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Earth Spheres

The document describes the four main spheres of Earth: the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere/lithosphere. The atmosphere is made up of different gas layers surrounding Earth. The biosphere encompasses all living things on Earth. The hydrosphere includes all water on the planet, covering 71% of the surface. The geosphere/lithosphere constitutes the solid outer layer of Earth, including the crust and upper mantle broken into tectonic plates.

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Aaron Rubillos
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129 views18 pages

Earth Spheres

The document describes the four main spheres of Earth: the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere/lithosphere. The atmosphere is made up of different gas layers surrounding Earth. The biosphere encompasses all living things on Earth. The hydrosphere includes all water on the planet, covering 71% of the surface. The geosphere/lithosphere constitutes the solid outer layer of Earth, including the crust and upper mantle broken into tectonic plates.

Uploaded by

Aaron Rubillos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Spheres of the Earth

Atmosphere
Biosphere
Hydrosphere
Geosphere/
Lithosphere
Atmosphere
• The Earth is surrounded by
a blanket of air, which we
call the atmosphere.
• Life on Earth is supported
by the atmosphere, solar
energy, and our planet's
magnetic fields.
• The envelope of gas
surrounding the Earth changes
from the ground up. Four distinct
layers have been identified
using thermal characteristics
(temperature changes),
chemical composition,
movement, and density.
• The atmosphere is primarily
composed of:
• Nitrogen- 78%, Oxygen-
21%
•Trace amounts of neon,
helium, methane, krypton,
hydrogen, argon, carbon
dioxide, and water vapor- 1%
Layers of the Atmosphere

• Thermosphere—highest

• Mesosphere
• Stratosphere (contains
ozone)
• Troposphere---layer we live
in
Biosphere
• The biosphere is the life zone of the
Earth and includes all living
organisms, including man, and all
organic matter that has not yet
decomposed. Life evolved on earth
during its early history between 4.5
and 3.8 billion years ago and the
biosphere readily distinguishes our
planet from all others in the solar
system.
Biotic vs. Abiotic
• Bio = means life
• Biotic—living parts or components
• Abiotic—nonliving parts of components (air, water,
temperature)
Hydrosphere
• The hydrosphere includes all
water on Earth. 71% of the earth
is covered by water and only 29%
is covered with land. Indeed, the
abundance of water on Earth is a
unique feature that clearly
distinguishes our "Blue Planet"
from others in the solar system.
• Earth has just the right mass, the
right chemical composition, the
right atmosphere, and has the
right distance from the Sun that
permits water to exist mainly as a
liquid.
• The range of surface temperatures and
pressures of our planet permit water to exist in
all three states: solid (ice), liquid (water), and
gas (water vapor). Most of the water is
contained in the oceans and the high heat
capacity of this large volume of water (1.35
million cubic kilometers) buffers the Earth
surface from large temperature changes such
as those observed on the moon. Water is the
universal solvent and the basis of all life 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.
Hydrosphere
Geosphere/ Lithosphere
• The lithosphere is the solid outermost
shell of a rocky planet. On the Earth
the lithosphere includes the crust and
the uppermost layer of the mantle (the
upper mantle or lower lithosphere)
which is joined to the crust. The
lithosphere is broken up into different
plates.
Lithosphere
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).

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