Would You Rather… On an index card… Would you rather… live somewhere with… Lots of daily mini-earthquakes OR One MASSIVE volcanic eruption every 5 years? WHY?!

Part 1: Geosphere The solid part of Earth Includes : Rocks Soil Sand Earth’s Interior

Geosphere

Earth’s Interior Three layers of the Earth – Crust, Mantle, Core The Crust Only 1% of the entire Earth’s mass Made of mostly lighter elements

The Mantle About 64% of the mass of the Earth Rocks of of medium density Three sub layers Lithosphere – Earth’s crust and the rigid, uppermost part of the mantle Asthenosphere – Mostly solid mantle rock that moves very slowly Mesosphere – “middle sphere”, between the asthenosphere and the core

The Core About 35% of the mass of the Earth Two sub layers Outer core dense liquid layer (nickel and iron) 7200 - 9032 ºF (4000-5000ºC) Inner Core Spinning – creates the Earth’s magnetic poles Immense pressure solid nickel and iron 9032 – 10,832 ºF (5000-6000 ºC)

Plate Tectonics Tectonic Plates Large pieces of lithosphere “Float” on the asthenosphere Most geologic activity occurs where these plates meet

Plate Tectonics 1. Convergent 2. Divergent 3. Transform

Convergent Boundaries= plates are moving towards each other Causes subduction or collisions Subduction: One plate is pushed under the other Causes volcanic activity Collisions: Both plates are pushed upward Forms mountains

Convergent Boundaries

Divergent Boundaries: Plates are moving away from each other Forms rift valleys, mid-ocean ridges, and new land in lithosphere

Transform Boundaries 2 plates are sliding past each other Causes earthquakes

Volcanoes Mountains built by magma (melted rock) As tectonic plates slide across each other, allows magma from below to be released Can cause local effects – damage towns and farmland with magma, mudslides, hot ash and dust Can cause global effects – clouds of gas and ash enter the atmosphere and reduce the amount of sunlight that hits the Earth…cooling the average global temperature

Sad, but true… The biggest volcanic eruption occurred in 1815 on Indonesian Island of Tambora. 10,000 people died from the eruption 82,000 more people died from disease and starvation afterwards!

Weathering “The breakdown of rocks by weather and water”

Erosion “Process of carrying off the broken-down material from weathering” Erosion from rivers and oceans are constantly shaping the land Wind erosion can blow away top soil reducing plant growth

3.2 Atmosphere Layer of air that surrounds earth N2, O2, CO2, H20 Energy from the sun Travels in waves Only a small portion is in the VISIBLE SPECTRUM

3.2 The Atmosphere (page 71) Divided into 4 layers. Made of: 78% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen 1% water vapor, dust particles, small amounts .04% CO2

4 Layers of Atmosphere Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere

Troposphere Layer of the atmosphere that touches the surface of Earth. Virtually all human activities occur in the troposphere. Closest to Earth’s surface Densest layer The majority of our weather occurs here

Stratosphere Next layer above troposhere (10- 30 MILES up) Contains: 90% of OZONE LAYER *Most commercial airline traffic occurs in the lower part of the stratosphere.

Greenhouse Effect CO2 needed for photosynthesis and capturing warmth radiating from earth But, too much CO2 is being released from organisms, volcanoes, and burning of fossil fuels. Causes buildup of CO2, which traps sunlight, and causes warming and climate changes.

GREENHOUSE EFFECT Example of humans changing the env’t “constant adding of CO2 to our atmosphere” Does not allow the heat from the sun to radiate back out into space. This capturing of heat is called the greenhouse effect.

3 Ways Energy Transferred in the Atmosphere Radiation – transfer of energy across space (atmosphere) Conduction – the flow of heat from a warmer object to a colder object in direct physical contact Convection – transfer of heat by currents (hot air rises and cold air sinks)

Illustration

OZONE LAYER Has 3 oxygen atoms O3 Filters out UV radiation from sun No ozone = no filtering which would kill most of life on earth! The reduction of ozone layer will cause an increase of UV radiation at ground level. An excess of UV rays has been linked to skin burns, skin cancer, cataracts, and harm to certain crops and marine organisms.

Montreal Protocol The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of a number of substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987 and entered into force on January 1, 1989

MESOSPHERE 50 - 85km high Coldest layer = -100*C. (-148*F) In this region, concentrations of ozone and water vapor are negligible. Hence the temperature is lower than that of the troposphere or stratosphere.

Thermosphere Outer most layer Temps of 2000*C (3632*F!) Air pressure is less than 1/10th Of earth Known as IONOSPHERE

IONOSPHERE Ions reunite with electrons and makes LIGHT! Happens at the poles Called AURORA LIGHTS North Pole = Aurora Borealis South Pole = Aurora Australis

Hydrosphere

3.3 Hydrosphere Parts of the earth made of water Includes: Oceans Lakes Rivers Underground water Clouds

Why water? Life on earth could not exist without water for obvious reasons! But….another thing large bodies of water does for the planet is retain heat! This keeps earth at a steady temperature instead of completely depending on outside heat!

Hydrosphere 70% of planet earth! Aka – “water planet” 97% is salt water! 2/3rds of freshwater is frozen!

The Oceans… Maintains a global temperature Absorbs and releases heat slower than land Ocean temperatures fluctuate less than land Ocean currents influence the weather and climate on land areas they flow by

Fresh Water: 2 types Surface water Ground Water - found in lakes, streams, rain runoff Ground Water Found underground and moves thru small spaces. AQUIFER= =underground layer of pourous rock with water in it.

Fresh Water A little more that 3% of all water on Earth Most is locked up in icecaps and glaciers The rest is in lakes, rivers, wetlands, soil, rock layers and atmosphere

Saltwater Earths Oceans 70% of the Earth’s surface Four Oceans – Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic Average depth 4,280 m (over 2.5 miles) Deepest point 11,033 m below sea level (almost 7 miles)

Salinity Salinity – the concentration of all the dissolved salts in a body of water Make up: Chlorine – 55% Sodium – 30.6% Magnesium – 7.7% Sulfur – 3.7% Calcium – 1.2% Potassium – 1.1% Other – 0.7%

Currents

Water Cycle Evaporation Precipitation Transpiration Condensation

The Water Cycle Evaporation – Liquid water is heated by the sun and turns to water vapor Condensation – water vapor forms water droplets on dust particles (forms clouds) - Precipitation – larger droplets in atmosphere drop as rain, snow, sleet, or hail

Biosphere Encompasses all of the living parts of Earth Where all living things get the energy they need to live.