Unit 0 - What is Earth Science?

hypothesis

a guess or possible answer to a scientific question based on observations

inference

a reasonable explanation based on what you already know or clues from observation

experiment

a set of controlled observations that test a hypothesis

data

collected and recorded observations

results

data and observations gathered from the experiment

qualitative

descriptive data using the senses

objective

not influenced by personal feelings or opinions

quantitative

numerical data collected using tools

observation

something you notice using your senses

Geology

study of the Earth's solid material and structures and the processes that create them

Astronomy

study of the universe

Meteorology

the study of the Earth's atmosphere which includes weather patterns, clouds, hurricanes, and tornadoes

Environmental Science

the study of the effects humans have on the planet

Oceanography

the study of the physical properties of the ocean such as tides, currents, chemical make-up, and sea-floor

variable

a factor that can change in an experiment

problem

the question we are trying to answer by doing anexperiment

conclusion

the result of an experiment that explains whether the hypothesis was correct or not

Climatology

the study of Earth's climate and the factors that affect past, present, and future climatic changes