A Habitable Planet Lesson 1.1 - 2024 PDF

MODULE 1 A HABITABLE PLANET Lesson 1.1 – Planet Earth and its Neighbors Lesson 1.2 – Rocks and Minerals  Lesson 1.1 – Planet Earth and its Neighbors Learning Outcomes 1. Explain the origin and structure of the Earth 2. Familiarize the different components of the solar system. ...

MODULE 1 A HABITABLE PLANET Lesson 1.1 – Planet Earth and its Neighbors Lesson 1.2 – Rocks and Minerals  Lesson 1.1 – Planet Earth and its Neighbors Learning Outcomes 1. Explain the origin and structure of the Earth 2. Familiarize the different components of the solar system.  Earth Science Earth science is the branch of science which deals with the physical constitution of Earth and its atmosphere. Earth science is a multidisciplinary science dealing with Earth, its history, composition, atmosphere, oceans and its neighbors in space. Geology Meteorology https://kids.nationalgeographic.com http://www.bluespanwireless.com https://kids.nationalgeographic.com Earth Science Oceanography https://public.wmo.int Astronomy www.astronomy.com Geology: Science of Earth Primary Earth Science means “Study of Earth” Deals with the composition of: Earth Materials Earth Structures Earth Processes Geology: Science of Earth Studies: Minerals and rocks Volcanoes Earthquakes Faults and folds Soils Erosion Mountains Plate tectonics Geologic history Meteorology: Science of Atmosphere study of the atmosphere and how processes in the atmosphere determine Earth's www.ametsoc.org weather and climate critical important in protecting Earth's environment http://www.bluespanwireless.com Astronomy: Science of the Universe Study of the Universe Study beyond Earth’s atmosphere Oldest branch of Earth Science www.astronomy.com https://www.istockphoto.com Astronomy: Science of the Universe Studies: Sun and other stars Planets and other objects in our solar system Lunar phases Tides Eclipses https://www.istockphoto.com Oceanography: Science of the Oceans Study of the Earth’s oceans: Composition Movement Organisms https://www.nationalgeographic.org Processes Deals with the life and properties of Earth’s oceans. https://sites.lsa.umich.edu  The Origin of the Earth Solar Nebular Hypothesis (SNH) The Earth was formed from condensing gas and dust about 4.6 billion years ago.  The Origin of the Earth Solar Nebular Hypothesis (SNH) Gravitational forces caused the gas and dust particles to come together with heavier particles gravitating to the center and lighter ones collecting outside.  The Origin of the Earth Solar Nebular Hypothesis (SNH) The contraction of the mass-produced heat that caused melting and the gradual formation of the Earth’s layers: core, mantle and crust.  The Origin of the Earth The Age of the Earth – 4.6 billion years old Determined by radiometric dating of the oldest rocks and meteorites in the Earth. Radiometric dating is used to determine the age of rocks and other natural materials through their radioactive contents.  The Geologic Time Scale Standard method used in dividing the Earth’s long natural history. Subdivided into different intervals: Geologic Eon Geologic Era  Geologic Eons The largest unit of geologic time Subdivided into four Eons: 1. Phanerozoic 2. Proterozoic 3. Archean 4. Hadean These 4 Eons are collectively known as The Precambrian Time. Geologic Eons About 90 percent of the history of the Earth originated on the Precambrian Time. Geologic Era Eons are divided into smaller units called Eras. The four eras are the following: Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic Precambrian  Major Events in the Different Geologic Eras Precambrian Era Oldest era Very little life present which includes basic forms of life such as bacteria Oldest fossils were found in this era. Photosynthesis of the seaweed added oxygen to the early atmosphere, paving the way for land life. Precambrian Era Stromatolites Single cellular plants (algae) entered the fossil record approximately 3 billion years ago. Geologists considered this as the first life on Earth. Paleozoic Era The Age of Fishes Explosion of life in the ocean: shellfish, fish, trilobites Life existed in land such as amphibians and ferns The supercontinent Pangea was formed First fungi, vertebrates and insects appeared Mesozoic Era The Age of the Dinosaurs Reptiles are dominant life on Earth (dinosaurs) Birds existed Forest trees appear Mesozoic Era Pangaea broke apart during the period Dinosaurs become extinct in a mass extinction