EARTH & SPACE SCIENCE

Angela Barnes

Coppell High School

Earth & Space Science/Astronomy Teacher

Room B224

(214) 496-6507

abarnes@coppellisd.com

twitter: @ambarnes8

SCHEDULE

A Day:

1st- Astronomy

2nd- Astronomy

3rd- Astronomy

4th- Team Time

B Day:

5th- Astronomy

6th- ESS

7th- Astronomy

8th- Conference

Office Hours:

Tuesday 8:20-8:40

Thursday: 4:10-4:30

Course Description

Earth & Space Science is a level 3 capstone science course designed to build on students' prior scientific and academic knowledge and skills to develop understanding of earth's system in space and time.

THEMES OF EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

EARTH IN SPACE AND TIME

"Earth has a long, complex, and dynamic history. Advances in technologies continue to further our understanding of the origin, evolution, and properties of Earth and planetary systems within a chronological framework. The origin and distribution of resources that sustain life on Earth are the result of interactions among Earth's subsystems over billions of years."

SOLID EARTH

"The geosphere is a collection of complex, interacting, dynamic subsystems linking Earth's interior to its surface. The geosphere is composed of materials that move between subsystems at various rates driven by the uneven distribution of thermal energy. These dynamic processes are responsible for the origin and distribution of resources as well as geologic hazards that impact society."

FLUID EARTH

"The fluid Earth consists of the hydrosphere, cryosphere, and atmosphere subsystems. These subsystems interact with the biosphere and geosphere resulting in complex biogeochemical and geochemical cycles. The global ocean is the thermal energy reservoir for surface processes and, through interactions with the atmosphere, influences climate. Understanding these interactions and cycles over time has implications for life on Earth."

STRANDS IN EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

​SYSTEMS

"A system is a collection of interacting physical, chemical, and biological processes that involve the flow of matter and energy on different temporal and spacial scales. Earth's system is composed of interdependent and interacting subsystems of the geosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere within a larger planetary and stellar system. Change and constancy occur in earth's system and can be observed, measured as patterns and cycles, and described or presented in models used to predict how earth's system changes over time."

ENERGY

"The uneven distribution of Earth's internal and external thermal energy is the driving force for complex, dynamic, and continuous interactions and cycles in Earth's subsystems. These interactions are responsible for the movement of matter within and between the subsystems resulting in, for example, plate motions and ocean-atmosphere circulation."

RELEVANCE

"The interacting components of Earth's system change by both natural and human-influenced processes. Natural processes include hazards such as flooding, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, meteorite impacts, and climate change. Some human-influenced processes such as pollution and non-sustainable use of Earth's natural resources may damage Earth's system. Examples include climate change, soil erosion, air and water pollution, and biodiversity loss. The time scale of these changes and their impact on human society must be understood to make wise decisions concerning the use of the land, water, air, and natural resources. Proper stewardship of Earth will prevent unnecessary degradation and destruction of Earth's subsystems and diminish detrimental impacts to individuals and society."