6/8/2016

Are you ready for a natural disaster?

Earth Science and the Earth System
The fourth-largest earthquake

Earth Science
ever recorded buckled the
seafloor east of Japan at 2.46
p.m., March 11, 2011.

The investigation of interactions among the

The earthquake generated a
tsunami that swept across the
east coast of Japan. More than

four components of the Earth system . . .

20,000 people are estimated to
have died as a result.

atmosphere (air, weather)

hydrosphere (water, ice)
biosphere (plants, animals)
geosphere (land, rocks)

. . . and their interaction with the exosphere (sun,

Seven years earlier, a giant
earthquake buckled the seafloor
just west of Indonesia at 7.58
a.m., December 26, 2004.
Banda Aceh, Sumatra,
Indonesia, was quickly
devastated by tsunami
waves up to 30 meters high.
More than 230,000
people are estimated to space).
have died following the
Indonesia earthquake
and tsunami.

The Scope of (Earth) Science The Scope of (Earth) Science

How do you interact with the
components of the earth system?
ATMOSPHERE
Science is . . .
. . . a process of discovery that increases our
body of knowledge.
. . . information that can be learned; much of it
is waiting to be discovered.
. . . the curiosity and creativity of scientists in
HYDROSPHERE
the search for answers to critical questions.

Science is not . . .
. . . a list of facts to be memorized.
BIOSPHERE GEOSPHERE

Science and Society Science and Society

Earth Scientists role in Society: Earth Scientists role in Society:
Alert people to earth processes (hazards) that may cause
Alert people to earth processes (hazards) that damage or loss of life
may cause damage or loss of life
Which types
Provide for material needs of society by managing of natural
natural resources hazards are
Protect us from activities that may endanger the most
natural environment significant for
the region
Ensure the future of humanity from global threats where you
such as climate change or an asteroid impact live?

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Science and Society Science Conceptest

Earth Scientists role in Society:
Alert people to earth processes (hazards) that may Is evacuation of a city in advance of
cause damage or loss of life a typhoon an example of prevention
Prevention Which hazards are we most likely (or
least likely) to be able to prevent?
or adjustment?
Example: Prevention of flooding as a result of
construction of floodwalls and levees
A. Prevention
Adjustment strategies for minimizing the impact of
hazards
B. Adjustment
Example: Building code regulations in areas of
frequent earthquakes

Science and Society Science and Society

Earth Scientists role in Society: Earth Scientists role in Society:
Provide for material needs of society by Provide for material needs of society by managing
natural resources
managing natural resources
Renewable resources water, soil
Non-renewable resources oil, coal, metals

Sustainable
society a society
What does the
that satisfies its pattern of night
need for resources lights suggest
about global use
without jeopardizing of energy and
the needs of future other resources?
Strip mining for
manganese, South Africa generations

Science and Society Science and Society

Earth Scientists role in Society: Earth Scientists role in Society:
Protect us from activities that may endanger natural
environments
Human-induced air and water pollution can cause long- Protect the future of
term harm to ecosystems humanity from global
threats such as climate
Oil spill in Guimaras
change or an asteroid
linked to fish kill impact

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Complete the following concept map by

entering the most appropriate term
in the box provided.

minerals oil future of human life Environmental Health

resources typhoons Climate Change Water Quality