Post on 31-Dec-2015
Cycle of Matter
• Matter cycles through an ecosystem• Water Cycle: Heat causes water to evaporate
into atmosphere; water falls from atmosphere as precipitation
• Other forms of matter also have cycles that affect living things
Fossil Fuels
• Burning fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) can release nitrogen oxide into atmosphere
• Nitrogen oxide causes smog and acid rain• Water washes excess nitrogen oxide into
bodies of water, where it can deplete oxygen levels and hurt wildlife
Fossil Fuels
• Other chemicals released are hydrocarbons and sulfur oxides
• Carbon dioxide leads to greenhouse effect and global warming
• Fossil Fuels are nonrenewable energy sources
Earthquakes
• Seismic waves caused by the release of energy in Earth’s crust
• Measured on Richter scale
• Areas prone to earthquakes have special building practices
Hurricanes
• A severe tropical cyclone, or low-pressure, spiral shaped thunderstorm
• Can cause severe rains, flooding, wind damage, high waves and storm surges
• Damage can be mitigated by levees (dikes)
Photo: Steve Fareham
Renewable Energy Sources
• Renewable energy sources will not be depleted
• Wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and biomass energy are all renewable
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Troposphere: Closest layer of the atmosphere, where most weather takes place
• Stratosphere: Highest level jets can reach; also contains ozone layer
• Mesosphere: Coldest place on Earth, too high for jets and too low for satellites
• Thermosphere: Very low air pressure and high temperatures, no water vapor
• Exosphere: Merges with space, where most satellites orbit
Global Warming
• Greenhouse effect: Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can trap more radiated heat from The Sun in the atmosphere
• Global warming could cause changes in weather, food production and ocean levels
Photo: Tiago Fioreze
Oceans
• Bodies of salt water that contain most of Earth’s water
• Ocean currents are large movements of water in the ocean
• Tides are changes in ocean level caused by the gravitational pull of The Moon
Photo: Richard Ling
Ocean Organisms
• Many organisms live in the oceans
• Coral reefs are structures of coral that contain some of the largest diversity of organisms
Interaction between Systems
• All systems of the Earth interact
• Wind and water cause weathering of rocks and ground
• Earth rotation and high/low air pressure causes wind
Earth’s Interior
• The Crust- Thin outer layer of the Earth
• Mantle- Solid largest layer
• Outer Core- Hot liquid layer
• Inner Core- Very dense innermost layer
Tectonic Plates
• Earth’s crust is made up of plates
• Where the plates collide mountains and rifts are formed
• Volcanoes and Earthquakes happen where plates are moving apart or colliding
Major Landforms
• Mountains• Continental Shelf-
raised edges of continents
• Ocean Basin- Deep part of oceans beyond continental shelf
Galaxies
• Galaxies are massive groups of stars and stellar (star-like) objects
• Our galaxy is the Milky Way, a spiral shaped galaxy
Stars
• Massive sphere of hot plasma
• The Sun is a star• Energy released
through constant nuclear reaction of hydrogen becoming helium
• Groups of stars are called constellations
Life of a Star
• Protostar: Gravitational instability causes a star to form; takes about 10-15 million years
• Main Sequence: 90% of a star’s lifespan- spent converting hydrogen to helium
• Red Giant: After hydrogen is depleted, radius increases but mass decreases, begins burning helium
Life of a Star
• Red Supergiant: Star burns neon, silicon, carbon and oxygen
• Collapse: Core suddenly collapses into a white dwarf; a supernova is created and sends out a bright shockwave. Larger stars can form a black hole.
Photo: Luc Viatour
Effects of Solar System on Earth
• Tides: Rising and falling ocean water caused by gravitational pull of The Moon
• Lunar Eclipse: Blocking of The Moon by Earth’s shadow
• Solar Eclipse: Blocking of The Sun by The Moon