1. Chapter 1 section 4
Earth system science

2. 1.4 Earth System Science What Is a System?
 A system is any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole.
 Closed systems are self contained, energy may be exchanged but matter doesn’t enter or leave. (jar of tea, ocean submersible).
 Open systems allow both energy and matter to flow in and out of the system (open jar of tea, a river system, island).

3. 1.4 Earth System Science Earth as a System
 Earth is a dynamic body with many separate but highly interacting parts or spheres.
Earth system science studies Earth as a system that is composed of numerous parts, or subsystems.
Earth is considered a closed system, but not entirely.
Earth exchanges energy, but its mass changes very little. Meteors can add little mass. Hydrogen atoms can escape from the atmosphere. Our resources will eventually run out.

4. 1.4 Earth System Science Earth as a System  Sources of Energy
• Sun—drives external processes such as weather, ocean circulation and erosional processes
• Earth’s interior—drives internal processes including volcanoes, earthquakes and mountain building

5. 1.4 Earth System Science Earth as a System
 Consists of a nearly endless array of subsystems (e.g., hydrologic cycle)
Humans are part of the Earth system.
Our actions produce changes in all of the other parts of the Earth system.

6. 1.4 Earth System Science People and the Environment  Environment
• Surrounds and influences organisms
Physical environment encompasses water, air, soil, and rock
The term environmental is usually reserved for those aspects that focus on the relationships between people and the natural environment.

7. 1.4 Earth System Science People and the Environment  Resources
• Include water, soil, minerals, and energy
• Two broad categories
1. Renewable—can be replenished (e.g., plants, energy from water and wind)
2. Nonrenewable—cannot be replenished in the near future (e.g., metals, fuels)

8. Resources
What are some renewable and non renewable resources we used?

9. 1.4 Earth System Science People and the Environment  Population
• Population of the planet is growing rapidly
• Use of minerals/energy has climbed more rapidly than the overall growth of population

10. Growth of World Population
Plague of the Potato famine of 1800’s. Flu epidemic of AIDS epidemic. Resources when will they run out? How do we keep going? What should we do?

11. Population question
What impact could higher populations have on the environment?

12. 1.4 Earth System Science Environmental Problems
 Local, regional, and global
 Caused by people and societies
• Urban air pollution
• Acid rain
• Ozone depletion
Loss of soil to erosion. Disposal of toxic wastes. Contamination and depletion of our water supplies.
• Global warming
 Caused by natural hazards
• Earthquakes
• Landslides

13. How does this affect the earth system?
Go through how air pollution affects not only the air, but then the water, the plants and animals of the planet and the climate.

14. How does this affect the earth system?
Go over how this affects/poisons plants and animals and fishes, how this could lead to polluted air/clouds and affect the drinking water supply.

15. How does this affect the earth system?
Go over how acid rain affects not only the trees, but the animals that live in the trees, the ones who depend on the forest for shelter, industry of trees, soil quality, etc…
Forest in Europe destroyed by acid rain

16. How does this affect the earth system?
Buildings destroyed by an earthquake

17. How does population affect the earth system?
Discuss use of resources, limited space and urbanization.

19. 1.5 What Is Scientific Inquiry?
Science
1.5 What Is Scientific Inquiry?
 Science assumes the natural world is
• consistent
• predictable
 Goals of science are
• to discover patterns in nature
• to use the knowledge to predict

20. 1.5 What Is Scientific Inquiry?
Hypothesis and Theory
1.5 What Is Scientific Inquiry?
 An idea can become a
____________:tentative or untested explanation
________:tested, confirmed, supported hypothesis
 Scientific Method
Gather facts through observation
Formulate hypotheses
Test hypotheses to formulate theories

21. 1.5 What Is Scientific Inquiry?
Science Methods
1.5 What Is Scientific Inquiry?
 Scientific knowledge is gained through
• following systematic steps
1. Identify the problem
2. Collecting facts
3. Developing a hypothesis
4. Conducting experiments
5. Reexamining the hypothesis and accepting, modifying, or rejecting it
• theories that withstand examination
totally unexpected occurrences