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Unit 1: Earth Science Chapter 1: The Nature of Science Section 1.1: Earth Science Four Major Branches of Earth Science: 1) Astronomy ~ The study of objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere 2) Meteorology ~ The branch of Earth science that studies the air that surrounds our planet. 3) Geology ~ The study of the materials that make up Earth and the processes that form and change these materials 4) Oceanography ~ The study of the Earth’s oceans, which cover nearly three-fourths of the planet. Some Subsubjects of Earth Science: Climatology, Ecology, Paleontology, Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry, Hydrology, and Tectonics Four Systems of the Earth: 1) Lithosphere: The rigid outer shell of the planet and includes the crust, uppermost part of the layer below the crust, the mantle. There are two kinds of crust: Continental (made mostly of Granite) Oceanic (made mostly of Basalt) Earth’s upper mantle behaves like a soft plastic. This partially molten layer is the Asthenosphere. 2) Hydrosphere Contains all the water in the Earth’s system, including water in the oceans, lakes, and rivers, and groundwater, as well as, water locked up in ice and snow at the poles and high mountains. 97% of the Earth’s water exists as salt water, 3% is Freshwater, only 0.5% is usable, the rest is locked in glaciers and icebergs. 3) Atmosphere The gaseous envelope surrounding Earth. Composed of a mixture of gasses, the atmosphere provides living things with oxygen and carbon dioxide. Earth’s atmosphere is unique in the solar system. Earth’s Atmosphere is 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, The remaining 1% includes: Water Vapour, Argon, Carbon Dioxide and other Trace gasses. 4) Biosphere The Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, and Atmosphere gave the conditions to support life. As such, the living things on the planet compose the Biosphere. Examples of Interactions among the Spheres: Volcanoes (Lithosphere) erupt, sending ash and gasses into the air (Atmosphere) and Lava and ash down onto surrounding forests (Biosphere) and into streams (Hydrosphere) Hurricanes (Atmosphere) sweep across the ocean (Hydrosphere) and onto the land (Lithosphere), damaging the dwellings of people (Biosphere) who live along the coast. Unit 1: Earth Science Chapter 2: Mapping Our World Section 2.2: Types of Maps Three Types of Map Projections: 1) Mercator Projections: Maps with parallel lines of latitude and longitude that shows true direction and correct shapes of landmasses but distorts areas near the poles. 2) Conic Projections Map that is highly accurate for small areas, made by projecting points and lines from a globe onto a cone. 3) Gnomonic Projections Map useful in plotting long-distance trips by boat or plane that is made by projecting points and lines from a globe onto a piece of paper that touches the globe at a single point. Topographic Maps Detailed maps showing hills and valleys of an area Contour Lines ~ A line on a topographic map that connects points of equal elevation Contour Intervals ~ Difference in elevation between two sideby-side contour lines on a topographic map. Index Contours ~ To aid in the interpretation, contour lines are marked with numbers representing their elevation. Depression Contour Lines ~ Hachures (Short lines at right angles to the contour lines) that indicate depressions, the hachures point toward lower elevations. Unit 1: Earth Science Chapter 2: Mapping Our World Section 2.3: Remote Sensing Remote Sensing Process of gathering data about Earth from far above the planet’s surface. The Electromagnetic Spectrum Arrangement of electromagnetic radiation, including Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared Radiation, Visible Light, Ultraviolet Radiation, X-rays, and Gamma rays Wave Characteristics All electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of 300,000 km/s in a vacuum, also known as the speed of light. Each has a distinct wavelength and they are arranged in accordance to these wavelengths. Gamma Rays: Highest Frequency, shortest wavelength Radio Waves: Lowest Frequency, longest wavelength The wavelength, speeds, and frequencies of the electromagnetic waves help determine how the energy is used by different satellites to map the Earth. LANDSAT Satellites Information-gathering satellite that uses visible light and infrared radiation to map Earth’s surface. Topex/Poseidon Satellite Data-gathering satellite that uses radar to map features on the ocean floor. The Global Positioning System (GPS) Satellite-based navigation system that permits a user to pinpoint his or her exact location on Earth.