth.
- ____________—the 2890-kilometer-thick layer of
Earth located below the crust.
- ___________—the innermost layer of Earth, located beneath the
mantle.
 Plate tectonics is the 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.
1.2 Representing Earth’s Surface
 Latitude and longitude are lines on the globe that are used to determine location.
 ____________is distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.
 ____________ is distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in
degrees.
1. Longitude
• Longitude is the distance east or west of the prime _______________
• The prime meridian is the 0° longitude mark and it runs through the middle of
_________________________
• Longitude is divided into 360° - 180° west and __________of the prime
meridian
2. Latitude
• Latitude is the distance north and south of the _________________
• The lines run east and west
• The equator is 0° with 90° north and south of the equator
• The equator divides the earth into two ____________________
3. Maps and Mapping
• It is impossible to make a globe large enough to show streets so we have to
make __________________
• No matter what kind of map we make some portion will be too big or too
small
4. Mercator Map
• Rectangular map
• Advantages: longitude and latitude are parallel, directions shown accurately
• Disadvantages: sizes and distances distorted especially the _____________
5. Robinson Projection
• Globe shaped flat map
• Advantages: sizes and shapes are _________________
• Disadvantages: distortions around the map edges
6. Conic Projection
• Made by wrapping a cone of paper around a globe
• Advantages: great accuracy in small areas, good for road maps
• Disadvantages: lots of _______________on most of the map
7. Gnomonic Map
• A North view or a south view of the globe on a single piece of paper
• Advantages: Shows exact distances between two points
• Disadvantages: directions are distorted
1.3 Representing Earth’s Surface
 Topographic maps represent Earth’s surface in three dimensions; they show elevation,
distance directions, and slope angles.
1. Reading Topo Maps
• __________________: distance between contour lines
• _____________: line that joins all areas of equal elevation
• __________: Latitude and longitude sections can be further divided into sixty
minute sections, 34°25‘ represents 34 latitude and a quarter of latitude more
• ________________s: divides minutes into 60 sections
so 34°25‘ 50“ tells us exactly where we are
2. Using a compass
• ___________: direction you are going
• _________: direction you wish to go overall
• The compass is divided into 360°
-0° is north, 90°is east,180°is south,260°=west
• __________: how far you have to move the compass to get the correct bearing
-true north: directly north
-magnetic north: north pole-this is the direction the compass points
1.4 Earth System Science
 Environment
• Surrounds and influences organisms
• Physical environment encompasses water,
air, soil, and rock
• The term _________________is usually reserved for those aspects that focus
on the relationships between people and the natural environment.
 Resources
• Include water, soil, minerals, and energy
• Two broad categories
1. Renewable—can be _____________(e.g., plants, energy from water and wind)
2. Nonrenewable—cannot be replenished in the near _________(e.g., metals, fuels)
 Population
• Population of the planet is growing rapidly
• Use of minerals/energy has climbed more rapidly than the overall growth of
population
 Local, regional, and global
 Caused by people and societies
• __________air pollution
• Acid rain
• ___________ depletion
• Global warming
 Caused by natural hazards
• Earthquakes
• Landslides
Definitions
 Earth Science-the name for all sciences that collectively seek to understand Earth.
 Geology-the science that examines Earth, its form and composition , and the
changes it has undergone and is undergoing.
 Oceanography-the scientific study of the oceans and oceanic phenomena.
 Meteorology-the scientific study of the atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena;
the study of weather and climate.
 Astronomy-the scientific study of the universe; it includes the observation and
interpretation of celestial bodies and phenomena.
 Hydrosphere-the water portion of the Earth; one of the traditional subdivisions of
Earth’s physical environment.
 Atmosphere-the gaseous portion of a planet; the planet’s envelope of air; one of
the traditional subdivisions of Earth’s physical environment.
 Geosphere-layer of Earth under both the atmosphere and the oceans; It is
composed of the core, the mantle, and the crust.
 Biosphere-all life on Earth; the parts of the solid Earth, hydrosphere, and
atmosphere in which living organisms can be found.
 Core- the innermost layer of the earth, located beneath the mantle
 Mantle- the 2890-kilometer- thick layer of the Earth below the crust.
 Crust- the thin, rocky outer layer of the earth.
 Latitude- the distance north or south of the equator.
 Longitude- the distance east or west of the prime meridian.
 Topographic map- a map that represents Earth’s surface in 3 dimensions;
elevation, distance, directions and slop angles.
 Contour line- line on a topographic map than indicates an elevation
 Contour interval- on a topographic map, tells the distance in elevation between
adjacent contour lines.
 System- any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole.
 Hypothesis- a tentative explanation that is tested to determine if it is valid.
 Theory- a well-tested and widely accepted view that explains certain observable
facts.