Science is:
Any system of knowledge which tries to observe, identify, understand and describe the nature of the Universe, in whole or part. Science involves unbiased observations and study, and systematic experimentation (Scientific Method) carried on in order to understand what is being studied.
What is Science?
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!
So Never Say, “I don’t understand Science!!”
Everyone, whether you like Science, or not, has wondered why something is the way it is!
Earth Science is the study of our entire planet, its past history and change, its present activity, and the way that it will change in the future.
What is Earth Science??
Earth Science is the study of our planet’s interacting systems (the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere) , its place within the solar system, and the universe beyond the earth.
What is Earth Science?
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…
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 waters. Hydrologists help provide
information needed to find adequate supplies of fresh water. They also study
floods and water pollution.
Advances in technology have allowed scientists to study the Earth in a
variety of different ways.
Submersible
Seismometer
Satellite
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 and interpret
huge amounts of collected data in order to study how the Earth changes over time.
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.
Using data from modern technology, scientists can create complex
representations of how the Earth and other parts of our Universe “work”. These
representations of Earth processes are called models.
Tsunami Modeling Program
A System is defined as: A part of the Universe that can be studied separately.
What is a System?
The Solar 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
Two Types of Systems
1. Closed System: Energy may enter and leave, but matter does not. (examples?)
2. Open System: System and its surroundings freely exchange both matter and energy. (examples?)
What is the Earth?
Earth Systems Science studies the flow of energy in and out of the
Earth’s open systems, or Spheres.
Matter and energy move back and forth between the different Earth Spheres, every
day, all around you
Can you think of some examples of how this is so?
Interactions among the Earth’s spheres change the spheres to differing
degrees.
These impacts can be single events, temporary changes, or ongoing change.