Astronomy and Environmental Science Overview

Definition: Study of celestial objects, space, and the universe as a whole.
Key Concepts:
- Solar System: Includes the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
- Stars and Galaxies: Lifecycle of stars, types of galaxies (spiral, elliptical, irregular).
- Cosmology: Study of the universe's origin, evolution, and eventual fate.
- Light Years: Measurement of distance in space; the distance light travels in one year.
- Telescope Types: Refracting (lenses) and reflecting (mirrors).

Definition: Interdisciplinary field that studies the environment and solutions to environmental problems.
Key Concepts:
- Ecosystems: Interaction between living organisms and their physical environment.
- Biodiversity: Variety of life in an ecosystem; crucial for resilience and sustainability.
- Pollution: Types include air, water, soil, and noise; sources and impacts on health and ecosystems.
- Sustainable Development: Balancing economic growth with environmental protection.
- Climate Change: Global rise in temperatures due to greenhouse gas emissions.

Definition: Study of the ocean, its ecosystems, and its processes.
Key Concepts:
- Ocean Zones: Division of ocean into zones based on depth and light penetration (intertidal, pelagic, benthic).
- Currents: Surface currents (driven by wind) and deep ocean currents (thermohaline circulation).
- Marine Life: Adaptations of organisms to different oceanic environments.
- Ocean Acidification: Result of increased CO2 absorption by the ocean, affecting marine life.
- Marine Resources: Fisheries, minerals, and energy resources; impacts of overexploitation.

Definition: Study of the atmosphere and weather processes.
Key Concepts:
- Weather vs. Climate: Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is long-term patterns.
- Atmospheric Layers: Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere.
- Weather Instruments: Thermometers (temperature), barometers (pressure), anemometers (wind speed).
- Severe Weather: Types include hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms; formation and impact.
- Climate Change Effects: Altered weather patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events.

Definition: Study of the Earth’s solid materials, including rocks, minerals, and processes that shape the planet.
Key Concepts:
- Rock Cycle: Processes of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock formation and transformation.
- Plate Tectonics: Movement of Earth's lithospheric plates; causes earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building.
- Erosion and Weathering: Processes that break down rocks and transport materials.
- Fossils: Evidence of past life; important for understanding Earth's history and evolution.
- Geological Time Scale: Timeline of Earth's history divided into eons, eras, periods, and epochs.

Astronomy studies celestial objects, space, and the universe.
The solar system comprises the Sun, eight planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
Stars undergo a lifecycle that includes formation, evolution, and death; galaxies are categorized as spiral, elliptical, or irregular.
Cosmology explores the universe's origin, its evolution, and potential future.
Light years measure astronomical distances, equivalent to the distance light travels in one year.
Telescopes are primarily of two types: refracting (uses lenses) and reflecting (uses mirrors).

This interdisciplinary field focuses on studying the environment and addressing related challenges.
Ecosystems involve interactions between living organisms and their physical surroundings.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life within an ecosystem, essential for ecological resilience and sustainability.
Pollution manifests in various forms, including air, water, soil, and noise, each having specific health and ecological impacts.
Sustainable development aims to reconcile economic growth with environmental stewardship.
Climate change is characterized by a global temperature rise driven by increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Oceanography examines the ocean, its ecosystems, and the physical and chemical processes occurring within.
The ocean is segmented into distinct zones based on depth and light penetration: intertidal, pelagic, and benthic.
Ocean currents differentiate between surface currents influenced by wind and deep currents driven by thermohaline circulation.
Marine life has developed unique adaptations to various oceanic environments.
Ocean acidification results from rising CO2 levels being absorbed by the ocean, impacting marine organisms.
Overexploitation affects marine resources, including fisheries, minerals, and energy sources.

Meteorology is the study of weather and atmospheric processes.
Weather represents short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate refers to long-term statistical weather patterns.
The atmosphere is layered into five major sections: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
Weather instruments include thermometers for temperature, barometers for pressure, and anemometers for wind speed measurement.
Severe weather phenomena like hurricanes, tornadoes, and thunderstorms have specific formation processes and significant societal impacts.
Climate change affects weather patterns, leading to an increase in extreme weather events' frequency and intensity.

Geology investigates the Earth's solid materials, including rocks, minerals, and shaping processes.
The rock cycle describes how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks form and transform over time.
Plate tectonics explains the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates, resulting in geological phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanoes.
Erosion and weathering are crucial processes for breaking down rocks and transporting material across landscapes.
Fossils serve as evidence of past life forms, vital for understanding Earth's geological and biological history.
The geological time scale categorizes Earth's history into eons, eras, periods, and epochs, helping to frame the timeline of life and geological changes.