Les sciences de la Terre étudient notre planète et tout ce qui se trouve sur, dans et autour d’elle. Les scientifiques qui s’intéressent aux sciences de la Terre examinent la terre, l’eau, l’air et les êtres vivants qui composent notre monde. Ce domaine nous aide à comprendre comment fonctionne notre planète et comment nous pouvons la protéger pour l’avenir.
Les sciences de la Terre regroupent en réalité plusieurs disciplines scientifiques différentes qui travaillent ensemble. Celles-ci incluent :
- Géologie - Les géologues étudient la Terre solide, y compris les roches, les minéraux et les formations terrestres. Ils enquêtent sur la manière dont les montagnes se forment à partir de plaines, pourquoi le sol tremble soudainement lors des tremblements de terre, et ce qui cause les éruptions volcaniques de lave—parfois avec juste assez d’avertissement pour sauver des vies ! Quand vous ramassez une roche scintillante ou remarquez des couches colorées dans une paroi de canyon, vous êtes en train de voir la géologie en action.
- 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