The Earth and Its Subsystems

• study of Earth, Earth’s interior, Rocks and Soil, Atmosphere, Oceans, and its neighbors in space • an exciting science with many interesting and practical applications

• the systematic study of inorganic world, as distinct from the study of the organic world, which is the province of biological science. • is ordinarily thought of as consisting of four broad areas: Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, and Earth Science.

• observe phenomena and compile data to find solutions to problems and the answer to questions that are also of interest to researchers in other physical science. • who specialize in climatology share many ideas and information with Atmospheric Physics. • bring distinctive points of view to scientific study • are concerned with the processes that affect Earth’s Physical Environments at scales from Global to Regional to Local • with this we can better understand our planet’s physical geography • we can also appreciate the importance of viewing Earth as a constantly functioning system.

• study some of the same elements and compounds analyzed by Chemists.

• are concerned about environments that support the same plants and animals that are classified

• describe different kinds of interaction and important aspects of how we as self-aware beings perceive reality

• a historical perspective focuses on the Temporal dimension of human experience (time and chronology), while geography is concerned with the Spatial dimension of human experience (space and place). • understanding spatial patterns and processes is essential to appreciating how people live on Earth.

• any entity that consists of interrelated parts or components.

• relies on the interactions among a vast combination of factors that enable it to support life • continually responding to changes

• the individual components of a system • change by interacting with one another as parts of a functioning unit • a change in one aspect of the earth’s system affects certain other parts

• are functioning units of a major system that demonstrate strong internal connections

Earth’s Major Subsystems (4)

• is the gaseous blanket of air that envelops, shields, and insulates Earth • variations in atmospheric components and processes create the changing conditions (Weather and Climate)

• the total amount of water on our planet that includes the water that is on the surface of the planet, underground, and in the air • can be liquid, vapor, or ice • exists on the surface of ocean, lakes, and rivers

• the solid, outer part of the earth, including the brittle upper portion of the mantle and crust such as the landforms, rocks, soils, and minerals

• the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the Earth occupied by living organisms such as people, other animals, and plants

-these major subsystem and the interactions among them nurture the conditions ______

• The ____ and _____ of interactions within and between Earth’s subsystem are ___ equal everywhere. This inequality leads to our Planet’s ____ ____ and produces the wide….

• The Earth’s System is ___

• We can directly observe some of these changes in Earth’s System (5)

• other environmental changes may take years or more than a lifetime to accumulate enough modification so that humans can recognize their impact

• Changes on Earth may be (3)

• centers on the increasing impact that human activities are exerting on Earth’s Natural System

• our surrounding • including all physical, social, and cultural aspects and ways of living • are systems composed of a wide variety of elements and processes that involve interconnections among weather, climate, soils, rocks, terrain, plants, animals, water, and human.