Earth's Systems: Rocks, Minerals, and Soil

Earth's Systems (MS-ESS1-2 NGSS)

Earth's Materials

• Rocks and Minerals:
  • Rocks: naturally occurring solid mass of mineral material
  • Minerals: naturally occurring inorganic solid with a specific chemical composition and crystal structure
  • Types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
• Soil Formation:
  • Weathering: breakdown of rocks into smaller particles
  • Erosion: removal of soil particles through wind, water, or ice
  • Deposition: settling of soil particles in a new location

Weather Patterns

• Weather vs. Climate:
  • Weather: short-term atmospheric conditions (temperature, humidity, cloudiness, etc.)
  • Climate: long-term average atmospheric conditions
• Global Wind Patterns:
  • Trade winds: near the equator, blowing from east to west
  • Wasterlies: in the middle latitudes, blowing from west to east
  • Jet stream: fast-moving winds in the upper atmosphere
• Water Cycle:
  • Evaporation: water evaporates from oceans, lakes, and rivers
  • Condensation: water vapor cools and forms clouds
  • Precipitation: water falls to the ground as rain, snow, or hail

Natural Resources

• Renewable Resources:
  • Solar energy: energy from the sun
  • Wind energy: energy generated by wind
  • Hydro energy: energy generated by moving water
• Non-Renewable Resources:
  • Fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas
  • Minerals: metals and other inorganic compounds
• Conservation:
  • Reducing waste and pollution
  • Preserving natural habitats and ecosystems

Human Impact

• Environmental Changes:
  • Deforestation: clearing of forests for human use
  • Pollution: release of harmful substances into the environment
  • Climate change: global warming and associated effects
• Sustainable Practices:
  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
  • Using public transportation or carpooling
  • Using energy-efficient appliances

Earth's Water Systems

• Water Distribution:
  • Oceans: 97% of Earth's water
  • Ice caps and glaciers: 2% of Earth's water
  • Freshwater lakes, rivers, and groundwater: 1% of Earth's water
• Water Cycle Processes:
  • Evaporation: water evaporates from oceans, lakes, and rivers
  • Condensation: water vapor cools and forms clouds
  • Precipitation: water falls to the ground as rain, snow, or hail
• Water Conservation:
  • Reducing water waste
  • Using water-efficient appliances
  • Harvesting and storing rainwater

Earth's Materials

• Rocks are naturally occurring solid masses of mineral material
• Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic solids with a specific chemical composition and crystal structure
• There are three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
• Soil formation involves three stages: weathering, erosion, and deposition
• Weathering is the breakdown of rocks into smaller particles
• Erosion is the removal of soil particles through wind, water, or ice
• Deposition is the settling of soil particles in a new location

Weather Patterns

• Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and cloudiness
• Climate refers to long-term average atmospheric conditions
• Global wind patterns include trade winds, wasterlies, and jet streams
• Trade winds blow from east to west near the equator
• Wasterlies blow from west to east in the middle latitudes
• Jet streams are fast-moving winds in the upper atmosphere

Water Cycle

• Evaporation occurs when water evaporates from oceans, lakes, and rivers
• Condensation occurs when water vapor cools and forms clouds
• Precipitation occurs when water falls to the ground as rain, snow, or hail
• The water cycle is a continuous process involving evaporation, condensation, and precipitation

Natural Resources

• Renewable resources include solar energy, wind energy, and hydro energy
• Solar energy is generated from the sun
• Wind energy is generated by wind
• Hydro energy is generated by moving water
• Non-renewable resources include fossil fuels and minerals
• Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas
• Minerals are metals and other inorganic compounds
• Conservation involves reducing waste and pollution, and preserving natural habitats and ecosystems

Human Impact

• Environmental changes caused by human activities include deforestation, pollution, and climate change
• Deforestation is the clearance of forests for human use
• Pollution involves the release of harmful substances into the environment
• Climate change refers to global warming and associated effects
• Sustainable practices include reducing, reusing, and recycling, using public transportation or carpooling, and using energy-efficient appliances

Earth's Water Systems

• Oceans hold 97% of Earth's water, ice caps and glaciers hold 2%, and freshwater lakes, rivers, and groundwater hold 1%
• Water distribution involves the movement of water between these sources
• Water cycle processes include evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
• Water conservation involves reducing water waste, using water-efficient appliances, and harvesting and storing rainwater