Earth System Science

1. Earth System Science Chapter 1 Section 4 Notes

2. Earth System Science • Earth is made up of many interacting parts, or subsystems. • Earth system science tries to put together what we know about the subsystems and how they effect global problems.

3. What is a system? • A system can be any size or group of interacting parts that form a complex whole. • Most natural systems are driven by sources of energy from one place to another.

4. Open vs. Closed Systems

5. Earth as a System • The Earth system is powered by two sources. • The Sun • Earth’s interior • The external processes that occur is powered by the sun. • There is heat inside the center of the Earth, which produces volcanoes, earthquakes and mountains.

6. Earth as a System (cont.) • The parts of the Earth system are linked. • The change in any part of the Earth system, will affect any or all of the other parts.

7. Mount St. Helens May 17, 1980

8. Mount St. Helens May 18, 1980

9. People and the Environment • Our actions produce changes in all of the other parts of the Earth system. • Every choice has a consequence on our environment, often in unforeseen ways. • Environment: refers to everything that surrounds and influences an organism.

10. Resources • Resources are divided into two categories: • Renewable Resources: things that can be replenished quickly over a short period of time. • Nonrenewable Resources: Things that are replenished over a very long period of time.

11. Population • The population of Earth is growing rapidly. • In the span of 200 years, the human population has grown over 5 billion people. • Because of this rapid population growth, we must also deal with growing environmental problems.

12. Threats to the environment include: Acid Rain Air Pollution Acid Rain Ozone Depletion Global Warming People must also cope with Natural hazards that exist such as: Earth Quakes Land Slides Hurricanes Floods Drought Environmental Problems