Earth Science
Week 4
What you are expected to learn:
✓ Identify the various water resources on Earth.
✓ Explain how different activities affect the quality and availability of water for human
use.
✓ Identify human activities, such as farming, construction of structures, and waste
disposal, that affect the quality and quantity of soil.
Below are guidelines for you in going about the module:
1. Read and follow instructions very carefully.
2. Read each lesson and do the activities that are provided for you.
3. Perform all the activities diligently to help you understand the topic.
4. Take the self-test after each lesson to determine how much you understand the topic.
5. Answer the posttest to measure how much you have gained from the lessons.
Good luck and have fun!
Introduction:
Earth is the only planet where water in its liquid form exists. In other planets, water
occurs in the form of ice or vapor. As seen from space, Earth looks mostly blue and white
because of water, snow, ice, and clouds on its surface. The part of Earth's subsystem
containing the oceans, lakes, streams, underground water, and snow and ice, is the
hydrosphere. It makes up about 71% of Earth's surface. However, water is also present in
the other subsystems. It occurs as water vapor in the atmosphere, as an important
constituent of minerals in the geosphere, and a fundamental component of living organisms
in the biosphere. The existence of water in the different subsystems is part of the hydrologic
cycle.
Chapter 4: Water Resources
Discussion
The Hydrologic Cycle
The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, is the continuous movement of water
from the earth’s surface to the atmosphere and then back to the ground. It is a continuous
process. Hence, it does not have a starting or an ending point. Thus, the water present on
earth has been in circulation since the evolution of the earth. Water goes through all the three
states, solid-liquid-gas, in the process. There are several factors that assist the water cycle,
the sun, air currents to name a few.
The stages involved in a complete water cycle are:
• Stage I: Evaporation and Transpiration The sun’s energy heats up the lakes, rivers,
oceans, swamps and other water bodies which subsequently increase the
temperature of the water present in them. Consequently, some of the water
evaporates as vapor into the air. The rising air currents take the vapor up in the sky.
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Simultaneously, plants and trees also lose water to the atmosphere in the form of
vapor which rises up in the sky.
• Stage II: Condensation As the vapors
rise high, the cooler temperatures make
them cool down and turn back into
liquid – condensation. Wind and air
currents move the moisture around,
leading to the formation of clouds.
• Stage III: Precipitation Wind
movements cause the clouds particles
to collide. As they become water laden,
they develop into rain bearing clouds
and fall back onto the earth’s surface by
the process known as precipitation.
This may occur in the form of rain, hail,
snow or sleet depending upon the
temperature conditions.
• Stage IV: Runoff and Infiltration The precipitation either runs off into oceans, rivers
and ground surface or is absorbed into the soil (infiltration).
Post the last stage, water is again ready to be evaporated and resume stage I. This is how the
water cycle has been going on for billions of years, thus bringing fresh water to people,
animals and plants, helping them survive all around the earth.
Earth’s Waters
How is water distribute on Earth?
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Answer the following.
1. What causes the different bodies of water to be distributed throughout the surface of the planet?
2. How does Earth’s water changes through its different states-solid, liquid and gas?
3. How is ground water related to surface water?
Differentiate and give examples of the following to identify what are the Earth’s water.
Saltwater Reservoirs Freshwater Reservoirs Surface Water Reservoirs
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Love of Lab
Name: ________________________________________ Date Performed: _________________
Section: ______________________________________ Date Submitted: _________________
Water Filtration
One way in which water is naturally filtered in the water cycle is through the processes of
evaporation and condensation. During evaporation, substances dissolved in water are left behind
as water is transformed into vapor. When vapor condenses, it becomes relatively pure liquid
water.
Objective: Replicate the process of filtration using a simple setup
Materials
o 4 cups of dirt or sand
o 12 stones
o 2 liters of water
o large glass bowl with tall sides similar to a mixing bowl
o short glass
o clear plastic wrap
Procedure
1. Mix the dirt, sand, and water in a large bowl.
2. Place a clean and empty short glass in the center of the bowl.
3. Place the bowl outside under the sun.
4. Cover the bowl with the plastic wrap and weigh down the edges with the remaining rocks.
5. Place one rock on the plastic wrap directly over the cup. Allow the bowl to remain in the sun
for several hours.
6. Observe the water in the bowl (it should contain the dried dirt).
7. Observe the water in the cup (it should collect water dripping from the plastic bag and contain
some relatively clean water free of mud).
Variation
Add food coloring to water to demonstrate that this process does not remove all
pollutants. This may be done along with the procedure above.
