Earth: A unique planet

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Earth A unique planet
Earth as a complex system
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EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE A new field 1988 that
studies the interaction between all Earths
systems
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SYSTEM

• A group of interacting components, that can be
  described separately.
• Small and larger systems combine to form complex
  system such as the Earth
• All those systems are linked in one way or
  another as the result of the interaction of the 2
  main components of the Universe

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Main components of the Universe

• MATTER
• Anything that has mass and takes up space i.e.
  volume
• ENERGY
• The ability to do work
• Can be transferred not destroyed, nor created
  in various ways including
• Heat
• Electromagnetic waves
• Light
• Vibrations

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SYSTEM

• A system can be described by the way that matter
  and energy are transferred within the system or
  to and from other systems
• CLOSED ? energy but not matter is exchanged with
  the surroundings
• OPEN ? both energy and matter are exchanged with
  the surroundings

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Discussion / Assessment

• Write a paragraph to explain the following
  statement
• Technically, all systems that make up the Earth
  system are open however, the Earth system is
  almost a closed system.

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• Energy enters the system in the form of sunlight
  and is released into space as heat.
• Matter exchange is limited. Only a small amount
  of dust, rock, and water(?) from space enters the
  system, and only a fraction of the hydrogen atoms
  in the atmosphere escape into space.

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Reading Skills

• Acid Rain
• Acid rain is rain, snow, fog, dew, or sleet that
  has a pH that is lower than the pH of normal
  precipitation. Acid rain occurs primarily as a
  result of the combustion of fossil fuelsa
  process that produces, as byproducts, oxides of
  nitrogen and sulfur dioxide. When combined with
  water in the atmosphere, these compounds form
  nitric acid and sulfuric acid. When it falls to
  Earth, acid rain has profound effects. It harms
  forests by damaging tree leaves and bark, which
  leaves them vulnerable to weather, disease, and
  parasites. Similarly, it damages crops. And it
  damages aquatic ecosystems by causing the death
  of all but the hardiest species. Because of the
  extensive damage that acid rain causes, the U.S.
  Environmental Protection Agency limits the amount
  of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that can be
  emitted by factories, power plants, and motor
  vehicles.

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According to the passage, which of the following
contributes to the problem of acid rain?

• the use of fossil fuels in power plants and motor
  vehicles
• parasites and diseases that harm tree leaves and
  bark
• the release of nitrogen into the atmosphere by
  aquatic ecosystems
• damaged crops that release too many gases into
  the atmosphere

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Reading Skills

• Acid Rain
• Acid rain is rain, snow, fog, dew, or sleet that
  has a pH that is lower than the pH of normal
  precipitation. Acid rain occurs primarily as a
  result of the combustion of fossil fuelsa
  process that produces, as byproducts, oxides of
  nitrogen and sulfur dioxide. When combined with
  water in the atmosphere, these compounds form
  nitric acid and sulfuric acid. When it falls to
  Earth, acid rain has profound effects. It harms
  forests by damaging tree leaves and bark, which
  leaves them vulnerable to weather, disease, and
  parasites. Similarly, it damages crops. And it
  damages aquatic ecosystems by causing the death
  of all but the hardiest species. Because of the
  extensive damage that acid rain causes, the U.S.
  Environmental Protection Agency limits the amount
  of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that can be
  emitted by factories, power plants, and motor
  vehicles.

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Which of the following statements can be inferred
from the information in the passage?

• Acid rain is a natural problem that will correct
  itself if given enough time.
• Ecosystems damaged by acid rain adapt so that
  they will not be damaged in the future.
• Human activities are largely to blame for the
  problem of acid rain.
• Acid rain is a local phenomenon and damages
  plants and animals only near power plants or
  roadways

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A system in which both energy and matter are
exchanged with the surroundingsis called a(n)

• Open system
• Closed system
• Life system
• Free system

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The Earth system is composed of 4 spheres
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ATMOSPHERE
78 Nitrogen, 21 Oxygen, 1 other
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HYDROSPHERE
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GeosphereContinental, oceanic crusts, and all
various Earths interior layers
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Biosphere

• All life on earth, including man, and all
  organisms.
• The life zone on our planet distinguishes our
  planet from the others in the solar system.

