BRANCHES OF EARTH SCIENCE Close your eyes and imagine you are at your favorite vacation spot or just your favorite place outdoors. Look around in your favorite spot and identify 5 naturally occurring things(Ex: Sun, trees, flowers, water clouds, etc) List and describe specifically what each of these things look like.

THE NATURE OF EARTH SCIENCE Earth Science is very broad, but can be broken down into 4 major branches of specialization: 1. Astronomy 2. Meteorology 3. Geology 4. Oceanography

ASTRONOMY The study of objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Astronomers study the  Universe Everything in the universe Earth, its neighbors and other bodies in the Universe

METEOROLOGY Meteorology is the specialization concerned with studying the air that surrounds our planet. Meteorologists study the Forces and processes that cause the atmosphere to change to produce weather Predict the weather and how changes might affect the Earth’s climate.

GEOLOGY The study of the materials that make up the Earth and the processes that form and change these materials. Geologists Identify rocks Study glacial movements Interpret clues to Earth’s History Determine how forces change our planet

OCEANOGRAPHY The study of Earth’s Oceans which cover ¾ of our planet. Oceanographers study Creatures that inhabit salty water Different physical and chemical properties of the oceans Processes in the oceans Effects of humans on saltwater bodies

Lithosphere Hydrosphere Atmosphere Biosphere THE 4 EARTH SYSTEMS Lithosphere Hydrosphere Atmosphere Biosphere

Lithosphere- The crust and the upper portion of the mantle

Hydrosphere- All of the Earth's water, including surface water (water in oceans, lakes, and rivers), groundwater (water in soil and beneath the Earth's surface), snowcover, ice, and water in the atmosphere, including water vapor

HYDROSPHERE 97% salt water 3% fresh water ¾ fresh water in glaciers and icebergs

Atmosphere - The blanket of gas on the surface of a planet or satellite

78% Nitrogen 21% oxygen 1% all other gasses

Biosphere - The parts of the land, sea, and atmosphere in which organisms are able to live

None of the Earth’s systems are independent, that is they are INTERDEPENDENT.