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BOOKLET 1:
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Copyright © 2016 by A.S.S Academy
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G. Sharma

A.S.S Science Foundation Delhi

G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi
 CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

1. Structure of Earth

2. Structure Of Atmosphere

3. Structure of Hydrosphere

G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi
 Chapter 1
Structure of Earth

1.
Schematic of Structure of Earth
Crust are of two types:
 Continental Crust: Thicker, [0-35 km]
 Oceanic Crust: Thinner, [0-7 km]

Earth is stratified on the basis of density, Higher Density lower layer and Lower Density
Higher layer.
Lithosphere includes crust and upper part of outer Mantle.
Asthenosphere lies between 80-400 km, part of Outer mantle and Plastic in nature [changes
shape]
Core is rich in Ni and Fe, called NIFE Layer
Mantle is rich in Fe and Mg
Continental Crust is known as Sial as rich in Si and Al
Oceanic Crust is rich in Mg and Si.

Relative proportion of elements in Crust:

G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi
O > Si > Al > Fe > Ca > Na > K > Mg

Relative proportion of elements in Earth

Fe > O > Si > Mg > Ni > S > Ca >Al

Mantle > Core > Crust {Proportion of Layers}

Core > Mantle > Crust {Depth}
Core > mantle > Crust {Density}
Density of Earth is 5.5 kg/m3

Oceanic Crust Continental Crust

Thinner [0-7 km] Thicker [0-70 km]

Younger Older

High Density [2-9 kg/m3] Lower Density [2-7 kg/m3]

Rich in Basalt [Si Mg] {SIMA} Rich in Granite [Si Al] {SIAL}

Mineral: Assemblage of Elements Rock: Assemblage of Minerals

Ca + C + O  CaCO3  Limestone

Elements Mineral Rock

Similarly, NaCl gives Halite Rock.

Crust Feldspar [Most Abundant]
Mantle Pyroxene and olivine

Earthquake are formed mainly due to Faulting.

Epicentre

G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi
 Focus/Hypocentre
[Inside]

Earthquake produces two types of waves:

Body Waves Surface Waves

P and S types Love and Rayleigh

Travel on Body, deciphering Earth’s

Structure, No Damage Travel only on Surface, Causes Damage

Mass of Earth = 5.9 X 10^24

Mass of Crust = 2.5 X 10^22
Mass of Mantle = 4.0 X 10^24
Mass of Core = 1 X 10^24
The Surface separating material of different layers according to different layers of properties
are termed as Discontinuity.

Moho Discontinuity Crust and Mantle

Taylor Guttenberg Discontinuity Mantle and Core [2900km]

Conard Discontinuity Upper and Lower Continental Crust

G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi
 CHAPTER 2
Key Points
 Average Earth’s Temperature: 15 0C / 20 0C [288 k]
 Absence of Green House gases : Average Temperature: -15 0C / -20 0C
 Water vapor is the most variable Green House Gas [Both spatial and
temporally]
 Glass is equivalent to greenhouse gas

Electromagnetic Spectrum:

Ensemble of all wavelengths in electromagnetic Radiation

Atmosphere

A schematic of Greenhouse Effect

G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi
  Earth’s atmosphere is transparent to short wave radiation of Sun, however longwave
radiation emitted from earth’s surface is absorbed by greenhouse gases such as water
vapor and carbon dioxide. This phenomenon is called greenhouse effect.

Wein’s Displacement Law

It states that wavelength emitted by a body is inversely related to its temperature.

Λ = [2897/T (kelvin)]

Where,

Λ = Wavelength (µm)
T = Temperature in Kelvin

G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi
 STRUCTURE OF ATMOSPHERE

-110

25-30

-60

10

A schematic of Discrete layers of atmosphere

CLASSIFICATION I
 TROPOSPHERE

 Average Height 12 km, Equator 16 km, Maximum Temperature 15 0C and

Minimum temperature - 6.5 0C.
 Temperature decreases as the atmosphere becomes rarer and Earth is
always warmer near the surface of earth as the long wave radiation is
emitted by earth’s surface.
 All weather phenomenon occur in troposphere

