Transcript Understanding the Biosphere

Basic points
• Handouts
– Lectures + glossary of technical words
• Lectures
– listen carefully - grasp the concept
– technical words in blue
• Videos
– 1 hour
– American accent – try to comprehend
– outline to help you out
• Writing - Prof. Shishido
– main points of grammar
– pitfalls by Japanese students
– 5-page essay
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自然科学の英語-ENS-L1
• Reading
– native English speaking science writers
– 4-page handout one week before discussion
– self-study during the week
– discussion: Q & A
• Goal
– comprehend scientific English
– be capable of describing scientific concepts in
English
http://www.h.chiba-u.jp/english/Education/H12001/ENS06.htm
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自然科学の英語-ENS-L1
Understanding the Biosphere
L1
English in Natural Science
自然科学の英語
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Our universe is filled with galaxies
Each galaxy
• is different from others
• contains millions of
stars
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Our star, the Sun…
Is one of the millions of stars in
the Milky Way galaxy
Has 9 planets orbiting
around…the Solar System
Each planet
is different from others
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自然科学の英語-ENS-L1
Our planet, the Earth…
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自然科学の英語-ENS-L1
Is unique in
the Solar
System…
…in that is the only planet with LIFE
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自然科学の英語-ENS-L1
Our universe is filled with galaxies
• Each galaxy
– is different from others
– contains millions of stars
Our star, the Sun…
• Is one of the millions of stars in the Milky Way
galaxy
• Has 9 planets orbiting around…the Solar System
• Each planet
– is different from others
Our planet, the Earth…
• Is unique in the Solar System …in that is the only
planet with LIFE
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自然科学の英語-ENS-L1
From the beginning…
Earth was formed by aggregation of dust
– Pressure produced heat that melted materials
• lighter materials went to the surface (atmosphere)
• heavier materials remained in the core
– Asteroids …increased
• size
• mineral composition
– Water?
• by condensation of vapour in original atmosphere
• brought by comets that crashed into Earth
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Polaris
Rotation 24 hr
~ 28 days
Moon
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Revolution 365.26 days
149,597,890
km
自然科学の英語-ENS-L1
Earth’s astronomical data
Age:
Distance from Sun:
Rotation period:
Revolution period:
Satellites:
Diameter:
Mass:
Density:
Gravitation:
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4.6 billion years old
149,597,890 km
8.3 min light
24 hr (1 d)
365.26 d
Moon
12,756 km
5.9742 x 1024 kg
5.515 g/cm3
9.8 m/s2
自然科学の英語-ENS-L1
Importance of astronomical data
• Nature
– Seasonal changes (summer - winter)
– Climatic oscillations (e.g. glacial periods)
– Natural cycles (e.g. spawning of corals, etc.)
• Humans
– First science in history
• Ancient civilizations (Egypt, Middle East, Maya)
– Human activities
• Basis for measurement of time and space
• Calendar (day, week, month, year)
• Zodiac: influence of universe on individual’s life
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Earth’s data
Average temperature 14.8 oC
Planetary composition
•
•
•
Atmosphere:
Air (mixture of gasses)
N2 O2 Ar CO2
Hydrosphere: 74% surface (3.7 km average depth)
1,370 x 106 km3 water (H2O, ClNa)
Earth:
3000 minerals
– Crust (SiOx, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg)
•
Continental (30% surface)
– Mantle (SiOx, Mg, S)
– Core (molten Fe alloy)
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P not common
Structure of the Earth
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• Original rocks (igneous)
– Volcanic: basalt (alkaline), andesite, rhyolite (acidic)
– Plutonic: granites (acidic), diorites, gabbro (alkaline)
• Sedimentary rocks – weathering (erosion)
– Big size: conglomerates, breccia
– Small size: sandstone, shale, siltstones
– Precipitation  carbonates (CO3-2)
• limestone (Ca)
• dolomite (Mg)
• Metamorphic rocks
– Igneous rocks  greenstones (amphibolites)
– Sedimentary rocks:
• Sandstone  quartzites
• Shale  schists
• Carbonate  marbles
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Surface crust is dynamic
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Plate
tectonics
• Rejuvenating the surface of the Earth
– New mountains (volcanos, ridges)
– New river valleys
• Recycling rocks and other materials
– Metamorphic rocks
– Biological debris
• Organic materials  petroleum
• Human waste (garbage)  ??
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Evolution of the Earth
• Our planet has not always been as we
know it now
• Changes in 4,600 million years of history
– Atmosphere:
– Surface
from CO2 to O2
• vapour H2O  liquid H2O  ice
• shape of continents (continental drift, tectonics)
• Evolutionary perspective
– Geological structure
– Ecosystems
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Geological eras
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geological_era
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Continental drift
Cretaceous
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Current Earth
30% land - most N hemisphere
5 continents
Highest peak: Mt Everest 8850 m
70% water - most S hemisphere
3 oceans
Deepest trench: Marianas 10973 m
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Biosphere
The living matter
enveloping the surface of the Earth
& filling its oceans
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Conditions for a biosphere
• Material composition and availability of chemicals
– Abundant C, O, N, H and P, Ca, S
• Atmosphere - not poisonous
– Adequate planet size: gravitational force to hold it
• Steady supply of energy, not fluctuating
– Normal star (Sun)
– Planet’s orbit near circular
• Temperature
– allow normal chemical reactions
– water (H2O) in liquid form
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0 < T < 100 oC
Sources of energy
Internal – the Earth
•
Volcanos
– hot springs
•
Deep ocean trenches
– Hydrothermal vents
– Plumes
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External - the Sun
– Photosynthesis
– Hydrological cycle
– Climate
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Basic principles (rules)
• Conservation of matter – same amount of matter
– Small input: meteorites, falling debris
– Small output: H and He losses
• Conservation of energy - 1st law of thermodynamics
“Energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed”
• Natural processes - 2nd law of thermodynamics
A + B  C + D + energy
– always in direction of highest entropy
entropy [A+B] < entropy [C+D]
• Biological systems constantly…
– Recycle matter (biomass)
– Require energy input to create more organisms  less entropy
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Definitions
• Ecology: oikos (household) + logos (study)
– Study of interactions between organisms and
environment
• Ecosystem: ecological system
– Biological component – organisms
– Non-biological component – land, water, air
• Biosphere: entire biological systems on Earth
• Biodiversity: variety of species in an ecosystem
• Biogeography: geographical distribution of
species
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References
• Fred T. Mackenzie. 1998. Our changing
planet : an introduction to earth system
science and global environmental change /
環境リモートセンタcall 519
• David E. Alexander & Rhodes W.
Fairbridge (eds). 1999. Encyclopedia of
environmental science / 本館参考 call
519.03||ENC
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