1. Geosciences and Environmental Sciences are linked •
Both involve an understanding of many different scientific disciplines
Physics- Bio & Geophysicists
Biology - Ecologists, Paleontologists
Geology- Pedologists (soils), hydrologists, Geologists
Chemistry – Environmental & Aqueous Geochemists
Meteorology-Meteorologists and Climatologists
Oceanography - Oceanographers
Astronomy- Astronomers and Astrophysicists
Together these disciplines form a broad-based scientific community that serves to understand the natural world using the scientific method through investigation of data from Earth’s major systems

2. Interconnectedness of Earth’s Systems•
Earth's physical systems can be
divided into 5 categories or
5 Spheres of Influence •
Exosphere
Atmosphere
Exosphere- the stuff from space that affects systems on Earth
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere - the gas surrounding
the planet
Biosphere
Hydrosphere - the water
Geosphere
Geosphere-(a.k.a.- lithosphere)
the rocks
Biosphere- the living things on the
Earth

3. Examples of our interaction with Earth Systems
February -May Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland shuts down air traffic for weeks in Europe
July-August Monsoons dump massive amounts of rain in Pakistan, people dead; about 1.25 million people displaced, 1/5 of the country under water.

4. Our interaction with Earth Systems Science
Feb 12, Sinkhole opens up in a few minutes in Bowling Green, KY. Swallows up 7 classic corvettes leaving a massive hole under the museum floor.
March 2011 Mag 9.0 earthquake & tsunami strikes Japan. 20,000 people dead; about 10,000 people injured and 200,000 left homeless. Significant damage to nuclear power plant

5. April 20, Oil drilling platform explodes and sinks, killing 11 workers, creating the largest oil spill in human history, and damaging the ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico.

6. Dust storms hit southern Arizona- 4 times the Phoenix, AZ area has been affected by these events in 2011

7. The SCIENCE of GLOBAL CHANGE
Scientists know an awful lot about the Earth’s systems
Scientists still have much to learn about the Earth’s systems
Change is the RULE, not the exception
Many things- some large, some small- influence climate
position and amount of land on planet
ocean-atmosphere-land dynamics
incoming solar radiation fluctuations
reflectance and absorption of solar energy
carbon cycle
water cycle
population of organisms (e.g., phytoplankton, humans)
percentage of gases in atmosphere
volcanic eruptions and meteorite impacts
Many of the above interact with other factors in semi-predictable ways

8. Importance in understanding this concept Importance to us (humans)• •
Humans could not exist without resources from the
We could not exist without resources from the
various spheres of influence
various spheres of influence - -
Minerals from the lithosphere
Minerals from the lithosphere - -
Oxygen from the biosphere and atmosphere
Oxygen from the biosphere and atmosphere - -
Water from the hydrosphere
Water from the hydrosphere - -
Protection by the atmosphere
Protection by the atmosphere - -
"star stuff" from the exosphere • •
Need to understand our place on the planet
Need to understand the world around us - -
must use our resources wisely
must use our resources wisely
>
>
most are limited; many are shared by other species
most are limited - -
Understanding is needed to make informed decisions
on public policy
Must make informed decisions on public policy -
Must make informed decisions on private matters

9. Why think about any of this stuff?
Citizens of Earth have a responsibility to know about the planet on which ALL of us live.
Must make INFORMED decisions based on a sound understanding of the Earth, its resources, and its limits. Gut instincts or feelings commonly don’t provide an adequate foundation for decision making.
Must care enough about yourself, your family, your friends and community NOW and IN THE FUTURE to ACT on that information in a responsible manner.

10. Do we want to be as Agent Smith from “The Matrix” claims…
“I'd like to share a revelation that I've had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species and I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to an area and you multiply and multiply until every natural resource is consumed and the only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You're a plague and we are the cure.”