Download Lesson 1: Earth Science Overview

Introduction to Earth
Standard: Investigation and Experimentation 1.l: Students will analyze situations and solve problems that
require combining and applying concepts from more than one area of science.
Objectives
• Differentiate among the four major branches of Earth Science.
• Contrast the four systems of Earth.
• Discuss how Earth science affects your life.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
The Scope of Earth Science
Earth science is the study of ____________________ and the ___________________ in which Earth is located.
The field of Earth Science can be broken into four major areas of specialization: _______________________,
_____________________, ___________________, and ________________________.
1. _______________________________
–
Astronomy is the study of ______________________________________________________________.
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Astronomers study the ___________________ and everything in it, including ______________, its
neighbors, and other bodies in the universe such as galaxies, stars, comets and asteroids.
2. _______________________________
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Meteorology is the branch of Earth science that studies the __________________________________.
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Meteorologists study the ___________________________________________________ that cause the
___________________________________________________________________________________.
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They also try to __________________________________________ and how changes in weather might
affect Earth’s climate.
3. ________________________________
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Geology is the study of the ______________________________________________________ and the
__________________________________________________________________________________.
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Geologists identify _________________, study ________________________, interpret clues to Earth’s
________________________________, and determine how __________________________________
planet, among many other things.
Earth’s Science Overview
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4. _________________________________
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Oceanography is the study of _____________________________________, which cover nearly
___________-_____________ of the planet.
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Oceanographers study the _____________________________________________________________,
measure different ___________________________________________ of the oceans, and observe
various _____________________________________________________________________________.
Draw a picture representing each of the four specialty areas of Earth science.
Earth’s Science Overview
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The study of our planet (and the universe) is a broad endeavor, and thus it requires a variety of
subspecialties of the four major areas of Earth science.
Some Subspecialties of Earth Science
Subspecialty
Subjects Studied
Patterns of ______________________over a long period of time; effects of
_______________________________ on weather and climate.
___________________ of ____________________ that once lived on Earth;
_____________________________ environments.
_________________________ on and below Earth’s surface; sources of and
solutions to water ___________________________.
_________________ of organisms and how organisms __________________
with each other and their environments.
Earth’s _________________________ and the processes that change it.
Effects of ____________________ processes on Earth’s surface, including
_______________________ and _________________________ building.
Earth’s Science Overview
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Earth as a System
A system can be any size group of _____________________________________________________________.
Earth is a dynamic planet with many separate but interactive parts or spheres that form a system called the
_______________________________________.
This means that ________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
Earth’s Spheres
Earth can be thought of as consisting of four main Earth sphere or systems:

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________
Earth’s Science Overview
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Much like the systems of the human body _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Earth itself can be thought of as a sphere and is often called the _____________________________________.
Earth is divided into __________________________________ based on ______________________________
________________________________________________:

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________
Earth’s Core
The core is the_____________________________________________________________________________.
Earth’s core is located _________________________________________ and is made mostly of ___________.
The core can be divided into two sections: _________________________________________________ and
the ___________________________________________________________.
Earth’s Mantle
The mantle is the layer of Earth _______________________________________________________________.
Some of the mantle behaves like a ______________________ while other parts are partially ______________
and _______________ like a ____________________________. The partially molten layer of the mantle is
called the _________________________________.
Earth’s mantle is mainly composed of a rock called ________________________________.
Earth’s Crust
The crust is the _______________________________________________________________. Earth has two
kinds of crust: ____________________________________ and _____________________________________.
________________________________________ is the layer of rocks which form the ___________________.
Continental crust is made mostly of ____________________________________.
______________________________ is the layer of rocks which forms the ____________________________.
Oceanic crust is made mostly of __________________________.
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Earth’s Spheres
The Lithosphere
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Earth’s lithosphere is the _________________________________________ of the planet. The
lithosphere includes the ________________ and the solid, uppermost part of the layer below the crust,
the ______________________________.
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Earth’s _________________ and the ____________________________ are not parts of the lithosphere
but they do ____________________ with it.
The Hydrosphere
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The hydrosphere consists of the _______________________ in Earth’s __________________________
________________________________as well as the water in the _____________________________.
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About ___________________ of Earth’s water exists as ____________________; the remaining
____________________ is ____________________ contained in glaciers, in lakes and rivers, and
beneath Earth’s surface as groundwater.
The Atmosphere
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The atmosphere is the ____________________________________ that surrounds our planet.
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Earth’s atmosphere is _____________________ _________________________ by most living things,
________________ Earth’s inhabitants from harmful ____________________ from the __________,
and helps to keep the planet at a _______________________________________________________.
The Biosphere
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The biosphere includes _______________________________________________________ as well as
the _____________________________ in which they live.
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With some exceptions, most organisms exist _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________.
Earth’s Science Overview
Draw a picture representing each of the Earth’s spheres.
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Earth’s Science Overview
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Section Assessment
1. Match the following terms with their definitions.
______ geology
A. the study of objects beyond earth’s atmosphere.
______ oceanography
B. the study of the air that surrounds Earth
______ meteorology
C. the study of Earth’s oceans
______ astronomy
D. the study of the materials that make up Earth and the
Processes that form and change these materials
2. Which subspecialties of Earth science would apply to the following subjects?
_____________ Earthquakes along the San Andreas fault
_____________ Effects of climatic change on dinosaurs
_____________ Water flow into the Ogallala aquifer
_____________ The effects of logging on the Spotted Owl
_____________ Long term weather patterns in New England
3.
Identify whether the following statements are true or false.
______ The asthenosphere is part of the lithosphere.
______ You are part of the biosphere.
______ Less than 5% of Earth’s water is fresh water.
______ The Earth’s biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere are independent systems.
4.
Discuss how Earth science affects your everyday life.