GEO 1111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Quaternary Glaciation

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Geology
• Course: GEO 1111
• Professor: Donald Cummings

Document Summary

Geo - lec 2 - earth as a system. Objective : develop mathematical equation to explain everything, laws that explain impossible situations. bottom-up science : complex phenomena are best understood by breaking them down to their simplest parts (predicting behaviour of the whole, based on the parts) Kepler"s law : 1- planetary orbits are elliptical. 2 - planets speed increases as approach sun. 3 - orbital period proportional to semi-major axis. Newton"s laws of motions, universal law of gravitation. Set of interacting parts that together form a whole. System : a set of interacting parts that together form a whole. Thermodynamically open : mass and energy flows in, through, and out. Ex. earth system: inputs (solar radiation, heat from radioactive decay), outputs (heat radiated back into space) Constant state of motion (disequilibrium) due to external forcing, parts are constantly interacting. Hydrosphere (liquid water), atmosphere, cryosphere (ice), geosphere (rocks, minerals), biosphere.