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Earth's Spheres

The document describes the four major interacting components, or spheres, that make up the Earth system: the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. It provides details on the characteristics and components of each individual sphere. Examples are given of how events in one sphere can impact and interact with the other spheres, such as volcanoes emitting gases into the atmosphere and lava onto land, or hurricanes forming over oceans and impacting coastlines.

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Sheirmay Antonio Cupatan
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96 views20 pages

Earth's Spheres

The document describes the four major interacting components, or spheres, that make up the Earth system: the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. It provides details on the characteristics and components of each individual sphere. Examples are given of how events in one sphere can impact and interact with the other spheres, such as volcanoes emitting gases into the atmosphere and lava onto land, or hurricanes forming over oceans and impacting coastlines.

Uploaded by

Sheirmay Antonio Cupatan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Look at the image and identify physical features, living things,

and explain their interactions.


Spheres Interactions

Atmosphere (A) Humans (B) breathing air from


the atmosphere (A)
Geosphere (G) Hydrosphere (H), water is
banging against the geosphere,
shore (G)
Hydrosphere (H) Humans (B) boating and fishing
in the water, Hydrosphere (H)
Biosphere (B) Trees (B) growing in the ground,
geosphere (G)
Roots of the trees (B) getting
water from the hydrosphere (H)
VIDEO PRESENTATION
How do you see Earth as a system?
Earth as a System
What are the different subsystems of
the Earth?
Let’s examine each of a group of related parts
that move or work together four spheres in a
group of related parts that move or work
together…
Earth Systems Overview
The Earth is a system consisting of four
major interacting components:

• the atmosphere,
• the biosphere,
• the hydrosphere, and
• the geosphere
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 560
kilometers (348 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.
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 the food chain
(all life is dependant on the first tier – mainly the primary producers that
are capable of photosynthesis).
•Energy and mass is transferred from one level of the food chain to the
next.
Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere contains all the water
found on our planet.
• Water found on the surface of our planet
includes the ocean as well as water from lakes
and rivers, streams, and creeks.
• Water found under the surface of our planet
includes water trapped in the soil and
groundwater.
•Water found in our atmosphere includes
water vapor.
•Frozen water on our planet includes ice caps
and glaciers.
• Only about 3% of the water on Earth is
“fresh” water, and about 70% of the fresh
water is frozen in the form of glacial ice.
Geosphere
The geosphere is the solid
Earth that includes the continental
and ocean crust as well the various
layers of Earth’s interior.
•94% of the Earth is composed of
the elements oxygen, silicon, and
magnesium.
•The geopsphere is not static
(unchanging), but its surface
(crust) is in a constant state of
motion.
•Mineral resources are mined from
the geosphere.
System Interactions

Volcanoes (geosphere) erupt, sending


ash and gases into the air (atmosphere)
and sending lava and ash down onto
surrounding forests (biosphere) and
human habitations (biosphere).

Geosphere

Atmosphere Biosphere
System Interactions

Hurricanes (atmosphere) sweep


across the ocean (hydrosphere) and
onto the land (geosphere), damaging
the dwellings of people (biosphere)
who live along the coast.

Hydrosphere

Atmosphere Geosphere

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

Biosphere

Geosphere Atmosphere

Hydrosphere
ACTIVITY

Construct a venn diagram showing the


differences and relationships of the
subsystems.
Venn diagram template
Study and analyze data about the
events that happen in the Earth’s
subsystem. (Atleast 2)
Essay
Give an example of a situation which
shows the interaction of the four
subsystems.
Criteria:
30%- Relevance
30%- Coherence
40%- Content

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