Earth Science: INTRODUCTION TO EARTH SCIENCE (Lecture)
EARTH ~ is a very small part of a vast ~ the study of:
universe but is our HOME. It provides the - Earth’s lithosphere
resources that support our modern society - substances that make up the Earth
and the ingredients necessary to maintain - processes that shape the Earth
LIFE… - how these materials and processes
…a knowledge and understanding of our have changed the Earth over time
planet is critical to our social well-being and - Earth structures
vital to our SURVIVAL… ~ search for fuels and minerals, study
natural hazards, and work to protect Earth's
* Daily reports remind us of the destruction environment
caused by……. Typhoons, earthquakes, ~ help predict and mitigate the effects of
floods, landslides natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions,
major quakes, tsunamis, and landslides
* To comprehend, prepare for, and solve ~ Two important subfields
these and other concerns requires an 1. volcanology (the study of
awareness of how science is done and the volcanoes)
scientific principles that influence our 2. seismology (the study of
planet, its rocks, mountains, atmosphere, earthquakes)
and oceans. ~ Geologists are at the forefront of the
quest for natural resources such as oil,
* Of all the planets in the solar system, the natural gas, and other raw materials
Earth is the most important. Why? Two major fields of Geology:
=All forms of living things can be * PHYSICAL GEOLOGY (
found only in this planet. ~ Focuses on the following areas:
1. The solid part of the Earth which
* The branch of Physical Science that deals includes the soils, rocks, and
with the study of solid earth, the water on, minerals
within, and around it is called– EARTH 2. Earth’s surface processes where
SCIENCE the hydrologic cycle, erosion, and
weathering are studied
Under Earth Science: 3. Earth’s internal processes
1. Geology – how Earth’s landforms and (endogenous) where tectonics and
rock change over time volcanism are involved. Also,
2. Oceanography – how marine ecosystems external process (exogenous)
interact in the oceans * HISTORICAL GEOLOGY
3. Meteorology – how atmosphere ~ This is mainly concerned with how the
conditions relate to weather & climate Earth has evolved by investigating its life-
4. Astronomy – how Earth relates in space forms through fossils.
and time ~ Fossils are the remains of plants and
animals preserved on the Earth’s crust.
---------------------------------------------------------- Branches of GEOLOGY:
GEOLOGY 1. GEOMORPHOLOGY – the study of the
---------------------------------------------------------- nature, origin, and processes of changes of
landforms such as the rising and subsiding
GEOLOGY ~ the study of the Earth of continents and mountains.
2. GEOPHYSICS – the study of the physical how water densities and temperatures
phenomena of the Earth such as its affect them.
magnetic field, the flow of heat from the 2. CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHERS –
interior, and the study of gravity including primarily concerned with the composition
tides. of seawater.
3. GEOCHEMISTRY – the study of the 3. MARINE BIOLOGISTS – closely
chemical composition of the Earth and the examine all life-forms in the ocean together
laws governing the distribution of elements with their environment.
within the Earth.
* Stratigraphers – those who map out the ----------------------------------------------------------
different layers of strata of the different METEOROLOGY
kinds of rocks that make up the Earth. ----------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------- METEOROLOGY ~ The study of the
OCEANOGRAPHY weather and atmosphere
---------------------------------------------------------- ~ study of:
- the atmosphere
OCEANOGRAPHY ~ The study of the - how processes in the atmosphere
ocean and ocean currents determine Earth's weather and
~ study of Earth's oceans - their climate
composition, movement, organisms and - changes in temperature, air
processes pressure, humidity and winds
~ oceans affecting the weather
- cover most of our planet ~ a very practical science because everyone
- resources of food and other is concerned about the weather particularly
commodities that of climate changes
- energy source
- major influence on the weather and * Broadcast meteorologists - interpret and
climate change report weather data on television or radio to
~ Oceanographers inform the public and protect us when
- study currents, storms or waves severe weather threatens
- evaluate movement of subsea * Forensic meteorologists - determine how
tectonic plates that might cause weather conditions may have contributed to
rifting and tsunami waves accidents or caused damage to property.
