Earth Science Quiz

Earth Science Overview

• Earth science consists of four spheres: the lithosphere (solid Earth), atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (water), and biosphere (living organisms).

Focus of Earth Science

• The main focus of Earth science is understanding the Earth's physical structure, composition, and processes.

Applications of Earth Science

• Some Earth scientists utilize their knowledge to locate natural resources, predict weather patterns, and mitigate natural disasters.

Relationship with Planetary Science

• Earth science and planetary science are closely related, as they both study the formation and evolution of planets, but Earth science focuses specifically on the Earth.

Human Impact on the Environment

• Some Earth scientists study the impact of human activities on the environment, such as climate change, deforestation, and pollution.

Geologic Time Scale

• The primary purpose of the geologic time scale (GTS) is to divide the Earth's history into distinct time intervals.

Determining Rock Age

• Geochronology is the scientific branch that aims to determine the age of rocks.

International Units of Geologic Time

• The International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) is responsible for defining standardized international units of geologic time.

Stratigraphy and Time

• The process of stratigraphy relates strata to time in the context of the geologic time scale by correlating rock layers to specific time periods.

International Union of Geological Sciences

• The primary objective of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) is to promote international cooperation and coordination in the field of geology.