Earth as a System

1. Earth as a System

2. The Water Cycle

3. Advances in technology have allowed scientists to study the Earth in a variety of different ways. Submersible Satellite Seismometer

4. Satellites and space craft allow us to view, photograph and map Earth from Space.

7. Submersibles and ships allow us to view, photograph and map the ocean floor.

9. Buoys and other monitoring devices provide us with data related to events such as tsunamis and earthquakes.

10. Powerful computer programs called GIS (Geographic Information Systems) help scientists organize, layer and interpret huge amounts of data in order to study how the Earth changes over time.

11. Earth Systems Science studies the flow of matter and energy in and out of the Earth’s open systems, or Spheres.

12. Using data from modern technology, scientists can create complex representations of how the Earth “works”. These representations of Earth processes are called models. Tsunami Modeling Program

13. Tsunami Model

14. What is a System? System: A part of the Universe that can be studied separately. The Solar System

15. Example: Respiratory System

16. Two Types of Systems • Closed System: Energy may enter and leave, but matter does not. (examples?) • Open System: System and its surroundings freely exchange both matter and energy. (examples?) • What is the Earth? Take time to fill out your Venn Diagram and answer this Q.

17. The Earth’s Four Spheres (Geosphere)

22. Earth Systems Science studies the flow of matter and energy in and out of the Earth’s open systems, or Spheres.

23. Matter and energy move back and forth between the different Earth spheres, and the different spheres interact every day, all around you.

24. What spheres are interacting here?

27. Earthquakes

29. Tornadoes Tornado path

30. Mining Minerals

31. Oil Exploration

37. Interactions among the Earth’s spheres change the spheres to differing degrees. These impacts can be single events, temporary changes, or ongoing change.

38. Single event example: meteorite impact that causes massive global extinction

39. Ongoing, steady process (example: Erosion)

40. Cycles and the Earth A Cycle is a series of steps that repeats. Some cycles (water cycle) repeat over relatively short periods of time, while others repeat over millions of years (tectonic cycle). On Earth, the water cycle, energy cycle, carbon cycle, tectonic cycle and rock cycle “work” together to maintain a dynamic planet.

41. Cloud diagram. • Each group will make a poster showing the TEN different cloud types. • Should include a picture (using color) of the cloud, the height the clouds form, and the type of weather involved. • Be neat! Be creative! • Sloppy work = reduced grade.

42. The Carbon Cycle • Biogeochemical cycle- compound is changed and moved throughout the Earth’s spheres • Carbon is commonly called the “building block of life” • Carbon is not just a solid- it forms gases such as CO2 and Methane

43. The Carbon Cycle

44. Carbon Into the Atmosphere • Living things breathe it out • Carbon based things (i.e. trees) burn • Diffuses out of oceans • Volcanoes erupt– Number 1 source of CO2 into the atmosphere

45. Carbon From the Atmosphere • Oceans dissolve 40% of CO2 in the atmosphere from fossil fuels • Wave action dissolves CO2 into ocean • Photosynthesis- plants breathe it in, and breathe out oxygen (phytoplankton do this in ocean water)

46. Other ways CO2 is shared… • Carbon stored in plants is passed on to another organism when eaten (food chain) • Organisms die and decomposition puts carbon into the ground creating fossil fuels (oil, coal, etc.)

47. The Energy Cycle (Energy Budget) • Water and carbon Cycles are like wheels • Energy Cycle is like a balance • Energy that comes in must equal the energy that comes out

48. What would happen if the Earth’s energy budget was not balanced?

49. Scenario #1 • Too much energy enters the Earth system and not enough leaves…

50. Scenario #2 • Too much energy leaves the Earth system and not enough enters…