Calendar dates; Models of earth science concepts; atmosphere/water use/soil; Fast Track book work

Homework:
Did you bring 'Fast Track to a 5' & a calendar?

Map out units
When's our first test?

Field Trip update & preliminary signup

Tardiness/absences...

5 minute break

Models of geologic time scale, tectonic plates, & earth's rotation/seasons

Notes: Earth Systems & Resources Part II

The Atmosphere

Earth's atmospheric composition:   Nitrogen 78% Oxygen  21% Argon .9% Carbon Dioxide .03% The other gases are often referred to as trace gases. Earth's atmosphere is about 300 miles thick but the densest part is within 18 miles of the  earth's surface. Earth's atmospheric structure is characterized by differences in chemical composition  that causes changes in temperature. The different layers of the atmosphere are: Troposphere (innermost layer) Stratosphere  Mesosphere Thermosphere Exosphere (outermost layer) The atmosphere influences both weather and climate.  Weather is the short-term changes in conditions in the Troposphere i.e  temperature, rainfall, humidity etc. Climate is the average weather pattern in an area over a long period of time. Atmospheric Circulation is the large scale movement of air. More info            The Coriolis Effect The rotation of the Earth causes an interesting phenomena on                                                                                       free moving objects on the Earth. Objects in the Northern Hemisphere are deflected to                                                                                        the right, while objects in the Southern Hemisphere are defected to the south.                                                                                                   Atmosphere-Ocean interaction  The main interaction between the atmosphere and ocean  is the transfer of energy through heat, moisture  and momentum.  They constantly react to  each other, for example surface winds control the  ocean currents.  ENSO or El Nino-Southern Oscillation is when prevailing trade winds blowing  westward either weaken or reverse. When El Nino happens it causes upwellings  to produce warm, less nutrient rich water. The winds also switch directions  causing changes in rainfall.

Global Water Resources and Use

Freshwater vs Saltwater  Freshwater low concentrations of dissolved salts (less than 100 mg/liter) Only 3% of Earth's water is freshwater (2/3 is frozen) Ex: lakes, rivers, ponds, groundwater, glaciers, and ice caps. Saltwater large concentrations of dissolved salts 97% of Earth's water it saltwater Saltwater mostly refers to oceans Ocean circulation is the large scale movement of waters in the ocean basins.  Winds drive surface circulation, and the cooling and sinking of waters in the  polar regions drive deep circulation.Surface circulation carries the warm  waters up towards the poles from the tropics.

Soil and Soil Dynamics

The rock cycle is an idealized cycle of processes undergone by rocks in the earth's crust. Soil formation depends on five major factors: Parent material climate living organisms topography time Go here to see the physical and chemical properties of soil. Main soils types are clay, sand and silt. Clay: smallest particles of broken rock in soil, less than .0002mm in diameter Sand: small pieces of rock 2mm to .05mm diameter Silt: slightly larger pieces of rock than clay .002 mm to .05 mm diameters Erosion and other soil problems      Soil erosion is the movement of soil components, especially topsoil,  from one place to another usually by wind, flowing water, or both.  This natural process can be greatly accelerated by human activities that  remove vegetation from soil.

Homework: watch Bozeman Science 'Atmosphere' video (11 mins) and answer:

-Explain the protocol passed in 1987

-What is the coriolis effect?