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Interconnected Spheres

• Spheres are closely connected
• A change in one sphere results in changes in
  others - called an EVENT
• Forest fire destroys plants in an area
• An event can cause a chain reaction
• No plants gt erosion
• Soil in water gt increased turbidity
• Turbidity gt impacts water plants/animals

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• Cause Effect events
• Forest fire ? destruction of plants
• Interactions events chain reaction
• Natural events
• Earthquake, hurricane, forest fires
• Human caused events
• Oil spill, air pollution, construction

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Why is it important to understand those
interactions?
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Understanding Interactions

• Global implications
• Helps people predict outcomes
• Preparation for natural disasters
• Environmental impacts of human activities

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Major Components of the Earth System
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Earths Energy Budget

• The transfers of energy between Earths spheres
  can be thought of as parts of an energy budget.
• The first law of thermodynamics states that
  energy is transferred between systems, but it
  cannot be created nor destroyed.
• The second law of thermodynamics states that when
  energy transfer occurs, matter becomes less
  organized with time.
• Thus, the universes energy is spread out more
  uniformly over time.
• The constant exchange of matter and energy
  between Earths spheres happens through chemical
  reactions, radioactive decay, the radiation of
  energy ,and the growth and decay of organisms.

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• INTERNAL SOURCES OF ENERGY
• Heat energy associated with PLANETESIMALS IMPACTS

FROM HIGH KINETIC ENERGY
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• INTERNAL SOURCES OF ENERGY
• Heat energy associated with FRICTION

INCREASED PRESSURE DUE TO GRAVITATIONAL
CONTRACTION
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• INTERNAL SOURCES OF ENERGY
• Heat associated with PARTICLES COLLISION

RADIOACTIVE DECAY releases particles, colliding
with surroundings. KE converted to Thermal Energy
Uranium, Potassium, Thorium
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SUN Earth's primary external source of energy
Solar radiation warms Earths atmosphere and
surface, causing air masses movement, generating
winds and ocean currents. Many chemical
reactions on Earth also require solar energy.
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Moon and SUN gravitational energy Earth's
secondary external source of energy
Tides and currents driving the mixing of surface
water
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• EARTHs internal energy builds mountains, while
  the SUNs energy destroy them.

The SUN is responsible for the water cycle and
climatic changes which in turn causes weathering
and erosion
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What scientific principle states that energy can
be transferred but that it cannot be created or
destroyed?

• First Law of Motion
• Law of Gravitation
• First Law of Thermodynamics
• Second Law of Thermodynamics

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Cycles in the Earth System

• A cycle is a group of processes in which matter
  and energy repeatedly move through a series of
  reservoirs.
• A reservoir is a place where matter or energy is
  stored.
• Many elements on Earth cycle between reservoirs.
  These cycles rely on energy sources to drive
  them.
• The length of time that energy or matter spends
  in a reservoir can vary from a few hours to
  several million years.

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Biogeochemical cycles
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Which percentage of the solar radiation
reradiates in the form of longer waves?

• 4
• 25
• 51
• 70

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How much of the solar radiation is absorbed by
oceans and land?

• 4
• 25
• 51
• 71

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Earths primary external energy source is

• Cosmic radiation
• The moon
• Distant stars
• The sun

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Interpreting Graphics

• The figure shows predicted world-wide energy
  consumption by fuel type between the years 2001
  and 2025.

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Which of the following sources of energy is
predicted to see the greatest increase in usage
between 2001 and 2025?

• Oil
• Natural gas
• Coal
• Renewables

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• What trends in energy consumption by fuel type
  will change over the 25 years shown on the graph
  above? What trends will stay the same?

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• What trends in energy consumption by fuel type
  will change over the 25 years shown on the graph
  above? What trends will stay the same?
• Answers should include the following overall,
  general energy trends are predicted to remain the
  same over the next 25 years oil is predicted to
  continue to be the leading fuel source in the
  future natural gas is expected to overtake coal
  by 2010 as an energy source, and the difference
  between the use of the two sources is expected to
  continue to increase steadily through 2025
  nuclear power is predicted to remain the
  least-used energy source and is expected to
  slightly decrease in usage fossil fuels are
  predicted to continue to outpace nuclear and
  renewable energy resources by a ratio of more
  than 4 to 1.

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According to the law of gravitation, the force of
attraction between two objects depends on the
masses of the objects and the

• Distance between them
• Size of each object
• Composition of each object
• Magnetic field of each object

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Anything that has mass and takes up space is
known as

• Protons
• Energy
• Newtons
• Matter

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What can happen to energy as it passes through an
ecosystem?

• It can be lost
• It can increase
• It can be unchanged
• It can change form

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ANALOGYopen system is to matter like

• Closed Earth
• Open lake
• Fuel fire
• Closed system energy

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What is NOT a characteristic of the planet
Earths uniqueness?

• Supports life
• Liquid water on its surface
• Volcanic activity
• Atmosphere with large proportion of oxygen

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The different layers of the Earth become ___,
___, and ___ as the depth increases.

• Denser, colder, with lighter elements
• Less dense, hotter with lighter elements
• Denser, hotter with heavier elements
• Less dense, colder with heavier elements

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It is light, brittle with the tendency to fracture

• Mesosphere
• Crust
• Core
• mantle