Earth Science

• Earth Science is the branch of science that

deals with the physical nature of Earth's
materials, including rocks, landscapes, oceans,
water resources, and the atmosphere.
 Objectives
• a. Identify the 4 major spheres and its
interaction
• b. Compare and contrast the physical and
chemical properties of each layer of the
Earth’s interior;
• c. Explain how scientists use seismic waves to
interfer the structure and properties of Earth’s
interior layers; and
 Objectives
• d. Determining the four layers of Earth.
• Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the
fifth largest planet. It is the only known planet
inhabited by living things.
 Earth's Four Spheres
• Earth consists of four major interacting subsystems:

• Geosphere – the solid Earth, including the surface and

interior layers.
• Atmosphere – the gaseous envelope surrounding Earth.
• Hydrosphere – all water on Earth, including surface water
and groundwater.
• Biosphere – the life of zone of the Earth and includes all
living organisms, and all organic matter that has not yet
decomposes
 The Atmosphere
• The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air
called the atmosphere.
• It consists of four main layers: troposphere,
stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.
• The atmosphere extends over 560 km (348
miles) above Earth's surface.
• It is primarily composed of nitrogen and
oxygen.
 Composition of the Atmosphere
Main components of the atmosphere:

• Nitrogen – 78%
• Oxygen – 21%
• Other gases – 1%
Other important gases include:
• Carbon dioxide
• Water vapor
 Layer 1: Troposphere (0–10 km)
• Role: Constitutes the climate system.

• Importance: Maintains conditions suitable for

supporting life on Earth's surface.
 Layer 2: Stratosphere (10–50 km)
• Role: Contains the ozone layer.

• Importance: Protects life by filtering harmful

ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Note:
• Commercial airplanes typically fly in this layer.
 Layers 3–5: Mesosphere,
Thermosphere, and Exosphere
• Mesosphere (50–85/100 km)
• Meteors burn up in this region.

• Thermosphere (100–500 km)

• Home to auroras or Northern Lights.

• Exosphere (Above 500 km)

• Outermost layer where satellites and spacecraft
orbit.
 Atmosphere
Interactions with other Earth System
components
• Hydrosphere: The gases of the atmosphere
readily exchange with those dissolved in water
bodies (e.g. oceans, lakes, etc.)
• Biosphere: The atmosphere supplies oxygen
and carbon dioxide that form the basis of life
processes (photosynthesis and respiration).
 Atmosphere
• Geosphere: Gases in the atmosphere react
with water to produce weak acids that aid in
the breakdown of rock.
 Biosphere
• The biosphere is the "life zone" of the Earth, and
includes all living organisms (including humans),
and all organic matter that has not yet
decomposed.
• The biosphere is structured into a hierarchy
known as the food chain (all life is dependent on
the first tier – mainly the primary producers that
are capable of photosynthesis).
• Energy and mass are transferred from one level
of the food chain to the next.
 Biosphere
• The biosphere is structured into a hierarchy
known as the food chain (all life is dependent
on the first tier – mainly the primary
producers that are capable of photosynthesis).
• Energy and mass are transferred from one
level of the food chain to the next.
 Biosphere
Interactions with other Earth System components

• Atmosphere: reactions which either extract or emit

gases to and from the atmosphere (e.g. photosynthesis
consumes carbon dioxide and releases oxygen,
whereas respiration does the opposite).
• Hydrosphere: Evaporation of water from leaf surfaces
(transpiration) transfers water to the atmosphere.
• Geosphere: The biosphere is connected to the
geosphere through soils (mixtures of air, mineral
matter, organic matter, and water). Plant activity (e.g.
root growth and organic acid production) are also for
the mechanical and chemical breakdown of the rocks.
 Hydrosphere
• Water found on the surface of our planet includes the
ocean as well as water from lakes and rivers, streams,
and creeks.
• Water found under the surface of our planet includes
water trapped in the soil and groundwater.
• Water found in our atmosphere includes water vapor.
• Frozen water on our planet includes ice caps and Only
abglaciers.
• Out 2.5% of the water on Earth is "fresh" water, and
about 70% of the fresh water is frozen in the form of
glacial ice.
 Hydrosphere
Interactions with other Earth System components

• Atmosphere: Water is transferred between the

hydrosphere and biosphere by evaporation and
precipitation. Energy is also exchanged in this process.
• Biosphere: Water is necessary for the transport of
nutrients and waste products in organisms.
• Geosphere: Water is the primary agent for the
chemical and mechanical breakdown of rock
(weathering), to form loose rock fragments and soil,
and sculpts the surface of the Earth.
 Geosphere
• The geosphere is the solid Earth that includes
the continental and ocean crust as well as the
various layers of Earth’s interior.
• 94% of the Earth is composed of the elements
oxygen, silicon, and magnesium.
• The geosphere is not static (unchanging), but
its surface (crust) is in a constant state of
motion.
• Mineral resources are mined from the
geosphere.
 Geosphere
Interactions with other Earth System components

