This document provides an introduction to Earth science. It discusses the four main parts of Earth's system: the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere. These parts are interrelated - for example, clear cutting forests can impact the atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere. The document also introduces some key concepts in Earth science, such as uniformitarianism, the scientific process, and the idea that science aims to understand and explain natural events by collecting data and discovering patterns.

1. INTRODUCTION TO EARTH
SCIENCE
Prof. Resnick
Please turn off
cell phones &
put away

2. INTRODUCTION TO EARTH
SCIENCE
Chapter 1

3. What is Earth Science?
All sciences which deal with Earth
& its place in universe
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4. THEME:
EARTH IS DYNAMIC!

5. 4 parts to Earth’s system:
1) Atmosphere
- carbon dioxide (CO2)
- free oxygen (O2)
- water vapor (H2O)

6. 4 parts to Earth’s system:
2) Hydrosphere – includes:

7. 4 parts to Earth’s system:
3) Biosphere – all life
4) Geosphere – planet
(crust, mantle, core)

8. 4 parts are interrelated:
Ex: Clear cutting a forest
Biosphere:
Atmosphere:
Geosphere:
Hydrosphere:

9. 4 parts are interrelated:
Ex: Volcanic eruption
Biosphere:
Atmosphere:
Geosphere:
Hydrosphere:

10. Science
Attempts to understand, explain,
and predict events
- collects data to discover patterns
in natural world

11. Detective Analogy
Scientists are solving a mystery
Scene of Clues Mystery
the Crime Solved

12. Uniformitarianism (p. 325)
1787: James Hutton
Physical, chemical, & biologic
laws unchanged through time
- forces which appear small can
produce features very large
Ex: Colorado River and Grand
Canyon

13. Hutton’s Unconformity Diagram

15. Scientific Process
Ask a question:
1) Collect facts by observation or
measurement

16. Scientific Process
2) Explain how or why it happens
(hypothesis)
3) Design experiment to test
validity of hypothesis

17. Scientific Process
4) Accept, modify, or reject
hypothesis
Theory – well-tested framework
that best explains the
observations

18. Scientific Revolution
New information leads to a better
explanation of observations
Occurs due to:
a) new approach to the
question
b) new technology

19. Scientific Revolution
Astronomy example:
- Ptolemian Astronomy
Earth is center of universe
- Copernican Astronomy
Sun is center of solar system