- seek to understand and protect * Climatologists - study the large-scale
marine ecosystems weather patterns for a given region over
- work for governments, for the long periods of time
fishing or energy industries, or
shipping concerns Branches of METEOROLOGY
- work to develop the ocean as a 1. CLIMATOLOGY – involves the study of
resource and protect it from human the past and present climate concern with
impact - utilize the oceans while longer variation.
minimizing the effects of our actions 2. METEOROLOGIST – scientists who
forecast daily weather, carefully examine
Branches of OCEANOGRAPHY: climates and all forms of atmospheric
1. PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHERS – disturbances.
interested in tides, waves, currents, and
----------------------------------------------------------
ASTRONOMY = The Earth is in a dynamic state, it is in a
---------------------------------------------------------- continuous process of changing and
development. Others would refer to Earth
ASTRONOMY ~ The study of stars, as a living machine. Why?
planets and space = Because there are so many continuously
~ study of the sun, moon, stars, planets, occurring processes that needs to be
comets, gas, galaxies, gas, dust and other explained. This is why the study of Earth
non-Earthly bodies and phenomena Science is important.
~ the study of stars, planets and space = We need to understand the mechanism by
(NASA) which the only planet that supports life
~ astronomy and astrology were historically functions…
associated, but astrology is not a science = It is only through knowing this
and is no longer recognized as having mechanism can we SAVE AND
anything to do with astronomy CONSERVE OUR PLANET
* Modern astronomers tend to fall into two * THE EARTH: A UNIQUE PLANET
fields: ~ water, life
- Observational astronomers in the
observational field focus on direct study of ----------------------------------------------------------
stars, planets, galaxies, and so forth. Scientists and Philosophers of
- Theoretical astronomers model and Earth Science
analyze how systems may have evolved. ----------------------------------------------------------
Types of Astronomers:
- Planetary astronomers - focus on the 1. Aristarchus of Samos (310 – 230 BC)
growth, evolution, and death of planets ~ Aristarchus Heliocentric Model:
- Solar astronomers - spend their time - Greek Astronomer
analyzing a single star—our sun - first to place the sun at the center of
- Stellar astronomers - turn their eyes to the the universe
stars, including the black holes, nebulae, - the Earth is revolving around the
white dwarfs, and supernova that survive sun in a circular orbit
stellar deaths - stars and the sun remain fixed in
- Galactic astronomers - study our galaxy, position
the Milky Way - tried to estimate the sizes and
- Extragalactic astronomers - peer outside distance of the sun and the moon by
of it to determine how these collections of geometrical methods, “Sizes and
stars form, change, and die Distance of the Sun and Moon”
- Cosmologists - focus on the universe in its
entirety, from its violent birth in the Big 2. Claudius Ptolemy (100AD – 170 AD)
Bang to its present evolution, all the way to ~ Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model:
its eventual death - an astronomer, mathematician, and
geographer from Alexandria
* WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO STUDY
THE EARTH?
- advanced the geocentric theory, - EPICYCLE - circles where planets
which placed the Earth as the center of the move
Universe
- DEFERENT - circular path in 3.) Nicholas Copernicus (1473 – 1543)
which planets moves ~ Copernicus’ Heliocentric Model:
- a Polish churchman,
mathematician and astronomer 6.) JOHANN KEPLER (1571-1630)
- the Sun is at the center of the Solar ~ KEPLERS’ MODEL:
System - German astronomer,
- the Earth is spinning on its axis mathematician, and astrologer
once daily, revolves annually - formulated his three laws of
around the sun planetary motion that supported the
Copernican Theory
4.) TYCHO BRAHE (1546-1601) - movement of planets around the
~ Brahes’ Model: sun were elliptical
- Danish nobleman, astronomer, and - the closer the planets were to the
writer sun, the faster they orbited
- planets revolve around the sun,
and the sun revolving around the 7.) SIR ISAAC NEWTON (1643-1727)
earth TYCHO BRAHE (1546-1601) ~ NEWTONS’ MODEL:
~ designed and built a sextant which - English mathematician, physicist,
he used for many years to measure astronomer, theologian, and author
the location of heavenly bodies like - formulated laws of universal
stars gravitation and motion
- that explain how objects move on
5.) GALILEO GALILEI (1564-1642) Earth as well as through the
~ GALILEOS’ MODEL: heavens.
- Italian astronomer, physicist and
engineer * The work and labor of the Early Scientists
- known to be the "father of marked a great increase and enriched the
observational astronomy", the scientific knowledge about the Earth.
"father of modern physics", the * They opened doors for more
"father of the scientific method", comprehensive research on the nature of the
and the "father of modern science” Earth with the use of modern and
- first astronomical telescope sophisticated astronomical instruments.
- sun is at the center while all other * Through these instruments, scientists have
planets including the Earth revolve started to UNFOLD THE MYSTERIES OF
around it THE EARTH AND ITS NEIGHBORS.
