Pathfinder Biogeography
Biogeography is the science which deals with questions of species patterns of distribution and the process that resulted in such patterns. The patterns of species distribution at this level can usually be explained through a combination of historical factors - speciation, extinction, continental drift, glaciation, river capture and variation in sea levels, ice sheets, rivers etc due to climate variation (Ice Ages, glacial/interglacial periods) - in combination with the area and isolation of landmasses - geographic constraints, in combination with the available energy supply.

1. Earth Science
   Earth science (also known as geoscience, the geosciences or the Earth Sciences), is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth science. The major historic disciplines use physics, geography, mathematics, chemistry, and biology to build a quantitative understanding of the principal areas or spheres of the Earth system:
   1. Atmosphere
      Earth's atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth and retained by the Earth's gravity. It contains roughly 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, with trace amounts of other gases. This mixture of gases is commonly known as air. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation and reducing temperature extremes between day and night.
   2. Biosphere
      The biosphere is that part of a planet's outer shell—including air, land, surface rocks and water—within which life occurs, and which biotic processes in turn alter or transform. From the broadest geophysiological point of view, the biosphere is the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships, including their interaction with the elements of the lithosphere (rocks), hydrosphere (water), and atmosphere (air). Our planet Earth is the only place where life is known to exist. This biosphere is generally thought to have evolved beginning, through a process of biogenesis or biopoesis, at least some 3.5 billion years ago.
   3. Geosphere
      Geosphere is a term denoting the solid body of the Earth (i.e. the hydrosphere, lithosphere [including pedosphere] and in some definitions also the internal part of the Earth) and the atmosphere of the Earth (up to the exosphere).
      
      Part of the geosphere is the biosphere. Parts of the geosphere included in the biosphere are the pedosphere, hydrosphere and troposphere.
      
      From another point of view, the term geosphere is usually seen in referring to the various conceptual pieces of "planet-like things" as related to the carbon cycle. The other pieces are hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
      
   4. Hydrosphere
      Hydrosphere (Greek hydro- means "water") in physical geography, describes the collective mass of water found on, under, and over the surface of a planet. On Earth, the water cycle describes the methods of transport for water in the hydrosphere. This cycle includes water beneath the Earth's surface and in rocks (lithosphere), the water in plants and animals (biosphere), the water covering the surface of the planet in liquid and solid forms, and the water in the atmosphere in the form of water vapor, clouds, and precipitation..
2. StarLogo TNG is The Next Generation
   
   StarLogo TNG is The Next Generation of StarLogo modeling and simulation software. While this version holds true to the premise of StarLogo as a tool to create and understand simulations of complex systems, it also brings with it several advances. Through TNG we hope to
   
   Lower the barrier to entry for programming by making programming easier.
   Entice more young people into programming through tools that facilitates making games.
   Create compelling 3D worlds that encompass rich games and simulations.
   
   You can now download StarLogo TNG for Windows
   and find some additional resources on this site. You can also view the StarLogo TNG video.
   1. Foodscape Ag-Ventures <= Confidence-Based Learning => Breaking the Cycles of Mistrust

CMScience Club
RJB-Rev: 2006-Feb-28pm
( Embedded Outline )
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