INTRODUCTION TO GEOSCIENCE “WHEN THE WELL'S DRY, WE KNOW THE WORTH OF WATER.” -BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

IF SCIENCE IS THE STUDY OF THE NATURAL WORLD, WHAT COULD BE MORE OBVIOUS THAN TO STUDY THE LAND, SKY, WATER, AND SPACE SURROUNDING US?WATER Earth Science is the name for the group of sciences that deals with Earth and its neighbors in space.

MAJOR BRANCHES OF EARTH SCIENCE Geology Oceanography Meteorology Astronomy

Geology – literally the “study of Earth” Oceanography – a study of the ocean Meteorology – the study of the atmosphere and the processes that produce weather Astronomy – the study of the universe

WORD ROOTS Geo (Greek) - earth, soil, global Bio (Greek) - life, living matter Graph (Greek) - recording, written Astro (Latin) - stars, outer space Nom (Latin) – name Meteor (Greek word meteoron) "in the sky" or "high in the sky” Ology (Greek word logos) meaning “knowledge” or “study of” Hydro (Greek) meaning “water”

Why is it important to study each branch of Earth science? What might be the repercussions of studying only a couple of branches?

EARTH'S SPHERES AtmosphereGeosphere Hydrosphere Biosphere

THE EARTH’S SPHERES Hydrosphere Ocean – the most prominent feature of the hydrosphere Also includes fresh water found in streams, lakes, and glaciers, as well as that found underground Atmosphere Thin blanket of air Biosphere Includes all life Concentrated near the surface in a zone that extends from the ocean floor upward for several kilometers into the atmosphere Geosphere Located beneath the Oceans and the Atmosphere

EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE A system is a group of interacting parts that form a complex whole. The Earth is a system made of numerous interacting parts! What happens when one of the parts is broken? Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s Not. Dr. Seuss, The Lorax