Chapter 1 Notes:
Unit I: What is
Earth Science
Branches of Earth
Science
1.
Astronomy
2.
Meteorology
3.
Geology
4.
Oceanography
Unit II: The Origin
of Earth
a.
all
planets move around the sun in the same direction
b.
the
paths, or orbits, of the planets around the sun are all nearly circular.
c.
Most
of the orbits are in nearly the same flat surface (plane).
d.
The
sun turns on its axis in almost the same plane as the planets and in the same
direction that the planets revolve.
e.
Most
of the planets rotate in the same direction as the sun.
f.
Seven
of the nine planets have moons.
(1944 by German
astronomer vonWeizsacker)
Steam rises from
the volcanic action inside earth and condenses in the ice-cold, thin atmosphere
on earth’s surface. It probably rained down on earth for millions of years,
filling in all the ocean basins.
An endless supply
of volcanic gases escape from inside earth during its formation, filling the
thin atmosphere with poison gases. Once plant life forms in the oceans of the
world, the plants begin to convert the poison gases (sulfur, carbon dioxide,
etc.) to more usable gases like oxygen, nitrogen, etc. Today earth is over 78%
nitrogen and 21% oxygen.
The process of
plant-life converting poison gases to usable gases (ie – carbon dioxide into
oxygen)
a.
Inner
core
b.
Outer
core
c.
Mantle
d.
Crust
Massive eruptions
of magma continue to build land masses of the last 5 billion years, adding to
the overall land area of the earth.