Earth and Space Science Class Notes –
Detailed Overview
1. Earth’s Structure & Geology
Layers of the Earth
● Crust: Outermost layer; consists of continental and oceanic crust.
● Mantle: Semi-solid layer responsible for convection currents.
● Outer Core: Liquid iron and nickel; generates Earth's magnetic field.
● Inner Core: Solid iron and nickel; extreme pressure keeps it solid.
Plate Tectonics & Geological Activity
● Plate Boundaries:
○ Divergent: Plates move apart; forms mid-ocean ridges.
○ Convergent: Plates collide; forms mountains and subduction zones.
○ Transform: Plates slide past each other; causes earthquakes.
● Earthquakes: Caused by stress buildup and release in Earth’s crust.
● Volcanism: Magma rises through crust; eruptions vary based on magma composition.
2. Earth’s Atmosphere & Weather
Atmospheric Layers
● Troposphere: Weather occurs here; highest air density.
● Stratosphere: Contains ozone layer; absorbs UV radiation.
● Mesosphere: Coldest layer; burns up meteors.
● Thermosphere: High-energy particles interact (auroras occur here).
● Exosphere: Outermost layer; transitions to space.
Weather & Climate
● Weather vs. Climate: Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is
long-term trends.
● Air Masses & Fronts: Cold/warm fronts influence weather patterns.
● Cyclones & Anticyclones: Low-pressure systems bring storms; high-pressure systems
bring clear skies.
3. Oceanography & Hydrosphere
Properties of Oceans
● Salinity: Measure of dissolved salts in water.
● Ocean Currents:
○ Surface Currents: Driven by wind (e.g., Gulf Stream).
○ Deep Currents: Driven by temperature & salinity differences (thermohaline
circulation).
Tides & Waves
● Tides: Caused by Moon’s gravitational pull.
● Wave Motion: Influenced by wind speed and ocean depth.
Human Impact on Oceans
● Pollution: Plastic waste, oil spills, chemical runoff.
● Climate Change & Coral Bleaching: Rising temperatures damage marine ecosystems.
4. Astronomy & Space Science
The Solar System
● The Sun: Main energy source; composed of hydrogen and helium.
● Planets:
○ Terrestrial (rocky): Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.
○ Gas giants: Jupiter, Saturn.
○ Ice giants: Uranus, Neptune.
● Moons & Dwarf Planets: Earth’s Moon, Pluto, Ceres, Eris.
Stars & Galaxies
● Life Cycle of a Star: Nebula → Main sequence → Red giant → White dwarf or
supernova.
● Galaxies: Milky Way is a spiral galaxy; other types include elliptical and irregular.
Space Exploration
● NASA & Space Missions: Apollo program, Mars rovers, James Webb Telescope.
● Exoplanets & Habitability: Searching for Earth-like planets beyond the solar system.
5. Earth & Environmental Science
Earth’s Resources
● Renewable Energy: Solar, wind, hydroelectric.
● Fossil Fuels: Coal, oil, natural gas; contribute to greenhouse gases.
Climate Change & Global Warming
● Causes: CO₂ emissions, deforestation.
● Effects: Rising sea levels, extreme weather.
● Solutions: Carbon reduction, conservation efforts.
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