Guide Questions
1. How are the two processes responsible for purifying the water present in the experiment?
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2. Where else do you see condensation in the step?
3. How does this process work on Earth?
4. What does the plastic wrap represent in the natural world?
5. What would happen to the results if the plastic wrap was dirty?
Conclusion
Cite activities that can affect the quality and availability of water for human use and in relation
to that, cite solutions to avoid doing the activities you mentioned.
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Chapter 5: Soil and Man
The Pedosphere
Soil is an essential component of Earth that enabled life
to exist on the planet and continues to support it. It forms the
pedosphere, which is the foundation of terrestrial life on this
planet. The term “pedosphere” is derived from the Greek
words pedon which means “soil” and sfaira which means
“sphere”. The pedosphere is the living skin of Earth which is a
result of the dynamic interaction among the atmosphere,
biosphere, geosphere and the hydrosphere.
The Components of Soil
Soil is made from portions of the geosphere, atmosphere hydrosphere, and biosphere.
It is generally composed if 45% mineral (gravel, sand, silt, and clay), 25% air, 25% water,
and 5% organic matter (humus, roots, and dead and decaying organisms). These
components reflect the processes that formed the soil.
Factors affecting soil formation
Soil forms continuously, but slowly, from the gradual breakdown of rocks through
weathering. Weathering can be a physical, chemical or biological process:
• physical weathering—breakdown of rocks from the result of a mechanical action.
Temperature changes, abrasion (when rocks collide with each other) or frost can all
cause rocks to break down.
• chemical weathering—breakdown of rocks through a change in their chemical
makeup. This can happen when the minerals within rocks react with water, air or
other chemicals.
• biological weathering—the breakdown of rocks by living things. Burrowing animals
help water and air get into rock, and plant roots can grow into cracks in the rock,
making it split.
The accumulation of material through the action of water, wind and gravity also
contributes to soil formation. These processes can be very slow, taking many tens of
thousands of years. Five main interacting factors affect the formation of soil:
• parent material—minerals forming the basis of soil
• living organisms—influencing soil formation
• climate—affecting the rate of weathering and organic decomposition
• topography—grade of slope affecting drainage, erosion and deposition
• time—influencing soil properties.
Interactions between these factors produce an infinite variety of soils across the earth’s
surface.
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Soil Texture
Soil texture is defined as the relative
proportion of the particle sizes in the soil-sand, silt,
and clay. Soil is naturally composed of a mixture of
these particles and proportion of which affects other
soil properties such as soil porosity and water
retention. The smallest of these particles is clay
(<0.002 mm), followed by silt (0.002-0.005 mm),
and sand of varying sizes (0.005–2.00 mm).
Particles larger than coarse-grained sand are called
gravel and rock if they are >75.00 mm.
The proportions of clay, silt, and sand are
plotted in the soil textural triangle to determine its
soil type based on particle size. The ideal soil for
agricultural use is loam. Loam provides good
aeration and drainage properties of large particles
with nutrient-retention and water-holding abilities
of clay particles.
Soil Profile
Soil formation is a gradual process which involves the development
of a succession of zones or soil horizons. Each horizon has a distinct set of
physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. The sequence of soil
horizons forms the surface down to the underlying bedrock is called a soil
profile. Soil profiles vary depending on climate, topography, rock type or
parent materials, biological activity, and time.
Soil scientists use the capital letters O, A, B, C, and E to identify the
soil horizons. Most soils have three major horizons: A, B, and C horizons.
The surface horizon (A) is composed of mineral matter mixed with
some dark organic humus. The subsoil (B) is the accumulated clay and
other nutrients from the layers above it. The substratum (C) is composed
of partially altered parent material. Some soils have an organic horizon (O)
on the surface, composed of loose or partly decayed organic matter. Some
have horizon (E) that is characterized by a significant loss of minerals
(eluviation) and leaching. The hard bedrock, which is not soil, uses the
letter (R) while the layer of loose, heterogeneous, superficial material
covering the bedrock is collectively called regolith.
Soil Orders
Soil scientists also developed a soil classification system to identify, understand, and
manage soils. The most general level of classification is the soil order consisting of 12 types.