 STRATOSPHERE

 Ozone concentration is maximum at 25-30 km

 Temperature increases with height
 Ozone layer cause an increase in temperature with height and this layer is
devoid of water vapor

G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi
  MESOSPHERE
 Lowest temperature is observed in atmosphere
CLASSIFICATION II

 HOMOSPHERE:

 0-80 kilometre
 Composition is almost same
 Gases are mixed

 HETEROSPHERE

 > 80-90 km
 Composition is not constant
 Different gases are in different layer as per their mass
 Nitrogen: 200 km Oxygen: 1100 km Helium: 2600 km hydrogen:
Key Points
 Most part of heterosphere is in Thermosphere.
 Lowermost part of Thermosphere is called Ionosphere [Rich N and O atoms]
 More than 90% of atmosphere lies in lower 30 km of atmosphere
 Layer of thermosphere beyond 9600 km is called as Magnetosphere [As earth’s
magnetic field can be felt even without atmosphere]
 Commercial Jet planes fly at an altitude of 10-12 km
 Ionosphere has three distinct layers namely D, E and F. All the three layers are present
in day time, however E & D are absent at night.
 Lapse Rate is defined as rate of temperature decrease with height, for troposphere it is
approx. 6.5 K/km [calculate].
HEAVY SIDE LAYER
Most important belt of ions and is termed as Heavy Side layer. It is present at the height of 80-
250 km. it is very significant from the point of view of radio transmission. It doesn’t allow the
radio waves to penetrate and reflects it back.
AURORAS
These are intermittent display of light due to ions present in the ionosphere. Glues are produced
when atoms of O & molecules of N2 are energized and emit light on striking with electron and
proton clouds produced during solar flare activity. Mostly observed in poles and Southern
hemisphere. They are termed Aurtralis in Southern hemisphere and Borealis in Northern
Hemisphere.

G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi
 5

COMPOSITION OF GASES IN TROPOSPHERE

GAS Percentage [by Volume] ppm
Nitrogen 78 780000
Oxygen 21 210000
Argon 0.95 9500
CO2 0.038 380
Neon 0.0018 18
Helium 0.005 5.2
Methane 0.00017 1.7
Krypton 0.00011 1.1
Nitrous Oxide 0.00003 0.3
Hydrogen 0.00005 50
Ozone 0.000004 4

G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi
 CHAPTER 3
HYDROSPHERE
Key Points,
 97% ocean 3% water [fresh]
 This 3% is divided in following sources
 Glacier and Icecap > Ground Water> Inland Lakes > Soil Moisture > Atmosphere >
Rivers
 Earth’s Area 5 X 10^8 cm2
 Volume Wise, Pacific > Atlantic > Indian > Arctic
 In Northern hemisphere 3/5 portion is constituted by water and in Southern hemisphere
4/5 portion is constituted by water.
 57 % of Total Ocean lies into Southern Hemisphere.

Hydrosphere Proportion

G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi
 Structure of Ocean

TERMINOLOGIES

 CONTINENTAL SHELF: That portion of continent that submerged in ocean in past

[Width: Up to 300m Depth: 0-200 m]
 CONTINENTAL SLOPE: Approx. 4 degree, depth 200-3500 m Width 20 km. Its
base is covered with sediments.
 CONTINENTAL RISE: It is called so because of debris and sedimentation, it’s height
and width varies. Thickest in Bay of Bengal.
 Deep Sea Floor: Various features are present in it.

 Oceanic Ridges: Linear chain of mountains, some mountains can be classified as

hydrothermal vents [HTV]. These vents smoke out mineral laden black water vapor.
Thence called BLACK SMOKERS [Sulphite minerals].
G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi
  Abyssal Hills: Hills present in sea floor with height less than 1 km.
 Abyssal plains: These are regions beyond 850 km, up to the starting of Abyssal plains
structures are called Continental margin.
 Sea Mounts: Hills with height more than 1 km.
 Guyots: Many of sea mounts are flat topped and extremely steep sided named Guyots.
 Trenches: Regions deeper than 6 km at base of continental slope. They are formed by
converging of oceanic plates.
 Sub Marine Canyons: These are present on continental shelfs and slopes and
terminates into deep sea as fan shaped sediment load.

END
G. Sharma
A.S.S Science Academy
Delhi