GMOA Notes

These are notes that cover Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography, and Astronomy.

Introduction
Earth's four spheres

Hydrosphere - dynamic mass of liquid that is always on the move
 * Oceans - the most prominent feature of the hydrosphere
 * 71% of Earth's surface is covered by ocean which is 97% of Earth's water
 * Only 3% is fresh water - streams, lakes, glaciers and underground supplies
 * Water Cycle - constantly recycles water

Atmosphere
 * Provides us with the air we breath
 * Protects us from the sun's intense heat and radiation
 * Protects us from space

Biosphere
 * Includes all life on Earth
 * Interacts and influences the other 3 spheres

Lithosphere
 * Earth's rigid outer layer called the crust and the upper mantle called the asthenosphere
 * Solid earth consists of 4 layers:
 * core
 * inner, solid core
 * outer, liquid core
 * mantle
 * lithosphere
 * Divisions of Earth's surface
 * continents
 * ocean basins

Sciences

Sciences involved in better understanding the earth integrate chemistry, physics, and biology into the following sciences:

Meteorology - the study of:
 * the atmosphere
 * weather and climate

Geology - the study of the Earth, and is broken into
 * Physical geology
 * minerals
 * rocks
 * Earth processes - mountain building, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.
 * Historical geology - Earth's origin and it's past
 * physical
 * biological

Oceanography - study of the Oceans
 * Composition and movement of seawater
 * Seafloor topography and sea life

Astronomy - the study of the universe
 * Earth is a tiny object in a vast universe
 * to understand Earth helps us to understand other planets and vice versa

Resources and Environmental Issues

Environment
 * Physical environment (abiotic)
 * water
 * air
 * soil
 * rock
 * Biological - living environment (biotic)

Resources
 * Important environmental concern
 * Include:
 * water
 * soil
 * minerals
 * energy
 * Two broad categories of resources
 * Renewable resources
 * can be replenished
 * Examples: plant (lumber) and wind energy
 * Nonrenewable Resources
 * Fixed quantities
 * Examples: fuels and metals

Environmental Problems
 * Local, regional, and global
 * Human-induced and accentuated
 * Urban air pollution
 * Acid rain
 * Ozone depletion
 * Global Warming
 * Natural Hazards
 * Earthquakes
 * Landslides
 * Floods
 * Huricanes
 * World population pressures - in 30 years population increased from 4 to 7 billion
 * US makes up 6% of that but uses 30% of the annual mineral and energy resources
 * Alternate energy sources needed

Scientific Inquiry

Scientific Inquiry - scientific knowledge is gained through the following systematic steps called the scientific method, (PI-HE-RAC)

Gather facts through observation then ask why?
 * Problem - state the problem
 * Information about the problem
 * Hypothesis (untested best guess as to why)
 * Experimentation
 * Record and Analyze results
 * Conclusion - accept or reject hypothesis

Goal of science is to discover patterns in nature and use knowledge to predict what will happen under certain circumstances
 * Theory - tested and confirmed
 * Law - no known deviations have ever been found