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Week 2 EL

The document discusses the four main spheres (or subsystems) that make up Earth's system: the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. It provides details on each individual sphere, such as the composition of the atmosphere and the layers it contains. The document also explains that Earth system science studies how these four spheres interact continuously and influence each other. Events like volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, and earthquakes were given as examples of how one sphere can impact another. Understanding the interactions between the spheres is vital for our survival.

Uploaded by

Syryll Flores
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
40 views

Week 2 EL

The document discusses the four main spheres (or subsystems) that make up Earth's system: the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. It provides details on each individual sphere, such as the composition of the atmosphere and the layers it contains. The document also explains that Earth system science studies how these four spheres interact continuously and influence each other. Events like volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, and earthquakes were given as examples of how one sphere can impact another. Understanding the interactions between the spheres is vital for our survival.

Uploaded by

Syryll Flores
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Why do we need to know about

Earth’s spheres?
Understanding how Earth
and space system interact,
how they affect us, how we
affect them is vital for our
survival.
Everything in Earth's
system can be placed
into one of four major
subsystems: land,
water, living things, or
air. These four
subsystems are called
"spheres."
Earth Systems Overview
The Earth is a system consisting of four
major interacting components:

• the atmosphere (air),


• the biosphere (living),
•the hydrosphere (water),
and
•the
geosphere/lithosphere
(land)

Let’s examine each of these four


spheres in detail………
The Atmosphere
The Earth is surrounded by a blanket
of air, which we call the
atmosphere.
•The atmosphere consists of four
unique layers (the troposphere, the
stratosphere, the mesosphere, and
the thermosphere).
•The atmosphere reaches over 350
miles up from the surface of the
Earth.
•The atmosphere is primarily
composed of nitrogen (about 78%)
and oxygen (about 21%). Other
components exist in small quantities.
Atmosphere
---The upper portion of the atmosphere protects
the organisms of the biosphere from the sun's
ultraviolet radiation.
---It also absorbs and emits heat.
---When air temperature in the lower portion of
this sphere changes, weather occurs. As air in the
lower atmosphere is heated or cooled, it moves
around the planet. The result can be as simple as
a breeze or as complex as a tornado.
The Biosphere
The biosphere is the “life zone” of the Earth, and
includes all living organisms (including humans), and all
organic matter that has not yet decomposed.
• The biosphere is structured into a hierarchy known as a
food chain.
•Energy and nutrients, like carbon, are transferred from
one level of the food chain to the next.
Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere contains all the
water found on our planet.
•Surface Water: Includes the ocean
as well as water from lakes, rivers
and creeks.
• Ground Water: Includes water
trapped in the soil and groundwater.
• Atmosphere: water vapor.
•Frozen water: Includes ice caps
and glaciers. Also called the
cryosphere
Geosphere
The geosphere is the solid
part of the earth, from the
core to the surface.
•Includes volcanoes, rocks,
minerals, coal, oil etc.
•Mineralresources are mined
from the geosphere.
Earth System Science
Earth System Science
is the study of how the
four spheres of the Earth
system interact
continually, each
affecting the others.

Example: A scientist
that studies global
warming is an Earth
System Scientist.
System Interactions
Volcanoes erupt, sending ash and
gases into the air and sending
lava and ash down onto
surrounding forests and human
habitations.

Geosphere

Atmosphere Biosphere
System Interactions
Hurricanes sweep across the
ocean and onto the land,
damaging the dwellings of people
who live along the coast.

Hydrosphere

Atmosphere Geosphere

Biosphere
System Interactions
Earthquakes can damage buildings which
may kill people, as well as cause fires which
release gases into the air. Earthquakes in
the ocean may cause a tsunami which can
eventually hit land and kill both animals
and people.

Biosphere

Geosphere Atmosphere

Hydrosphere
CFA
1. Name the four main earth systems.
Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere and
Geosphere

2. Which branch of science studies the


interactions between these earth systems?
Earth System Science: Example is a scientist that
studies global warming.

3. A forest fire would effect which earth


systems?
All four: Fires (Biosphere) will destroy plant and animal life
while releasing smoke and other contaminants into the
atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere.
The Principal of
INTERCONNECTEDNESS
Tasks:
 Complete the Earth’s sphere worksheet.

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