Методическая разработка Earth Sciences

Earth Sciences

Topical Vocabulary

An Earth Science is a common notion to make an emphasis on the sciences that study the Earth. Among them a special focus is on geography, geology, geophysics, geodesy, cartography, and many other sciences that deal with the Earth.

Geography. “Geography” is derived from the Greek words geo (the Earth) and graph (to write or to describe). Literally, Geography means “to write about or to describe the earth. The term geography was coined in the 3rd century B.C. by the Greek scholar Eratosthenes. Thus Geography is a science that deals with the description, distribution and interaction of the diverse physical, biological, and cultural features of the Earth’s surface.Geographers study the earth’s physical characteristics, its inhabitants and cultures, phenomena such as climate, and the earth’s place within the universe. Furthermore, geographers also look at how the earth, its climate, and its landscapes are changing due to cultural intervention. The main tools used by geographers are maps, measuring tools like barometers, thermometers, rain gauges, etc., navigation instruments such as a compass, GPS (Global Positioning System) as well as GIS (Geographic Information System), a hydrometer, an anemometer, atlases, satellites, and so on.

Cartography. Cartography (from Greek Χάρτης, khartes = papyrus (paper) and graphein = to write) or map-making is the study and practice of crafting representations of the Earth upon a flat surface. Although the world has already been mapped for the most part, professional map makers create maps of places, that have never been mapped before. The products of cartography, i.e. maps, are widely used by tourists navigating around a new city, mountain bikers planning their next ride, businesspeople figuring out where to build a new shop, scientists identifying all the different types of plants and animals in a region or weather reporters showing the paths of hurricanes. Cartographers and geographic information professionals are working to collect up-to-date information and display it on maps and computers, to help a diverse range of users do an infinite number of things.Nowadays most maps can be created by using new tools such as GIS, multimedia, image design and web mapping software.

Geodesy.Geodesy is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, its gravitational field and geodynamic phenomena (polar motion, earth tides, and crustal motion) in three-dimensional time space.Surveyors measure the size of the Earth on a global scale and also specific regions of land known as fixed points. A surveyor is a professional person who conducts one, or more, of the following activities:

• determines, measures and represents the land, three-dimensional objects, and trajectories;

• assembles and interprets land and geographically related information;

• uses that information for the planning and efficient administration of the land, the sea and any structures thereon; and

• conducts research into the above practices and develops them.

The instruments and appliances used in geodesy include optical or optoelectronic theodolites,tachymeters; optical levels (spirit, telescopic, laser, etc.), generally used mounted on a tripod, levelling staves, ranging poles, electromagnetic distance measuring (EDM) equipment, GPS, GNSS.

Post-reading exercises

I. Answer the questions. Give full answers.

1. What sciences refer to Earth sciences?

2. What does Geography mean?

3. What does Geography deal with?

4. What are the main tools used by geographers?

5. What is Cartography?

6. What are the products of Cartography?

7. Where are maps used?

8. What tools are used by map makers?

9. What does Geodesy deal with?

10. What instruments are used by surveyors?

II. Find in the text English words and word combinations for the following:

1. мультимедийное программное обеспечение;

2. природные особенности поверхности Земли;

3. измерительные приборы;

4. синоптик;

5. гравитационное поле;

6. вселенная;

7. дождемер;

8. лазерный нивелир;

9. земные приливы;

10. геодинамическое явление.

III. Translate the following word combinations using the text:

1. navigation instruments;

2. collect up-to-date information;

3. on a globe scale;

4. crustal motion;

5. an anemometer;

6. upon a flat surface;

7. Geographic Information System (….);

8. Global Positioning System (…..);

9. navigate around a new city;

10. image design software.

IV. Translate the following sentences using the text:

1. Хотя большая часть мира уже нанесена на карты, профессиональные картографы создают карты тех мест, которые ранее не изображались на картах.

1. К инструментам и приборам, используемым в геодезии, относятся теодолиты, тахеометры, нивелиры и т.д.

1. Буквально география имеет значение «писать о Земле или описывать Землю».

1. Термингеография был введён греческим учёным Эрастофеном в 3 веке до н.э.

1. Геодезия – это научная дисциплина, которая занимается такими геодинамическими явлениями, как движение полюсов, земные приливы и движение земной коры.

Адрес публикации: https://www.prodlenka.org/metodicheskie-razrabotki/574895-metodicheskaja-razrabotkaearth-sciences