Class notes
Introduction to Earth System Science Guide
- Course
- Intro to Earth S
- Institution
- Duquesne University
An introduction to Earth system science as a course, providing the foundations for the class.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Introduction to Earth System ScienceEarth System Science / Unit 1 / Foundations of ESS
What is Earth System Science?
Earth system science (ESS) is a rapidly emerging transdisciplinary endeavor aimed at
understanding the structure and functioning of Earth as a complex, adaptive system.
● ESS/Geography is a science that is both spatial (studies distribution and form over the
surface of the Earth) and it is temporal (studies change as related to time).
● Studies natural systems, geographic areas, society, cultural activities, human/Earth
relationships.
● Linking humans and the Earth system is important because humans are responsible for
many changes to the Earth system
Essentials of ESS:
● The Science of ESS and Geography
○ Geography is the study of places and the relationships between people and their
environments.
● Earth Systems Concepts
● Location and Time on Earth
● Map Scales and Projections
○ Maps are used for understanding information about the Earth and depicting it.
■ Map: a generalized view of an area, as seen from above and reduced in size.
■ Scale: ratio of map units to ground units.
■ Projection: process of transforming a spherical Earth to a two dimensional
map.
● Remote Sensing, GIS, & Other Tools
Earth’s Dimensions
- Earth is an oblate spheroid.
The Earth has a geodial bulge, meaning that it isn't a perfect circle. Instead, there is a slight
bulge at the equator.
Polar Circumference Equatorial Circumference
40,008 km 40,075 km
Analyzing Earth (Relationship between ESS and Geography)
Spatial analysis: occurs over space.
Temporal analysis: occurs over time.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller katdillman. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
79202 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now
