Chapter 1: Earth as a System

Chapter 1: Earth as a System

Science is: Any system of knowledge which tries to observe, identify, understand and describe the nature of the Universe in whole or part.

Science explains and predicts the interactions and dynamics of complex Earth systems.

Science involves unbiased observations and study, and systematic experimentation (Scientific Method) carried on in order to determine the nature of what is being studied.

Science enables you to understand your world. Every time you try to find out how and why things look and act the way they do, YOU ARE ACTING LIKE A SCIENTIST!

Why Study Earth Science??

Earthquakes

Tornado path Tornadoes

Mining Minerals

Oil Exploration

Why Study Earth Science? 1.Resources, Economics 2. Hazards 3. Human sustainability 4. Engineering 5. Military 6. Pure Science and Understanding

The objective of Earth Science is to understand the history of the Earth and how it will behave in the future, to find and manage the Earth s natural resources on which our civilization depends

And, finally, simply to understand the nature of our own back yard.

Earth Science Disciplines Geology Oceanography Hydrology Astronomy Meteorology

Geology is the study of Earth, its matter, and the processes that form and change Earth. Some of the things Geologists look at are volcanoes, earthquakes, maps, fossils, mountains, and land uses.

Meteorology is the study of weather and the forces and processes that cause it. Meteorologists study storm patterns, climates, and what factors causes our daily weather.

Astronomy is the study of objects in space, including stars, planets, and comets. Astronomers study space objects and seek evidence about the beginning and future of the universe.

Oceanography is the study of Earth s oceans. Oceanographers study the processes that occur within oceans and the effects humans have on these processes.

Hydrology is the study of the Earth s fresh water, and its interaction with the land, as part of the water cycle. Hydrologists help provide information needed to find adequate supplies of fresh water. They also study floods and water pollution.

Chapter 1.1 Earth Systems Science The Earth Sciences Physics Astronomy Geology Oceanography Biology Meteorology Hydrology Chemistry

Advances in technology have allowed scientists to study the Earth in a variety of different ways. Submersible Seismometer Satellite

Satellites and space craft allow us to view, photograph and map Earth from Space.

Submersibles and ships allow us to view, photograph and map the ocean floor.

ROV S

Buoys and other monitoring devices provide us with data related to events such as tsunamis and earthquakes.

Powerful computer programs called GIS (Geographic Information Systems) help scientists organize, layer, query and interpret huge amounts of collected data in order to study how the Earth changes over time.

Layering of Elevation and Vegetation Data

What data do you think this image displays?

The information collected from this technology has provided scientists with an understanding that the Earth s spheres are strongly connected and interactive, and that the Earth is more than a collection of separate parts. This new method of studying the Earth is called: Earth Systems Science.

Earth Systems Science

Using data from modern technology, scientists can create complex representations of how the Earth works. These representations of Earth processes are called models. Tsunami Modeling Program

Tsunami Model

What is a System? A System is defined as: A part of the Universe that can be studied separately. The Solar System

Example: Respiratory System

System models can be used to study what happened in the past, what is currently happening, and what might happen in the future. Galactic Collision

Earth Science is the study of our planet s interacting systems, its place within the solar system, and the universe beyond the earth. Closed Systems energy can be exchanged, but matter can not (it doesn t enter or leave the system). Open Systems energy and matter are freely exchanged between the system and its surroundings.

ENERGY Closed Systems - can enter, MATTER but doesn t enter or leave. Can energy in the form of light enter? Can energy in the form of heat enter? Can my soda (matter) come out? Can the buildings (matter) leave the snowglobe? http://thefutureofartificialintelligence.blogspot.com/2008/11/ai-132-artificial-intelligence-agents.html http://swervechurch.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/snow_globe.jpg

ENERGY and MATTER Open Systems - are freely exchanged between the system and its surroundings. Energy and matter are able to be exchanged in this system. Soda and ice (matter) can be put back into glass, or can spill out of glass into the environment. http://www.displayit-info.com/food/images/drinks/2120.jpg Main Pass Energy Hub Initial design had open-loop system (sucked up seawater to cool the operating units).

Earth Systems Science studies the flow of matter and energy in and out of the Earth s open systems, or Spheres.

