Introduction Chapter

The Introduction opens with a definition of Earth Science and a discussion of the four areas that are traditionally included geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. This is followed by brief discussion of Earth's major "spheres." The importance of understanding basic Earth science principles when examining resources and environmental issues is also presented.  The Introduction closes with a discussion of the nature of scientific inquiry.

Learning Objectives

After reading, studying, and discussing the Introduction, you should be able to:

        1. List the sciences traditionally included in Earth science.

        2. Describe Earth's four "spheres."

        3. Discuss some resource and environmental issues.

        4. Describe the nature of scientific inquiry.

Introduction Review

Earth science is the name for all the sciences that collectively seek to understand the Earth and its neighbors in space.  It includes geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy.

The four "spheres" of Earth include the 1) hydrosphere, the dynamic mass of water that is continually on the move; 2) atmosphere, the gaseous envelope surrounding Earth; 3) solid Earth, which is divided into the core, mantle, and crust; and 4) biosphere, which includes all life.

Environment refers to everything that surrounds and influences and organism.  These influences can be biological, social, or physical.  Resources are an important environmental concern.  The two broad categories of resources are 1) renewable, which means that they can be replenished over relatively short time spans, and 2) nonrenewable.

Environmental problems can be local, regional, or global.  Human-induced problems include urban air pollution, acid rain, ozone depletion, and global warming.  Natural hazards imposed by the physical environment include earthquakes, landslides, floods, and hurricanes.  As world population continues to grow, pressures on the environment increase as well.

All science is based on the assumption that the natural world behaves in a consistent and predictable manner.  The process through which scientists gather facts through observations and formulate scientific hypotheses and theories is called the scientific method. 

To help determine what is occurring in the natural world, scientist often 1) collect facts, 2) develop a scientific hypothesis, 3) construct experiments to validate the hypothesis, and 4) accept, modify, or reject the hypothesis on the basis of extensive testing.  Other discoveries represent purely theoretical ideas, which have stood up to extensive examination.  Still other scientific advancements have been made when a totally unexpected happening occurred during an experiment.       

Chapter Outline

I. Earth science

        A. Encompasses all sciences that seek to understand

                1. Earth

                2. Earth's neighbors in space

        B. Includes

                1. Geology

                        a. Physical geology

                        b. Historical geology

                2. Oceanography

                        a. Not a separate and distinct science

                        b. Integrates

                                1. Chemistry

                                2. Physics

                                3. Geology

                                4. Biology

                3. Meteorology

                        a. Weather

                        b. Climate

                4. Astronomy

                        a. Solar System

                        b. Universe

II. Four "spheres" of the Earth

        A. Hydrosphere

                1. Ocean the most prominent feature

                        a. Nearly 71% of Earth's surface

                        b. About 97% of Earth's water

                2. Also includes fresh water

        B. Atmosphere

                1. Weather

                2. Climate

        C. Geosphere

                1. Core

                2. Mantle

                3. Crust

        D. Biosphere

                1. Includes all life

                2. Influences other three spheres

III. Earth as a System

        A. Energy

                1. Internal

                2. External

        B. Scale

                1. Space

                2. Time

IV. Resources and environmental issues

        A. Environment

                1. Surrounds and influences organisms

                2. Influences on organisms

                        a. Biological

                        b. Social

                        c. Physical

        B. Resources

                1. Important environmental concern

                2. Include

                        a. Water

                        b. Soil

                        c. Minerals

                        d. Energy

                3. Two broad categories

                        a. Renewable

                                1. Can be replenished

                                2. Examples

                                        a. Plants

                                        b. Wind energy

                        b. Nonrenewable

                                1. Fixed quantities

                                2. Examples

                                        a. Metals

                                        b. Fuels

        C. Environmental problems

                1. Local, regional, and global

                2. Human-induced and accentuated

                        a. Urban air pollution

                        b. Acid rain

                        c. Ozone depletion

                        d. Global warming

                3. Natural hazards

                        a. Earthquakes

                        b. Landslides

                        c. Floods

                        d. Hurricanes

                4. World population pressures

V. Scientific inquiry

        A.  Science assumes the natural world is

                1. Consistent

                2. Predictable

        B. Goal of Science

                1. To discover patterns in nature, and

                2. To use the knowledge to predict

        C. An idea can become a

                1. Hypothesis (untested)

                2. Theory (tested and confirmed)

        D. Scientific method

                1. Gather facts through observation

                2. Formulate

                        a. Hypothesis

                        b. Theories

        E. Scientific knowledge is gained through

                1. Following systematic steps

                        a. Collecting facts

                        b. Developing a hypothesis (untested

                        c. Conduct experiments

                        d. Reexamine the hypothesis and

                                1. Accept

                                2. Modify

                                3. Reject

                2. Theories that withstand examination

                3. Totally unexpected occurrences