Download Intro to Earth Science notes

Introduction
Formation of Earth
• The Nebular
Hypothesis
– bodies in our solar
system evolved from an
enormous rotating
cloud called the solar
nebula.
– mostly hydrogen and
helium, with some
heavier elements.
Differentiation
• As Earth cooled, layers formed through
a process called differentiation.
• Denser elements (iron and nickel) sunk
to Earth’s core.
• Lighter material migrated outward
forming the mantle and crust.
Earth’s Four Spheres
• Solid Earth
(Lithosphere)
• Hydrosphere
• Atmosphere
• Biosphere
Solid Earth
•Core
–mostly iron and nickel
–densest part of Earth
–inner core solid
•Mantle
–mostly iron and
magnesium
–liquid
•Crust
–mostly silicon and
oxygen
–rigid outer layer
Earth’s Crust
• The earth’s crust is
divided into:
– Continental crust
– Oceanic crust
Hydrosphere
1. Ocean (the most prominent
feature of the hydrosphere)
a. Nearly 71% of Earth’s
surface
b. About 97% of the earth’s
water
2. Fresh water
a. glaciers
b. rivers and lakes
c. groundwater
Atmosphere
1. Gaseous envelope surrounding Earth
a. life-giving gases
b. protects organisms from intense heat
and radiation from the sun
Biosphere
1. Includes all life
2. Influences the other three spheres
Course Overview
• Lithosphere- Geology
• Water- Oceanography
• Atmosphere- Meteorology
• Space- Astronomy
Branches of Geology
• Paleontology
Branches of Geology
• Volcanology
Branches of Geology
• Glaciology
Branches of Geology
• Seismology
Branches of Geology
• Mineralogy
Branches of Geology
• Sedimentology
Branches of Geology
• Structural Geology
Branches of Geology
• Planetary Geology