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Chapter 1
Earth Science, 12e
Tarbuck/Lutgens

Earth Science,
12e
Introduction to
Earth Science
Chapter 1
Earth Science
Encompasses all sciences that seek to
understand
Earth
Earths neighbors in space
Earth Science includes
Geology literally the study of Earth
Oceanography a study of the ocean
Earth Science
Earth Science includes
Meteorology the study of the atmosphere
and the processes that produce weather
Astronomy the study of the universe
People and the environment
Environment
Surrounds and influences organisms
Physical environment encompasses water,
air, soil, and rock
Term environmental is usually reserved
for those aspects that focus on the
relationships between people and the
natural environment

People and the environment
Resources
An important focus of the Earth sciences
Includes water, soil, minerals, and energy
Two broad categories
Renewable can be replenished (examples
include plants and energy from water and wind)
Nonrenewable metals (examples include
metals and fuels)

People and the environment
Population
Population of the planet is growing rapidly
Rate of mineral and energy usage has
climbed more rapidly than the overall
growth of population
Environmental problems
Local, regional, and global

People and the environment
Environmental problems
Human-induced and accentuated
Urban air pollution
Acid rain
Ozone depletion
Global warming
Natural hazards
Earthquakes
Landslides

People and the environment
Environmental problems
Natural hazards continued
Floods
Hurricanes
World population pressures

Scientific inquiry
Science assumes the natural world is
Consistent
Predictable
Goal of science
To discover patterns in nature
To use the knowledge to predict

Scientific inquiry
An idea can become a
Hypothesis (tentative or untested
explanation)
Theory (tested and confirmed hypothesis)
Paradigm (a theory that explains a large
number of interrelated aspects of the
natural world)
Scientific method
Gather facts through observation
Formulate hypotheses and theories

Scientific inquiry
Scientific knowledge is gained through
Following systematic steps
Collecting facts
Developing a hypothesis
Conduct experiments
Reexamine the hypothesis and accept, modify,
or reject
Theories that withstand examination
Totally unexpected occurrences

Early evolution of Earth
Origin of Earth
Most researchers believe that Earth and the
other planets formed at essentially the same
time
Nebular hypothesis
Solar system evolved from an enormous rotating
cloud called the solar nebula
Nebula was composed mostly of hydrogen and
helium
Early evolution of Earth
Origin of Earth
Nebular hypothesis (contd)
About 5 billion years ago the nebula began to
contract
Assumes a flat, disk shape with the protosun
(pre-Sun) at the center
Inner planets begin to form from metallic and
rocky clumps
Larger outer planets began forming from
fragments with a high percentage of ices
The Nebular hypothesis
Figure 1.8
Early evolution of Earth
Formation of Earths layered structure
As Earth formed, the decay of radioactive
elements and heat from high-velocity
impacts caused the temperature to
increase
Iron and nickel began to melt and sink toward
the center
Lighter rocky components floated outward,
toward the surface
Gaseous material escaped from Earths
interior to produce the primitive
atmosphere
Earths Spheres
Hydrosphere
Ocean the most prominent feature of the
hydrosphere
Nearly 71% of Earths surface
About 97% of Earths water
Also includes fresh water found in streams,
lakes, and glaciers, as well as that found
underground

Earths Spheres
Atmosphere
Thin, tenuous blanket of air
One-half lies below 5.6 kilometers (3.5
miles)
Biosphere
Includes all life
Concentrated near the surface in a zone
that extends from the ocean floor upward
for several kilometers into the atmosphere

Earths Spheres
Solid Earth
Based on compositional differences, it
consists of the crust, mantle, and core
Divisions of the outer portion are based on
how materials behave
Lithosphere - rigid outer layer
Divisions of Earths surface continents and
ocean basins

Earths layered structure
Figure 1.13
Earth system science
Earth is a dynamic body with many
separate but highly interacting parts or
spheres
Earth system science studies Earth as a
system composed of numerous parts, or
subsystems
System any size group of interacting
parts that form a complex whole

Earth system science
System
Closed systems are self-contained (e.g.,
an automobile cooling system)
Open systems both energy and matter
flow into and out of the system (e.g., a river
system)

Earth system science
Feedback mechanisms
Negative-feedback mechanisms resist
change and stabilize the system
Positive-feedback mechanisms enhance
the system
Earth as a system
Consists of a nearly endless array of
subsystems (e.g., hydrologic cycle, rock
cycle)

Earth system cycles
Figure 1.21
Earth system science
Earth as a system
Sources of energy
Sun drives external processes such as
weather, ocean circulation, and erosional
processes
Earths interior drives internal processes
including volcanoes, earthquakes, and
mountain building
Humans are part of the Earth system