The Earth

The Solid Earth

 Earth’s Structure
• Crust
– The thin, outer layer of the lithosphere
that forms Earth’s surface
• Mantle
– The thick, solid layer in the earth
• Core
– Forms the center of the earth
 Earth Science
• Geology
– Concerned with solid Earth; the rocks of
which it is composed, and the processes
by which they change over time
 Earth Science
• Meteorology
– Study of the atmosphere that focuses on
weather processes and forecasting
 Earth Science
• Oceanography
– Study of the physical and biological
aspects of the ocean
 Earth Science

• Astronomy
– Study of the
heavenly
bodies (non-
Earthly
bodies)
 Earth Systems
• External Effects (Astronomical)
• Atmospheric Circulation
• Oceanic Circulation
• Hydrologic Cycle
• Rock Cycle
• Plate Tectonics
Earth Systems
Earth Systems
Earth Systems
Earth Systems
Earth Systems
Earth Systems
Earth Systems
Earth Systems
 Earth’s Spheres
• Biosphere
– the domain of life, from several km deep
in the lithosphere to 10 km or so above
the surface
• Hydrosphere
– the zone of liquid water on earth
– Dominated by the oceans, includes lakes
and rivers and underground water
 Earth’s Sphere
• Cryosphere
– zone of frozen water on the earth
– the Antarctic and Greenland ice caps,
glaciers
– permanently frozen ground (permafrost)
– cryosphere is often considered part of the
hydrosphere
• Atmosphere
– the whole mass of air that surrounds the Earth
 Layers of the Atmosphere
• Troposphere
– Inner, lowest layer of earth’s atmosphere
• Stratosphere
• Mesosphere
• Thermosphere
– the whole mass of air that surrounds the Earth
TroposphereStratosphereMesosphereThermosphere
 Layers of the Atmosphere
• Troposphere
– Inner, lowest layer of earth’s
atmosphere
– Where the Earth’s weather occurs
– 0-12 km above sea level
– As altitude increases, the temperature
decreases
 Layers of the Atmosphere
• Stratosphere
– Where airplanes fly
– Extends from the top of the
troposphere to ~50km above sea level
– Lower part is cold
– Upper par warmer – because of a layer
of ozone (absorbs energy from the sun)
 Layers of the Atmosphere
• Mesosphere
– Middle layer of the atmosphere
– Shooting stars and meteoroids leave a
trail of burning gases in the mesosphere
– Coldest part of the atmosphere (can
reach -90°C)
 Layers of the Atmosphere
• Thermosphere
– Air is thin = fewer air molecules
– layer of the atmosphere where the energy
from the sun first strikes
– Very hot (ave. temp = 1800°C), the gases are
being heated
– Where astronauts are
– Two layers: ionosphere, exosphere
 Layers of the Atmosphere
• Thermosphere
–Ionosphere
• Has electrically charged particles from
the Sun’s energy called ‘ions’
• Aurora borealis (Northern Lights) is a
brilliant light display caused by particles
from the Sun that enter the ionosphere
 Layers of the Atmosphere
• Thermosphere
–Exosphere
• The outer layer of the atmosphere
where satellites are located
 Short Quiz!
Identification
1.Refers to the study of the heavenly
bodies
2.Zone of frozen water
3.Study of the earth’s weather
4.Study of the earth’s solid structure
5.Zone of liquid on earth
 Short Quiz!
6. What is the coldest part of the atmosphere?
7. In which layer of the atmosphere does aurora
borealis occur? (general-specific)
8. In which layer of the atmosphere would you
see a shooting star?
9. Which layer does the earth’s weather occur?
10. What is the outermost layer of the
atmosphere? (specific)
 Short Quiz!
11-15. Write down 5 steps of the Scientific
method.
 Short Quiz!
Identification
1.Astronomy
2.Cryosphere
3.Meteorology
4.Geology
5.Hydrosphere
 Answers
6. Mesosphere
7. Thermosphere – ionosphere
8. Mesosphere
9. Troposphere
10. Exosphere
 Answers
1)Identify a Problem
2) Observation
3) Hypothesis
4) Experiment
5) Collection of Data
6) Conclusion
7) Retest
 Topography
• Topography
–the shape of the land
–Determined by the area’s elevation,
relief, and landforms
–James Hutton – principle of
Uniformitarianism
 Topography
• Constructive forces
–shape the surface by building up
mountains and land areas
• Destructive forces
–Slowly wear away mountains and
every other feature on the surface
 Topography
• Elevation
– Height above sea level of a point on earth’s surface
• Relief
– Difference in elevation between the highest and
lowest parts of an area
• Landform
– A feature of topography formed by the processes
that shape the earth’s surfaces.
 Types of Landforms
• Plain
• Flat , gently rolling and with low relief
–Coastal plain – plain that lies along
the seacoast
–Interior plain – plain that lies away
from coast
 Types of Landforms
• Mountain
–High elevation, high relief
–Mountain range – group of
mountains
 Types of Landforms
• Plateau
–High elevation, level surface
 Short Quiz!
1-2. What are the two forms of solids?
3-5. What three factors determine the
topography of a region?
6.___ is the difference in elevation between
the highest and lowest parts of an area
7-8. Give 2 kinds of landforms
9-10. Give 2 kinds of water forms.
 Answers
1-2. What are the two forms of solids?
Crystalline, Amorphous
3-5. What three factors determine the
topography of a region? Elevation, Relief,
landforms
6. Relief is the difference in elevation
between the highest and lowest parts of an
area