Chapter 1.2 The Earth s Four Spheres Geosphere

Matter and energy move back and forth between the different Earth Spheres, and the different spheres interact every day, all around you. Can you think of some examples of how this is so?

Geosphere and?

Atmosphere and?

Geosphere and?

and?

Interactions among the Spheres Volcanoes ( ) erupt, sending ash and gases into the air ( ), and sending lava and ash down on surrounding forests ( ) and human habitations ( ).

Interactions among the Spheres Hurricanes ( ) Sweep across the ocean ( ), and onto the Land ( ), damaging The dwellings of people ( ) who live along The coast.

Interactions among the Earth s spheres change the spheres to differing degrees. These impacts can be single events, temporary changes, or ongoing change.

Single event example: meteorite impact that causes massive global extinction)

Ongoing change, steady process (example: Erosion)

Section 1.3: Cycles and the Earth Focus Question: What are Cycles, and how do they work? Key Vocabulary: Cycle Evapotranspiration Geothermal Energy Solar Energy Tidal Energy Albedo Carbon Cycle Tectonic Cycle Rock Cycle Water Cycle Energy Cycle

Cycles and the Earth A Cycle is a series of steps that repeats. Some cycles (water cycle) repeat over relatively short periods of time, while others repeat over millions of years. On Earth, the water cycle, energy cycle, carbon cycle, tectonic cycle and rock cycle work together to maintain a dynamic planet.

The Water Cycle

What is Happening?

Carbon Cycle Carbon is the building block of life. On Earth it is present in all organic materials and in materials that are derived from once living things (such as coal and oil)

Carbon Cycle Carbon is found in: The atmosphere (mostly as CO2) Living things: Trees and plants (they breath in carbon from the atmosphere) and animals (like humans we exhale carbon) Oceans Sediments Fossil Fuels

The Carbon Cycle

The Rock Cycle The rock cycle describes the dynamic transition, over geologic time, between the three main rock types: Sedimentary, Metamorphic and Igneous. Rocks are changed or destroyed when they are forced out of equilibrium conditions, due to the driving forces of plate tectonics and the water cycle that expose rocks to new environments. Through these processes each rock type can become transformed into another rock type.

The Rock Cycle

Tectonic Cycle The Earth s geologic history is one of continents rifting and diverging, forming new ocean basins, followed by motion reversal and convergence back together, plate collision and mountain-building (formation and destruction of supercontinents and ocean basins). The plate tectonic cycle is driven by earth s internal heat and results in the slow but continuous recycling of material through the mantle and back up into the crust. This cycle of opening and closing oceanic basins, and rifting and converging continents is called a Wilson Cycle.

Tectonic Cycle

Tectonic Cycle The Tectonic Cycle rebuilds the land and prevents the Earth s surface from being weathered and eroded to sea-level or below. The Tectonic Cycle brings minerals that are vital to human civilization to the Earth s surface.

Energy Cycle The water and carbon cycles are like wheels with water and carbon continually moving back and forth between the spheres. The energy cycle is more like a scale. The amount of energy that enters the system should equal the amount of energy that is removed. Earth s energy cycle is also called the energy budget.

Energy Cycle There are 3 main sources of energy for the Earth s energy budget: Solar Energy (~ 99%) Geothermal Energy (~ 0.01%) Tidal Energy (~0.002%)

Energy Cycle Solar Energy Solar Energy comes from nuclear fusion reactions in the sun. Drives the winds, ocean currents, and waves

Energy Cycle Geothermal Energy Geothermal Energy originates in the Earth from the decay of radioactive materials. Drives the movement of the continents, powers volcanoes, geysers, and earthquakes.

Energy Cycle Tidal Energy Tidal Energy a result of the pull of the moon on the Earth s oceans Slows down Earth s rotation and causes the oceans to bulge.

Energy Cycle To maintain the balance of the energy cycle/budget the incoming energy must go somewhere. About 40% is reflected back into space without being changed. The remaining energy is used within the Earth s systems. As energy moves through the Earth s system, it is changed. With every change a little bit of energy is lost to the cycle.

Is Earth an Open or Closed System?? http://www.all-creatures.org/hope/img/earth-light.jpg