Earth Science in a Nutshell

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Earth Science in a Nutshell

Earth processes (include destructive and constructive) - act on and transform Earth materials. The processes are more important than the materials. All processes and materials are interconnected and are brought together through various cycles, described below.

What forces (energy sources, flow) drive these cyclic, interactive processes and systems?

Plate Tectonic cycle - (See Fig. 1 below, click to zoom in)
This is the ultimate recycling of the earth's materials through plate motions, mantle convection, subduction, spreading ridges, volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain building, etc. The source of energy to drive plate tectonics is from latent heat of formation and radioactive decay. These release energy, which is transferred by convection currents.
Rock cycle - (See Fig. 2, click to zoom in)
There are three processes that form rocks: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary processes. Any rock can become any type of other rock. The source of energy for the rock cycle is both internal (convection currents, see the plate tectonic cycle above) and external (the sun).
Igneous (Ig = fire): A process of melting and cooling. Once on the surface, igneous rocks weather, break down, and erode to form silt, sand, sediment, soil etc. All of these can be "glued" back together into sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rock can become igneous rock without going through a metamorphic stage. Metamorphic rocks are baked and changed, but not melted.

Look back at the Plate Tectonic cycle (Figure 1, above). Where would you find the formation of igneous rocks? In mid-ocean ridges and spreading centers, volcanoes and hot spots. Where would you find the formation of sedimentary rocks? On the ocean floor (carried by rivers) and on the surface of the earth. Where would you find the processes to form metamorphic rocks? In subduction zones and areas of mountain-building.
Water Cycle - (See Fig. 3, click to zoom in)
The sun is the source of energy that drives this cycle. The products (shown in Figure 3) are rain, fog, clouds, water, glaciers, snow, ocean, and streams. The processes are condensation, precipitation, evaporation and transpiration.
The rock cycle and water cycle overlap with erosion, transporting, and deposition.
Carbon Cycle - (See Figs 4 and 5 below, click to zoom in)
This is where the life cycle interacts with the rock cycle. Life decomposes and releases carbon back into the soil, which eventually becomes sedimentary rock. Burning fossil fuel also releases carbon (in the form of CO2) into the atmosphere. There is a lot of CO2 trapped in rocks such as limestones. Their weathering also releases CO2 into the atmosphere.
The short-term carbon cycle describes plant and animal respiration. The long-term carbon cycle is determined by plate tectonics.

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updated February 11, 2002