Download What is Earth Science? - Paramus Public Schools

How does the Earth’s processes affect our lives and do
people affect our environment?
What is Earth Science?
 The study of Earth, including:
 The processes and forces that change it
 The materials from which it’s made
 Its long history
 Its place in the universe
The Four Branches of Earth Science
 Astronomy
 Meteorology
 Geology
 Oceanography
Astronomy
 Study of objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere
Meteorology
 Study of the air that surrounds Earth
Geology
 Study of materials that make up Earth and the
processes that form and change these materials
Oceanography
 Study of Earth’s oceans and the creatures and
processes within
The Four Systems of Earth
 Earth has 4 interdependent systems
 Lithosphere
 Hydrosphere
 Atmosphere
 Biosphere
Lithosphere
 Rigid outer shell of Earth
 Made up of crust and solid portion of mantle
 Includes oceanic and continental crust
Layers of Earth’s Interior
 Crust
 Lithosphere (solid)
 Mantle
 Asthenosphere (liquid)
 Mesosphere (solid)
 Core
 Outer Core (liquid)
 Inner Core (solid)
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
Atmosphere
 Gases that surround Earth
 78% Nitrogen (N2), 21 % Oxygen (O2)
 Rest is:
 Water Vapor
 Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Argon
- Trace gases
Biosphere
 All organisms on Earth as well as the environments
they live in