• Atmosphere: volcanism spews significant amounts of gases

into the atmosphere. For example, volcanoes inject large
amounts of Sulphur dioxide to the upper atmosphere,
resulting in global cooling.
• Hydrosphere: The formation of many minerals involve
incorporation or release of water. Also, water speeds up
chemical reactions that produce or destroy minerals, and aids
in the melting of rock.
• Biosphere: Nutrients released from rocks during their
breakdown are dissolved in water (to be used by aquatic
plants).
 System Interactions
• Volcanoes (geosphere) erupt, sending ash and
gases into the air (atmosphere) and sending
lava and ash down onto surrounding forests
(biosphere) and human habitations
(biosphere).
 Interaction Flowchart
• Geosphere Atmosphere
• Geosphere  Biosphere
 System Interactions
• Earthquakes (geosphere) can damage
buildings which may kill people (biosphere), as
well as cause fires which release gases into the
air (atmosphere). Earthquakes in the ocean
may cause a tsunami (hydrosphere) which can
eventually hit land and kill both animals and
people (biosphere).
 Interaction Flowchart
• Geosphere  Biosphere
• Geosphere Atmosphere
• Geosphere  Hydrosphere
Layers of the Earth As
Defined By Physical
Properties
 Lithosphere (sphere of rock)

• The term lithosphere is used to describe the

rigid outer part of the Earth, consisting of the
crust and upper mantle.
 Lithosphere (sphere of rock)

• Compared with other layers of the Earth, the

lithosphere is a relatively cool, rigid shell and
averages about 60 miles (100 km) in
thickness, but may be about 155 miles (250
km) or more thick beneath the older portions
of the continents.
 Asthenosphere (weak sphere)

• The term asthenosphere refers to a semi-fluid

layer beneath the lithosphere (within
the upper mantle), between about 60 to 400
miles (100-650 km) below the outer rigid
lithosphere (oceanic and continental crust)
forming part of the mantle.
 Asthenosphere (weak sphere)

• The asthenosphere, although solid, is very hot

and is thought to be able to flow vertically and
horizontally, enabling sections of lithosphere
to undergo movements associated with plate
tectonics.
 Mesosphere (or Lower Mantle)

• This region is a rigid layer

between the depths of
about 400 to 1800 miles
(650 km and 2900 km),
but the rocks at these
depths are very hot and
capable of gradual flow.
Heat from the core drives
mantle gravitational
convection.
 Earth's Core

• Earth's core is subdivided into to zones based

on their geophysical properties: an outer core
and an inner core.
 Outer core

• Outer core is a liquid layer composed mostly

of an iron-nickel alloy (a mixture with similar
composition to metallic meteorites).
Convective flow within the outer core
generates Earth’s magnetic field.
 Inner core:

• Geophysical studies show that the inner core

behaves like a solid, but is very dense, around
16 gm/cc (similar to the physical properties of
an iron-nickel meteorite).
Layers of the Earth As
Defined By Chemical
Properties
 • The earth is composed of countless
combinations of elements. Regardless of what
elements are involved two major factors
temperature and pressure are responsible for
creating three distinct chemical layers.
 Crust
• The outermost chemical layer and the one we
currently reside on is the crust.
 There are two types of crust.
• Continental crust
• Oceanic crust
 Continental crust
• has a relatively low density and composition
similar to granite.
 Oceanic crust
• has a relatively high density, especially when
cold and old, and composition similar to
basalt. The surface levels of crust are relatively
brittle.
 Take note
• The deeper parts of the crust are subjected to
higher temperatures and pressure, which
makes them more ductile.
 Mantle
• The mantle sits below the crust and above the
core. It is the largest chemical layer by
volume, extending from the base of the crust
to a depth of about 2900 km. Most of what
we know about the mantle comes from
seismic wave analysis, though the information
is gathered by studying ophiolites and
xenoliths.
• Most of what we know about the mantle
comes from seismic wave analysis, though the
information is gathered by studying ophiolites
and xenoliths
• Most of what we know about the mantle
comes from seismic wave analysis, though the
information is gathered by studying ophiolites
and xenoliths
 Ophiolites
• An ophiolite is a section of Earth's oceanic
crust and the underlying upper mantle that
has been uplifted and exposed, and often
emplaced onto continental crustal rocks.
 Xenoliths
• A xenolith (from the Greek words for "foreign
rock") is a fragment of pre-existing rock that
becomes enveloped in a larger, host rock
 Core
• The core of the Earth, which has both liquid
and solid layers, and consists mostly of iron,
nickel, and possibly some oxygen