Earth Earth Systems and Systems and

ResourcesResourcesAP Environmental ScienceAP Environmental Science

Trotter 2013-2014Trotter 2013-2014

Part 1: Part 1: LithosphereLithosphere

Geologic Time in 24 HoursGeologic Time in 24 Hours

12:00am – Earth forms12:00am – Earth forms 7:00am - Earliest one-celled organisms appear.7:00am - Earliest one-celled organisms appear. 7:00am-9:00 pm- Simple, soft-bodied 7:00am-9:00 pm- Simple, soft-bodied

organisms like wormsorganisms like worms

Little past 9:00pm - Complex organisms evolve Little past 9:00pm - Complex organisms evolve in oceansin oceans

Little past 10:00pm - Reptiles and insects first Little past 10:00pm - Reptiles and insects first appearappear

Just before 11:00pm - Dinosaurs arriveJust before 11:00pm - Dinosaurs arrive

11:30pm - Dinosaurs go extinct11:30pm - Dinosaurs go extinct

11:59:59 - Humans appear one second before 11:59:59 - Humans appear one second before midnightmidnight

Geologic Geologic Time Time ScaleScale

OLD

NEW

Divisions of TimeDivisions of Time EON – largest division of geologic timeEON – largest division of geologic time

ERA – 2ERA – 2ndnd largest, includes two or more periods largest, includes two or more periods

PERIOD – 3PERIOD – 3rdrd largest, unit into which eras are divided largest, unit into which eras are divided

EPOCH – 4EPOCH – 4thth largest, the subdivision of a period largest, the subdivision of a period

EON > ERA > PERIOD > EPOCHEON > ERA > PERIOD > EPOCH

EONSEONS

Hadean – rocks from meteorites and moonHadean – rocks from meteorites and moon

Archean – earliest rocks on earth formArchean – earliest rocks on earth form

Proterozoic – organisms with well developed cellsProterozoic – organisms with well developed cells

Phanerozoic – means “visible life”Phanerozoic – means “visible life”

well represented in the fossil recordwell represented in the fossil record

ERASERAS Paleozoic – “early life” 544 Paleozoic – “early life” 544 244 mya 244 mya

Mesozoic – “middle life” 245 Mesozoic – “middle life” 245 66 mya 66 mya

Cenozoic – “recent life” 66mya Cenozoic – “recent life” 66mya present present

Which one do you live in today?Which one do you live in today?

PERIODSPERIODSCambrian – Explosion of lifeCambrian – Explosion of lifeOrdovician – 1Ordovician – 1stst Vertebrates Vertebrates

Silurian – 1Silurian – 1stst Land Plants Land PlantsDevonian – Age of FishDevonian – Age of Fish

Mississippian – Winged insectsMississippian – Winged insectsPennsylvanian – First reptilesPennsylvanian – First reptilesPermian – Age of AmphibiansPermian – Age of Amphibians

Triassic – First Dinosaurs/Small mammalsTriassic – First Dinosaurs/Small mammalsJurassic – First Birds/Flowering PlantsJurassic – First Birds/Flowering Plants

Cretaceous – Heyday of DinosaursCretaceous – Heyday of DinosaursTertiary – Mammals ThriveTertiary – Mammals Thrive

Quaternary – Age of Man/TechnologyQuaternary – Age of Man/Technology

PAST

PRESENT

Life DevelopsLife Develops We have fossils of single-celled organisms in We have fossils of single-celled organisms in

rocks that formed 3.5 billion years ago... rocks that formed 3.5 billion years ago... probably in early oceanprobably in early ocean

Primordial Ooze – water contained Primordial Ooze – water contained

the building blocks of lifethe building blocks of life

Similar to present day bacteria.Similar to present day bacteria.

About 2.5 billion years ago, simple organisms About 2.5 billion years ago, simple organisms began using energy from sun to make their own began using energy from sun to make their own food. food.

Photosynthesis slowly released oxygen into air.Photosynthesis slowly released oxygen into air.

Mass ExtinctionMass ExtinctionOccurs when many living things go Occurs when many living things go

extinct at the same time (Impacts extinct at the same time (Impacts plants and animals on land and in sea)plants and animals on land and in sea)

Only happened twice in Earth’s Only happened twice in Earth’s history.history.

11stst: Between Paleozoic and Mesozoic : Between Paleozoic and Mesozoic ErasErasTrilobites suddenly went extinct. Trilobites suddenly went extinct.

22ndnd: Between Mesozoic and Cenozoic : Between Mesozoic and Cenozoic ErasErasWiped out over half of all plant and Wiped out over half of all plant and

animal groups on Earth. No animal groups on Earth. No dinosaurs surviveddinosaurs survived

Most Accepted Theory

PlatesPlates

Oceanic crust: dense & thinOceanic crust: dense & thin

Continental crust: light & thickContinental crust: light & thick

These crusts interact differently with each These crusts interact differently with each to create the many geological features on to create the many geological features on this Earth.this Earth.

Different PlatesDifferent Plates

Parts of the SeafloorParts of the Seafloor

Seafloor SpreadingSeafloor Spreading

Wegner proposed this concept of a Wegner proposed this concept of a supercontinent, which consumed all the supercontinent, which consumed all the landmass about 200 million years ago.landmass about 200 million years ago.

He proposed the Earth is continuously movingHe proposed the Earth is continuously moving

Not accepted theory until 1960s.Not accepted theory until 1960s.

Panthalassa: single ocean that covered the Panthalassa: single ocean that covered the planet. ….Pacific Ocean ancestorplanet. ….Pacific Ocean ancestor

First Break of Pangaea caused: Laurasia and First Break of Pangaea caused: Laurasia and GondwanalandGondwanaland

PangaeaPangaea

People have been People have been noticing how noticing how continents fit since the continents fit since the 1500s1500s

1912, Alfred Wegner 1912, Alfred Wegner theorized “ Continental theorized “ Continental Drift” .Drift” .

Stated that the Stated that the Continents were Continents were actually drifting since actually drifting since the beginning. the beginning.

Continental DriftContinental Drift

EarthquakesEarthquakes

3 Kinds of Volcanoes3 Kinds of Volcanoes

Subduction Zones: Edge of plates colliding “ring of Subduction Zones: Edge of plates colliding “ring of Fire”Fire”

Divergent Zones: New plate material forms when two Divergent Zones: New plate material forms when two plates diverge from each otherplates diverge from each other

Iceland is a volcano formed from the Mid-Atlantic Iceland is a volcano formed from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.Ridge.

Hot Spots: Leaks in spots around the crust cause Hot Spots: Leaks in spots around the crust cause volcanoes in areas other than plate boundaries. volcanoes in areas other than plate boundaries. Examples: Hawaiian Islands.Currently, a new island is Examples: Hawaiian Islands.Currently, a new island is forming underwater and will eventually create an forming underwater and will eventually create an additional island to the Hawaiian archipelago.additional island to the Hawaiian archipelago.

3 Different Classifications 3 Different Classifications of Volcanoesof Volcanoes

Extinct- no volcanic activity, no potential to Extinct- no volcanic activity, no potential to erupterupt

Dormant- occasional small volcanic activity, Dormant- occasional small volcanic activity, and the earthquake has the potential to still and the earthquake has the potential to still erupterupt

Active- currently displaying volcanic Active- currently displaying volcanic activity, potential to have small or large activity, potential to have small or large eruptions at any timeeruptions at any time