Unit 1: Introduction To Earth Science

Biosphere

All life on earth. This includes... -Animals -Plants -Fungus -Protists -Archaebacteria -Eubacteria

Prime Meridian

An imaginary line in the center of the Earth separating East and West. It is at 0 degrees W/E. -Note: It runs through Greenwich, England.

Equator

An imaginary line in the center of the Earth separating North and South. It is at 0 degrees N/S.

Contour Lines Spacing

-If the contour lines are closer together, then there is a steeper slope at that area because the change in elevation stays the same, but there is a shorter distance. -If the contour lines are farther apart, then there is a more gradual slope at that area because the change in elevation stays the same, but there is a longer distance.

Rules for Drawing Isolines

-Isolines connect connects points of equal value. (Note: if the value represented by a dot, the isoline must go through the middle of that dot). -All values on one side of an isoline are lower, while all values to the other side are higher. -Isolines are gentle curving lines rather than sharp lines with corners. -Isolines are always closed curves even though the map might only show part of it (Note: go to the edge of the map unless the isolines loop because they never end). -Isolines never cross because one point can only have two values. -Isolines are usually parallel/follow the same trend. -Drawing isolines involves interpolation- estimating values between two known values.

Time East vs West

-Locations East are later in time (East increase). -Locations West are earlier in time (West is less).

How to Locate Polaris

1. Find the brightest star. 2. Find the star that the line connecting the pointer stars of the Big Dipper is pointing to. 3. Find the star that the handle of the little dipper is pointing to.

Calculating Average Longitude Based on Time

1. Find the difference between your time and the present time along the Prime Meridian (Greenwich, England) 2. Multiply this time difference by 15. That is your longitude!

How to Create a Topographic Profile

1. Number all contour lines above the profile line. 2. Place your strip of paper along the profile line. 3. Transfer the points where the contour lines cross the profile line from the topographic map to the paper. 4. Transfer the points where the contour lines meet the profile line from the paper to the grid. 5. Mark off the corresponding elevation for each point on the grid. Always make a dot if not told otherwise. 6. Connect the dots with a smooth curve. -Note: curve the peaks or valleys to the highest/lowest elevation points without touching the next elevation.

V-Shape Contour Lines Rule

1. When contour lines cross a stream/river/creek, they "bend" and form a V-shape. 2. The V-shape contour lines point upstream and the water flows in the opposite direction.

Earth Science

A branch of science about the composition of the earth and its atmosphere.

Contour Interval

A constant increase/decrease in value of contour lines side by side.

Field Map

A map on which similar measurements are plotted. This includes temperature, pressure, and elevation.

Elevation

A measurement of height above sea level.

Benchmark

A point where the exact elevation is known; useful in determining contour lines.

Time Zones

A range of longitudes where a common standard time is used. -They are 15 degrees apart. -Their times are separated by 1 hour. -There are 24 time zones.

Contour Lines

A type of isoline. They are lines connecting points of equal elevation. They often have units of either feet or meters.

Isobars

A type of isoline. They are lines connecting points of equal pressure

Isotherms

A type of isoline. They are lines connecting points of equal temperatures with the units Celsius or Fahrenheit.

International Date Line

An imaginary line on the opposite side of Earth to the Prime Meridian. It generally follows 180 degrees of longitude. It also separates 2 consecutive calendar days.

Atmosphere Layers

Atmosphere layers in order of increasing altitude: -Troposphere -Stratosphere -Mesosphere -Thermosphere

Closed Contour Lines (Loops)

Closed contour lines (loops) represent hills or mountains.

Hachured Lines

Contour lines that show areas of depression.

Geosphere

Earth's crust, mantle, and core.

Hydrosphere

Earth's liquid water, 97% of which is salt water, and 3% of which is fresh water.

Interpolation

Estimating values between two known values.

Latitude

Imaginary lines drawn around the Earth parallel to each other and the equator. They run horizontally and measure north or south from the equator.

Longitude

Imaginary semicircles (as the Earth is round) drawn around the Earth from the North pole to the South pole. They run vertically, and measure East or West from the Prime Meridian.

Importance of Atmosphere

It is the reason why life exists on earth: -necessary for respiration of most living things -protects the Earth's inhabitants from the radiation of the sun -helps keep the Earth's temperature suitable for life

Isolines

Lines connecting points of equal value on a map.

Mantle

Located below the crust, extending to a depth of 2,900 km. It is broken up into the rigid mantle (solid), plastic mantle (flowing), and stiffer mantle (solid)

System

Many parts that interact together interdependently, creating a complex whole.

Minutes

Measurements of latitude and longitude that degrees are broken up into. There are 60 minutes in a degree. -Note: Minutes are used if the location is not directly on the latitude/longitude line.

Astrolabe

Measures the angle between the horizon and Polaris, o that you could find out your latitude.

Coordinate System

System of lines to locate a place on Earth by combining longitude and latitude.

Rule of Polaris

The angle/altitude of Polaris is equal to the latitude of any location North of the equator.

Atmosphere

The blanket of gases that surrounds the earth.

Hachured Lines Rule

The first hachured line has the same elevation as the previous contour line. Hachure lines after decrease by the contour interval.

Highest Possible Elevation Rule

The highest possible elevation is the the value of the next contour line (if there was one) minus one.

Core

The innermost layer of the Earth, located underneath the mantle. It is broken up into the outer core (liquid) and inner core (solid). It is made up of Iron and Nickel.

Troposphere

The lowest layer of the atmosphere. It contains most of the mass of the atmosphere, has 78% Nitrogen and 21% Oxygen, is where weather occurs, and is where most water vapor is.

Polaris

The north star. It is the brightest star, located by your latitude. It can only be seen in the northern hemisphere.

Topographic Profile

The side view (cross section) of a landscape along a particular line.

Gradient

The slope of a piece of land. It is the change in field value divided by the distance between two points on a map. It always has two units (what you are measuring/distance).

Topography

The study of the shape of land and the surface features.

Crust

The thin, rocky outer layer of Earth. The two types are the continental crust and denser oceanic crust.

Interdependent

Things that are dependent/reliant on each other.

Topographic Map

What we use to show 3D landscapes (eg., mountains) in a 2D way using contour lines.

How Coordinates are Written

____˚____' N/S , ____˚____' W/E