1. Introduction to Earth Science

2. What is Earth Science?
Earth Science is a group of different sciences that deals with the Earth along with its neighbors in the universe.
We’ll start with understanding Earth itself then move on to space!

3. What Will We Study?
geology (physical and historical): study of the materials making up Earth, processes that shape it, & changes to Earth through geologic time
This segment focuses on the part of Earth called the geosphere.

4. oceanography: study of the ocean
~ ocean water composition, ways the waters move, & geology of the seafloor and coastlines
This segment focuses on the part of Earth called the hydrosphere.

5. meteorology: study of the atmosphere & processes that create weather and climate

6. astronomy: study of the universe
~ our solar system members (Sun, our moon, other planets, minor bodies) then out into the rest of the universe

7. Earth as Part of a System
we’ll study Earth as being part of a system
system: parts interacting with each other to form one complex thing
if you change one part, others are affected – for good or for bad – this includes humans!

8. natural systems need energy to power them so material can be moved around
Earth mainly uses the Sun
heat from the interior of Earth is a second source of energy

9. How Did Earth Get Here?
nebular hypothesis: enormous rotating cloud (nebula) made mostly of hydrogen & helium formed the bodies in solar system
cloud began to flatten in the center to create the Sun
nebula

10. nebula continued condensing to form other bodies
inner planets were made from metallic & rocky clumps
larger outer planets were made from fragments with high amounts of ices

11. Layers Form on Earth
as Earth formed, lighter rocky material floated outward toward the surface while heavier material moved to the center (created the geosphere)
gas escaped from the interior to gradually form the beginning of our atmosphere & the oceans (hydrosphere)

12. You can already see how what we will be studying this year is interconnected – each part building & depending upon the others.
Let’s begin!