What is Earth Science

August 9, 2012

Earth Science is the study of the Land, Water, Air of Earth, and the space surrounding it.

The “Four Biggies” of Earth Sciences

Astronomy ~ The study of the “Astros”. Some people call this Cosmology, or the study of the “Cosmos”. Americans have astronauts, the Russians have cosmonauts and the Chinese have talkonaughts.

Meteorology ~ The study of the air. That is why rocks falling through the air are called Meteors. These same things are Meteorites AFTER they hit the ground (assuming they do hit the ground and do not burn up), and meteoroids when they are in space.

Geology ~ The study of the Earth crust to core. The Earth is about 4.6 billion years old, and geologists try to determine how it got here, what it is doing, and what will happen in the future.

Oceanography ~ The study of the oceans. The oceans cover roughly ¾ of the Earth, and more people have been on the MOON than on the bottom of the ocean. The oceans account for most of our oxygen production, and much of the world’s energy production, food production and transportation needs.

The oceans are also the number one location of our trash disposal and waste remediation. If you throw a cigarette butt into the street, the chances are very, very good that it will end up in the Atlantic Ocean.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_update/gsstanim.shtml

The countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea dump 30-50 million tons of untreated or partially treated urban wastes and sewage into coastal waters every year.

Calcutta and Mumbai (Bombay), India, dump 400 million and 365 million tons, respectively, of raw sewage and other municipal wastes into coastal waters every year.

The four main spheres of Earth Science

Lithosphere ~ Litho roughly means “rock”. Lithosphere, therefore, roughly means all the things that are made up of solid rock.

Continental crust is that part of the lithospheric crust that continent float on.

Granite, pinkish and not really dense

Oceanic crust is that part of the lithoshperic crust that oceans float on.

Basalt, dark and very dense

Hydrosphere ~ Hydro roughly means “water”. If it has water, it is part of the hydrosphere. The hydrosphere has about 97% of the in the form of seawater. Frozen water accounts for about 2%, and the last 1% is fresh, with a VERY small amount of the total being evaporated gas in the atmosphere.

Atmosphere ~ This is the layer of gas surrounding the Planet, and extending far, far out into space. It is about 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 1% everything else. This ratio is not unchanging. In the equatorial rainforest, just before it rains, the atmosphere may be as much as 4% water vapor. Water vapor is a very powerful greenhouse gas.

Biosphere ~ Bio roughly means “life”, so this is the stuff on Earth that is alive. The biological action of things on Earth has changed the atmosphere is a dramatic way (we now have oxygen). Living organisms have also changed the Lithosphere and the Hydrosphere, but to an obviously lesser degree.

Vocabulary words you should know

AstronomyMeteorologyGeologyOceanographyLithosphereHydrosphereAtmosphereBiosphereEarth ScienceEarth System

Earth Science

Earth Science

Geology

Meteorology

Oceanology

Astronomy

LithosphereAtmosphere

Biosphere Hydrosphere