Earth Science Chapter 1 Review

4 branches of Earth Science

Geology, Oceanography, Meteorology, Astronomy

Geology

study of the earth

Physical geology

study of materials that make up the earth and the processes that shape the earth like earthquakes, volcanoes, and erosion

Historical geology

study of Earth's long history

oceanography

study of all aspects of Earth's oceans such as its chemistry, waves/tides, seafloor features, and the life in it

meteorology

study of the Earth's atmosphere and the processes that produce weather and climate

astronomy

study of the universe beyond the earth

Nebular Hypothesis

Solar System evolved from a cloud of dust and gas

Nebula is made of mostly:

hydrogen and helium

hydrosphere's most prominent feature

oceans

hydrosphere's fresh water is found in:

streams, lakes, glaciers, and underground

atmosphere

blanket of air

half of the atmosphere lies

below 3.5 miles high

biosphere

all life on earth

geosphere

crust, mantle, and core

plate tectonics

theory that Earth's outer shell consists of plates in many ways and produce earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and crust

lithosphere

plates made up of the crust and uppermost mantle

latitude

distance north or south of the equator

longitude

distance east or west of the prime meridian

Why aren't maps totally accurate?

representing a sphere on flat paper; distortion at top and bottom

topographic maps show:

elevation, distance directions, slope angles

contour lines

indicate elevation

contour interval

distance between adjacent contour lines

system

any size group of interacting parts

closed system

self-contained (auto cooling system)

open system

allow energy and matter to flow in and out (river system)

Earth is powered by:

sun and core

Sun drives these processes:

external things in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and at the surgace

Core drives these processes:

internal things that make volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountains

hypothesis

possible explanation to scientific problem

theory

well-tested and widely accepted view that explains observable facts

prime meridian

line running north and south

Earth's 4 major spheres

hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere

Inner planets

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars--made up of solid rock, metallic materials

Outer planets

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune--made of gases