1. Gelisols - Frozen soils found in the coldest regions on Earth
2. Histosols - High organic content and wet
3. Spondosols - Sandy and acidic soils found in moist climates that often support dense
forests
4. Andisols - Composed of volcanic ash
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5. Oxisols - Very weathered and common in tropical climates
6. Vertisols - Claylike soils that shrink and swell
7. Aridisols - Very dry soils in arid regions
8. Ultisols - Weathered soils
9. Mollisols - Deep and fertile soils
10. Alfisols - Moderately weathered productive soils found in temperate and humid regions
11. Inceptisols - Slightly developed, young soils found on steep slopes and mountain ranges
12. Entisols - Newly-formed soils found in steep rocky lands
What Soil Does
Healthy soil gives us clean air and water, bountiful crops and forests, productive grazing
lands, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes. Soil does all this by performing five
essential functions:
• Regulating water – Soil helps control where rain, snowmelt, and irrigation water goes.
Water and dissolved solutes flow over the land or into and through the soil
• Sustaining plant and animal life – The diversity and productivity of living things depends
on soil.
• Filtering potential pollutants – The minerals and microbes in soil are responsible for
filtering, buffering, degrading, immobilizing, and detoxifying organic and inorganic
materials, including industrial and municipal by-products and atmospheric deposits.
• Cycling Nutrients – Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and many other nutrients are stored,
transformed, and cycled into the soil.
• Supporting structures – Buildings need stable soil for support, and archeological treasures
associated with human habitation are protected in soils.
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Conservation of Soil Resource
The effects of human activities on soil can be mitigated through sustainable soil
management such as increasing soil organic matter content, keeping the soil surface
vegetated, avoiding excessive tillage, using nutrients wisely, promoting crop rotations,
reducing erosion, and preventing soil compaction.
1. Increasing soil organic matter – The addition of new organic matter is important in
improving and maintaining soil quality. It also improves soil structure and enhances water
and nutrient-holding capacity
2. Keeping the soil covered and vegetated - Ground cover and vegetation protects the soil. It
also provides habitats for larger soil organisms and can improve water availability. The soil
can be covered by leaving crop residue on the surface or by planting cover crops.
3. Avoiding excessive tillage – Tillage is done to loosen surface soil and break up soil
structure. Reducing it minimizes the loss of organic matter and protects the soil surface from
further erosion.
4. Manage pests and nutrient efficiently – Efficient pest and nutrient management requires
regular testing and monitoring soil conditions and pests, along with the application of only
the necessary chemicals at the right time and place.
5. Promoting crop rotation - Changing vegetation across the landscape over time allows the
soil to recover, as different plants contribute in a unique way to soil structure and
composition. It also increases the diversity of plants as well as other organisms in the area.
6. Reducing erosion and preventing soil compaction – Erosion can be prevented by keeping
the ground covered and vegetated and by channeling excess surface water runoff. Soil
compaction can be prevented by restricting human activities to designated areas and
pathways.
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Answer the following.
1. How do farming and urbanization in the Philippines affect the quality and quantity of soil?
2. What would the world be like without a healthy soil cover?
3. What human activities are dependent on the use of soil as a resource and how do these
activities affect soil quality?
Below are human activities, identify on how these activities affect the quality and quantity of
soil.
1. Farming
2. Construction of structures
3. Waste Disposal
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Yourself A Multiple Choice. Encircle the letter that corresponds to the correct
answer.
1. The largest among the four oceans.
a. Arctic b. Indian c. Pacific d. Southern
2. It is the most abundant water available on Earth based on total global water.
a. Freshwater b. Groundwater c. Surface water d. Glaciers and ice caps
3. A change in the physical state of water from liquid to gas
a. Condensation b. Evaporation c. Precipitation d. Sublimation
4. A process by which water vapor changes its physical state from vapor to liquid
a. Condensation b. Evaporation c. Interception d. Precipitation
5. The process by which a high percentage of precipitation is returned from the atmosphere
a. Condensation b. Rainfall c. Runoff d. Sublimation
6. Which is the most abundant component of an agricultural soil?
a. Air b. Mineral c. Organic Matter d. Water
7. Which of the following is ideal for agriculture?
a. Clay b. Loam c. Sandy d. Silt
8. The A horizon is best described as__________________.
a. partial altered parent material
b. zone of eluviation and leaching
c. mineral matter mixed with some humus
d. loose and partly decayed organic matter
9. Oxysols are described as ___________
a. high organic content and wet
b. frozen soils found in the coldest regions on Earth
c. very weathered and common in tropical climates
d. sandy and acidic soils found in moist climates that often support dense forests
10. Gelisols are described as _____________.
a. high organic content and wet band
b. frozen soils found in the coldest regions on Earth
c. very weathered and common in tropical climates
d. sandy and acidic soils found in moist climates that often support dense forests
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