ERS120H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Big Bang, Gas Giant, Hydrosphere
Document Summary
Chapter 1 and lecture 1 and 2 notes. Geology: study of the earth"s lithosphere (rocky part), including the planet"s core, mantle and crust. Earth science: study of the planet earth, including the earth"s lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. Scientific method (scientists use) sequence of steps for systematically analyzing scientific problems in a way that leads to verifiable results. Hypothesis possible explanation, involving only naturally occurring processes. Theories scientific ideas supported by abundance of evidence. Earth system: lithosphere: rocky surface and interior of earth hydrosphere: water, liquid and frozen atmosphere: the gaseous envelope biosphere: earth"s living matter. Aspects of geology = fossil, cave, mine, volcanic eruption, earthquake, flood. Problems facing earth scientist: only partial info available, processes are only observable as they are acting now, possibly different in the past, cant design practical experiment b/c time + scale for many processes too large to observe.
