Introduction to Earth Systems Science

A system can be defined as:

a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole

For example: The cardiovascular system.What inter-connected parts make up your cardiovascular system?

On earth we live in a dynamic system made up of a number of parts that are all connected and all constantly changing and evolving.

Systems require energy.In the Earth System the sun provides most of the energy. It provides the energy that plants need for photosynthesis, it drives the climate wind and weather patterns, and it provides the energy the drives ocean currents. Even the energy we get from fossil fuels originally came from the sun. How?

World Population: 7 Billion and Counting

Earth’s “Spheres”

• Atmosphere

• Hydrosphere

• Lithosphere

• Biosphere

The Earth System can be divided into four main components that scientists refer to as “Spheres”

The four main spheres are:

1. Atmosphere

2. Hydrosphere

3. Geosphere / Lithosphere

4. Biosphere

Atmosphere

• A gaseous sphere that envelopes the Earth.

• Consists of a mixture of gases composed primarily of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.

Hydrosphere

• All of the water on Earth• 71% of the earth is covered by water and

only 3% is freshwater!• The other 97% is seawater (salt water)!

Geosphere• The solid part of the

Earth's • The Lithosphere is

the solid surface of the earth. It is called the crust of the earth.

• It includes the crust and a small part of the upper mantle.

Biosphere

• All life on earth!

• It extends from the ocean depths to the atmosphere above.

• Earth’s life zone distinguishes our planet from the others in the solar system.

Brainstorming-think/pair/share

T-Choose a sphere

write down as many examples of things that are a part of that sphere on the left hand page of your journal

P-Compare your examples to the rest of your group.

Add and delete as necessary

S-Share the group’s examples with the class

OTHER POSSIBLE “SPHERES”“SPHERES”

Anthrosphere• Humans and their

direct ancestors, hominids.

• The human population, it’s buildings,dams, and other constructions

• .

Cryosphere

• The portion of the Earth's surface where water is in a solid form

• Snow or ice: includes glaciers, ice shelves, snow, icebergs, and arctic climatology

Earth System Science (ESS):• The study of the interactions between and among

events and Earth’s spheres • The Main Ideas: • All of these spheres are interconnected.• A change in one sphere affects the other

spheres as well• “Events” have a cause and effect relationship

among the spheres– Natural Events: fires, storms, volcanic eruptions– Man-made Events: pollution, oil spills, construction

The Four Spheres

•Lithosphere – All processes associated with the solid earth•Hydrosphere – All processes associated with water•Atmosphere –All processes associated with the gases that envelope the earth•Biosphere – All processes that involve living organisms

Left Side Assignment:Draw, label and color this diagram into your journal on the left hand page opposite your notes on ESS.

Interconnected Spheres• Spheres are closely connected

• Example;• Birds are a part of the ___?_____ sphere and fly

through the air which is the _____?_____sphere.• Water is in the _____?_____sphere flows through

the soil which is part of the _____ ?_____ sphere.• A change in one sphere results in changes in others.• Spheres are also effected by events on our planet.

• EVENT=changes within an ecosystem• Hurricanes, Floods, Tornados, Oil spills, pollution.

Interconnected SpheresExample of an interaction: •EVENT: Forest fire

• destroys plants (biosphere)•Interactions between spheres in response

• No plants = increased erosion • Increased erosion = more soil in the water• Soil in water = increased turbidity of water

(how dirty it is)• Increased turbidity = Less oxygen available

to plants and animals.

Event Sphere Interactions• A cause and effect relationship between an event and a sphere.

• An event can cause changes and/or be the effect of changes to one or more of Earth’s spheres.

• A cause and effect relationship between an event and a sphere.

• An event can cause changes and/or be the effect of changes to one or more of Earth’s spheres.

Three Possible Types Of Interactions(cause and effect relationships)

1. Event Sphere2. Sphere Sphere3. Sphere Event

These cause and effect relationships can be immediate or can occur over many years.

1. Event Sphere2. Sphere Sphere3. Sphere Event

These cause and effect relationships can be immediate or can occur over many years.

1. Event Sphere

How did the event effect the sphere?

ESS Analysis

ESS Analysis 2.Sphere Sphere How do changes in one sphere impact on other spheres?

ESS Analysis 3. Sphere Event How did the sphere effect the event?

Understanding Interactions

Why is this important to us?

•Local, Regional and Global implications– Helps people predict outcomes of events– Preparation for natural disasters– Environmental impacts of human activities– Helps plan for future development

ESS Analysis

• An Example - homework– Yellowstone Forest Fire

• Group activity– Mt St Helen’s eruption, May 1980– Hurricane Katrina, August 2005– Gulf Oil Spill, Summer 2010– Asteroid Impact 65 milion years ago