1. UNIT TWO: Earth’s Air and Water
WHAT IS EARTH SCIENCE?
UNIT TWO: Earth’s Air and Water

2. Earth Science Biosphere Hydrosphere Geosphere Atmosphere
We can visualize the Earth system as a set of four overlapping, interacting spheres. Lets take a closer look ….
Biosphere
Hydrosphere
Geosphere
Atmosphere

3. Earth Science is…
The study of Earth’s interior, rocks and soil, atmosphere, oceans and outer space.
EARTH SCIENCE IS ABOUT CONNECTIONS
System- an organized group of parts that work together to form a whole

4. EARTH SCIENCE VOCABULARY
HEAT ENERGY FROM INSIDE THE EARTH AND RADIATION FROM THE SUN PROVIDE ENERGY FOR EARTH’S PROCESSES.
EARTH SCIENCE VOCABULARY
Energy- the ability to cause change.
Evaporation- the process by which liquid changes into gas.
Convection- hot material rises, cools, then sinks until it is heated enough to rise again.
Radiation- energy that moves in certain types of waves.

5. The Four Parts of the Earth System
ATMOSPHERE: THE MIXTURE OF GASES THAT SURROUNDS AND PROTECTS THE EARTH
COMPOSITION:
NITROGEN (78%)
OXYGEN (21%)
CARBON DIOXIDE
WATER VAPOR
OTHER GASES
STUDIED WITH:
WEATHER BALLOONS
PLANES
SATELLITES

6. The Four Parts of the Earth System
HYDROSPHERE: MADE UP OF ALL THE WATER ON THE EARTH (OCEANS, LAKES, GLACIERS, RIVERS, UNDERGROUND)
WATER COVERS ¾ OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE
ONLY 3% IS FRESH WATER
NEARLY 70% IS IN GLACIERS AND POLAR ICE CAPS
STUDIED WITH:
DEAP –SEA VEHICLES
BUOYS
SATELLITE IMAGES
DIVING SUITS
AFFECTS THE ATMOSPHERE WHEN WARM/COLD OCEAN CURRENTS INTERACT WITH WIND CURRENTS

7. The Four Parts of the Earth System
BIOSPHERE: INCLUDES ALL LIFE ON EARTH (IN THE AIR, WATER, AND ON LAND)
STUDIED WITH:
SATELLITE PHOTOS TRACK YEARLY CHANGES IN PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT ALLOWS SCIENTISTS TO STUDY PLACES WITHOUT HARMING THEM
WHEN TREES EXCHANGE GASES THE BIOSPHERE INTERACTS WITH THE ATMOSPHERE

8. The Four Parts of the Earth System
GEOSPHERE: ALL FEATURES ON THE EARTH’S SURFACE (CRUST) ALONG WITH THE MANTLE, INNER AND OUTER CORES.
STUDIED WITH:
SATELLITE IMAGES
SOUND WAVES
COMPUTER MODELING
MATTER MOVES FROM THE GEOSPHERE TO THE ATMOSPHERE WHEN VOLCANOES EXPLODE