at the end of this era. Mesozoic Era Archeopteryx, the oldest fossil bird found was dated in this era Cenozoic Era The Age of the Mammals Humans existed in this era Mammals first appeared in the Mesozoic as small rodents. When dinosaurs became extinct at the end of the Mesozoic era, mammals quickly evolved to become the dominant life form. We live presently at the Phanerozoic eon, Holocene epoch, Quaternary period and Cenozoic Era. Cenozoic Era  Structure and Composition of the Earth Earth’s Three Layers Crust – thinnest and rigid outermost layer Mantle – middle layer which is largely plastic Core - very hot, very dense center of our planet Elemental Composition of the Earth The Earth’s Major Spheres 1. ATMOSPHERE layer of gases and suspended particles surrounding the earth from ground level upwards greatly affects the environmental conditions on the Earth’s surface. The Earth’s Major Spheres Composition of the Atmosphere The Earth’s Major Spheres 2. HYDROSPHERE includes all water bodies on the surface of the Earth: Oceans Lakes Rivers Underground water Water as glacier or snow. The Earth’s Major Spheres 2. HYDROSPHERE The water surface area comprises 70.8% of the Earth's total area, largely (97%) ocean. Closely linked to the other spheres particularly atmosphere (hydrologic cycle). The Earth’s Major Spheres Chemical Composition of Seawater and River Water  The Earth’s Major Spheres 3. BIOSPHERE Zone of life Thin envelope extending about 8 to 10 km above the earth’s surface and a few to several meters into the pedosphere.  The Earth’s Major Spheres 3. BIOSPHERE About 95 percent of the biosphere is composed of six elements: C, H, O, N, P and S. The Earth’s Major Spheres Effects of Living Organisms on the Earth’s Atmosphere  The Earth’s Major Spheres 4. LITHOSPHERE the rigid crust and the upper portion of the mantle of about 100 km thickness. Composed of various kinds of rocks grouped into three types: Igneous Metamorphic Sedimentary Earth’s Crust Most Abundant Elements  The Earth’s Major Spheres 5. PEDOSPHERE The thin soil cover formed from the weathering of the rocks in the upper portion of the crust. thickness ranges from a few centimeters to about 50 meters depending on the environmental conditions. The Earth’s Major Spheres  The Solar System Composed of the Sun (our star) and all the planets bounded by gravity: Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune The Solar System Also composed of: Moons Asteroids Comets Meteors Meteorites  The Solar System 1. Sun Sun is the brightest object located at the center of the solar system that is made up mostly of hydrogen and helium. It supports life by providing light (photons) on Earth.  The Solar System 2. Moon A moon is a natural satellite orbiting around a planet. Other planets also have moons. Earth’s moon is 384,000 kilometers away from the planet. It takes around 30 days for the moon to orbit the Earth completely. Phases of the Moon  The Solar System Moon’s Effect on Tides Moon exerts gravitational forces on Earth. The side of the Earth nearest to the moon is attracted more strongly than with the center of the Earth.  The Solar System Eclipses An eclipse occurs when an object enters the shadow formed from a solid object, blocking the light of the sun.  The Solar System 3. Planets A planet is anything that is in orbit around the sun and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit. It must have a sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid forces to assume a hydrostatic equilibrium shape.  The Solar System 4. Asteroids, Comets, Meteors and Meteorites Asteroids are debris in the solar system. They are mostly seen in the region that separates the small rocky planets and the gas giants known as the “asteroid belt”  The Solar System A comet is a small chunk of icy material that is composed of: (1) a nucleus, (2) coma, which is a cloud of gas and dust around the nucleus, and (3) a long tail extending about a million kilometers away from the nucleus  The Solar System A meteor, also known as “shooting star” or “falling star,” is a tiny solid particle seen as a streak of light across the sky as it enters the Earth’s atmosphere. When a meteor penetrates the atmosphere to low altitudes and reaches the Earth’s surface without burning completely, it is called “meteorite.”  Lesson 1.1 – Planet Earth and its Neighbors Learning Task No. 1.1 1. What is the significance of studying Earth Science in your course? (At least 300 Words)