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WOU ES 104 - Earth Science

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1. Earth Science a. Branches i. Geology—study of rocks, minerals, earthquakes, volcanoes, fossils, history ii. Oceanography—sea water, patterns, life, chemistry, physics, ocean basin characteristics iii. Meteorology—atmosphere, weather, climate, etc iv. Astronomy—Earth’s place in solar system and universe b. Environment and people—why is this stuff important? i. Our interaction with Earth can change things that affect us: floods, for example ii. We exploit Earth for resources—some are ‘renewable’, others are not. 2. Scientific inquiry a. process i. Gather data from observations and measurements 1. Assume consistent predictable system 2. Try to discover underlying patterns ii. Formulate plausible explanations for the data and patterns 1. Multiple working hypotheses 2. Deduce predictions beyond the data iii. Devise tests and additional observations to investigate the predictions iv. Revise, reject or accept hypothesis based upon results of the additional inquiries b. Scientific method then elevates supported hypotheses to theory i. Theory is rigorously tested ii. Agrees with observable facts iii. Not just an idea, but supported with evidence c. Scientific method requires i. Collection of facts ii. Development of working hypotheses iii. Tests of hypotheses iv. Review of hypothesis based upon facts ES104.2007.0925.Intro.doc Page 1 of 33. Scales of Earth Science—p 9 a. Extremely small to unimaginably large b. Distances, sizes, numbers, time i. Atoms in crystalline arrangement ii. Stars in the sky iii. Formation of mountain ranges c. Earth is 4500 million years old, or more (4.5 billion) i. Geologic time scale divided into meaningful intervals ii. Based on changes in fossil record iii. Correlated with numeric dates recently 4. Earth Spheres a. Hydrosphere i. Water planet—71% of surface covered ii. Average depth of ocean is over two miles iii. Most water is sea water, small portion is fresh and liquid b. Atmosphere i. Consider half of the molecules are within 3 ½ miles of surface. Other half are more diffuse with no definite outer boundary ii. Gaseous envelope that shields us from cosmic radiation iii. Surface layer is homogeneous mixture, outer layers differentiated by density iv. Has evolved with life on Earth c. Biosphere i. All of the organisms—animals, plants, bacteria, fungi ii. Interact with hydrosphere and atmosphere, depend on them, alter them d. Geosphere i. 6400 km radius (the distance from center to surface) ii. Dynamic and changing, but on a long time frame iii. Acted upon by the other three spheres 5. Mobile Geosphere a. Lithosphere moves around, puts continents in different places b. Oceanic crust is lower than continental crust, because it is denser. (It has ocean because it is lower.) i. Where there are collisions between continental crust and oceanic crust, the continent pushes the oceanic crust down into the mantle to be assimilated (destructive plate margin) ii. Consequence is younger oceans, older continents c. Continents are higher, and older, because they are less dense i. Margin at edge of oceanic crust is below sea level ii. Shelf is part of continent, just too much water to let it be above sea level. ES104.2007.0925.Intro.doc Page 2 of 3d. Places where crust is torn apart, there is a constructive margin, with mantle material filling in the rip from below. The hotness of this material makes it rise above adjacent ocean floor. 6. Earth System science a. Interaction of components, integration of biology, chemistry, physics, meteorology, geology b. System subject to feedback mechanisms—parts of the system that increase tendencies, or reduce tendencies i. Positive feedback mechanism Global climate change 1. warmer summers increase melting of ice 2. less ice, less reflection of heat 3. more warming, more melting ii. Negative feedback mechanism in Global climate change 1. increase in temperature increases evaporation 2. more evaporation, more clouds 3. clouds reflect heat, moderating temperature c. Cycles in Earth’s system i. hydrologic cycle—evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff. There are interactions with geosphere, biosphere and atmosphere in this cycle ii. rock cycle—come up from mantle as lava, or magma solidifies in upper crust. Hydrosphere dissolves, changes mineral composition, erosion removes material, deposits of sediments become rock, destructive margins may bring material back into crust and upper mantle to be recrystallized or melted. d. Energy of Earth’s systems comes from two sources i. Sun provides energy for biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere ii. Internal heat, from radioactive decay and gravitational compression fuel the movement of the geosphere. ES104.2007.0925.Intro.doc Page 3 of


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WOU ES 104 - Earth Science

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