Download IMPORTANT CONCEPTS

GEOS 111
Intro to Earth
Science
Earth Science
• Geology
– The study of the earth (geo)
• Oceanography
– The study of the ocean
• Meteorology
– The study of the atmosphere
• Astronomy
– The study of the space
The Four Spheres
• Hydrosphere
– Earth is the Blue Planet, it is covered by water (71%)
to an average depth of 3800 meters
• Atmosphere
– Thin layer of gases that protects us from the sun and
gives us life (oxygen)
• Lithosphere
– Bulk of the earth rock and molten material, subdivided
in to core, mantle and crust
• Biosphere
– Life as we know it interacts with the physical
surroundings
Figure 2.3
Who Needs Earth Science
• Avoiding Geologic Hazards
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Earthquakes
Volcanoes
Other geologic hazards
• Supplying Things We Need
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Energy
Metals
Non Metals
• Protecting the Environment
• Understanding Our Surroundings
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Appreciating scenery while traveling
Knowing about the Ocean
Learning about the Atmosphere
Venezuela Debris Flows
December 1999
Flooding in Mozambique February 2000
Copper Basin, TN- Burra Burra Mine
Surface Processes
• Driven by solar power & gravity
• Erosion--due to water, ice, wind,
gravity
• Rock formed at high temperature
becomes unstable at surface
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Form new material stable under conditions
at earth’s surface
equilibrium
• Sediment
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can solidify into sedimentary rock
Hurricane
Allan 1980
Eye; area of calm
Mexico
Storm tide damage (Hurricane Hugo) South
Carolina
Map of ozone over Antarctica (1997) in
Dobson units [0.01mm thickness of ozone at
standard P & T (0oC and 1 atm)]
GEOLOGIC TIME
• Earth is around 4.5 billion years old
• Major subdivisions of geologic time
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Cenozoic Era- youngest
Mesozoic Era- middle (dinosaurs lived
then)
Paleozoic
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Began around 545 million years ago
Oldest abundant fossils
PRECAMBRIAN- all time before Paleozoic
Scientific Method
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Question raised or problem presented
Data gathered
Hypotheses proposed
Predictions made
Predictions tested
hypothesis that withstands testing
becomes a theory