Why is Earth Science important?

Earth science affects all our lives. Our landscape has been shaped by natural processes such as tectonics, weathering, and biological activity over billions of years. We use natural materials every day, everything from building stone and oil to metals such as iron, copper and gold and even diamonds have all been extracted from the ground. Natural hazards such as volcanoes, earthquakes, floods and droughts can dramatically affect lives. Earth science is the study of all these processes, put simply it is the study of our planet.

As hinted at above, there is a huge range of earth science topics including, mountain building, the structure of the deep earth, the creation of oceans, the erosion of continents, the location of natural resources, volcanoes, the hydrological cycle, past climates and the evolution of life.

Understanding how our planet works is essential if we are to properly manage our environment, and if we are to predict how the environment will change in the future. Earth scientists can monitor changes in our environment, model our impact on the environment and suggest solutions to our environmental problems. Environmental issues being studied by earth scientists include the effects of water extraction from our rivers, the distribution of pollutants in the landscape and the environmental impact of industrial activity, such as mining and landfill.

Studying the Earth's past can also help us understand what will happen in the future. Within rocks and landscapes is preserved evidence from periods when the Earth was much warmer than today and when it was much colder than today. These warm periods shows us the effect of environmental changes such as sea level rise, desertification, and the loss of rainforests. Fossils demonstrate the evolution of plants and animals can also and record the response of ecosystems to changes in the environment. Again this information provides lessons about the ability of present day ecosystems adapting to environmental change.

With all that information being taught the tenth grade science program will also include preparation for the New York State Regents Exam Assessment. All students will be required to take the state performance test and the written examination at the end of Tenth grade.  Please visit the following link to get a sample of this exam: http://www.nysedregents.org/EarthScience/

            I am looking forward to working with you and your child for this up and coming year.  If you have any questions, comments and or concerns please feel free to contact me at KECSS, through my email address MRMANCUSØ@AOL.COM or through my educational website at WWW.MRMANCUSO.COM.

Sincerely,

Thomas Mancuso

KECSS, Science Department