The Earth System

1
The Earth System

• Where did we come from???

2
The Big Questions???

• Why do scientists observe the world, solve
  problems, and make discoveries?
• Why do scientists study the Earth as a system?
• Why does the Earth change over time?
• How have humans changed the Earth System?

3
Where did the Earth come from?

• The Birth of the Solar System Clip
• Earths Origin Clip

4
What is a System?

• How does the Earth function as a system?
• Why do scientists study the Earth as a system?
• Examining the Earth as a system of interconnected
  parts allows scientists to relate the individual
  properties of Earth materials to global phenomena
  such as global climate and landscape variations
  or the location of natural resources.

5
The Earth System - Spheres

• Hydrosphere Water
• Biosphere Life
• Lithosphere Land
• Atmosphere - Air

6
How do the spheres interact?
7
The Earth as an Energy Matter System

• Why is Earth considered an open energy system
  (energy can come and go), but a closed matter
  system (matter cant come and go)?

8
What is Matter?

• Anything that has mass and takes up space
  (volume).
• The Earth is a closed matter system because of
  gravity.
• All matter is recycled over time (water cycle,
  rock cycle, carbon cycle).

9
What is energy?

• Energy is the ability to cause change or to do
  work.
• Earth is an open energy system because energy
  does not have mass and as a result not under the
  force of gravity.
• Energy changes form over time. In most cases it
  changes to a less useful form.

10
Energy Inputs

• Solar (sun) Energy
• Some of the suns energy is transformed into
  chemically bonded energy through photosynthesis.
  This begins the food web.
• Some of the suns energy is converted to heat
  energy. This is what drives our weather patterns
  and establishes our climate patterns.

11
Energy Inputs

• Internal Earth Energy
• This energy is a function or result of
  radioactive decay inside the Earth.
• This energy drives plate movements (tectonics).

12
Why does the Earth change over time?
13
Interaction of Energy and Matter

• The Earth is constantly changing.
• Energy is responsible for all changes in form and
  location that occur in matter, and matter is the
  medium in which energy exists and works.
• Matter cannot change without energy acting upon
  it.
• Change does not occur in isolation from other
  components in the system.

14
Examples of Change

• Mountains
• Ecosystems
• Earthquakes
• Weather and Climate
• Human Impact

15
How have humans changed the Earth System?

• Land use - From hunter/gather to farmer
• Technology has allowed us to overcome
  environmental limitations.
• Agriculture and Technology have led to
  Exponential Population Growth - Is it sustainable?

16
Parting Thought

• Access to energy and the level of technology
  possessed by a culture appear to be one of the
  single most important variables in determining
  the degree to which culture can overcome the
  limitations of the environment and, at the same
  time, modify or destroy the environment.