140 likes | 401 Views
Earth System Science. Chapter 1 Section 4 Notes. 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. What is a system?.
E N D
Earth System Science Chapter 1 Section 4 Notes
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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