La ciencia de la Tierra es el estudio de nuestro planeta natal y todo lo que está sobre, dentro y alrededor de él. Los científicos que estudian las ciencias de la Tierra observan la tierra, el agua, el aire y los seres vivos que conforman nuestro mundo. Esta disciplina nos ayuda a entender cómo funciona nuestro planeta y cómo podemos protegerlo para el futuro.
Las ciencias de la Tierra en realidad están compuestas por varias ciencias diferentes que trabajan en conjunto. Estas incluyen:
- Geología - Los geólogos estudian la Tierra sólida, incluyendo rocas, minerales y formas del terreno. Investigan cómo las montañas son levantadas desde tierras planas, por qué el suelo tiembla repentinamente durante los terremotos, y qué provoca las explosiones volcánicas con lava—¡a veces con solo el aviso justo para salvar vidas! Cuando recoges una roca brillante o notas capas coloridas en la pared de un cañón, estás viendo la geología en acción.
- How might your understanding of Earth science change the way you think about your local environment?
- In what ways do you interact with natural resources discovered through Earth science every day?
- How could your knowledge of Earth science help you make more environmentally responsible choices?
- How do different Earth science fields help different communities, based on what you read in the article?
- Which Earth science careers mentioned or hinted at in the article sound most interesting to you? Why?
- What “Did You Know?” fact or Earth science connection from the article surprised you the most?
Hypotheticals
Read each scenario and answer the questions:
The Weather Warning
Your town receives an alert about a major storm approaching in 48 hours. The local meteorologists predict heavy rain, strong winds, and possible flooding in low-lying areas where some of your friends live.
- How might meteorologists have detected this storm before it reached your area?
- What data would Earth scientists analyze to predict which parts of town might flood?
- How could you use this Earth science information to help your community prepare?
The Mystery Mineral
While hiking with your science club, you discover an unusual sparkly rock with layers of different colors. Your teacher suggests it might contain valuable minerals that could be used in technology like smartphones or solar panels.
- What branch of Earth science would help identify this rock, and what methods might they use?
- How do Earth scientists determine if a mineral is valuable for technology?
- If this mineral were valuable, what environmental factors would scientists consider before mining it?
Vocabulary
List the following terms and their definitions:
- Atmosphere
- Climate
- Current
- Environmental
- Geology
- Meteorology