Weekly Module

Week 1 (August 24- August 28, 2020)

EARTH SCIENCE
Earth Systems
Learning Outcomes:
Explain the Earth consists of four subsystem, across which boundaries matter and energy flow

Let’s play (Play the game, 4pics1word. Guess the Central idea behind the four pictures.)

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1. Why Earth is called a Blue Planet?

2. What makes a system work?

Guide Question:

1. what makes the Earth habitable?

2. In what way do the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere support life?

3. What makes air, water, and land essential parts of the biosphere?

EARTH SYSTEMS
The Earth consists of four major spheres. The atmosphere, hydrosphere,
geosphere, and biosphere. These spheres are called Earth System.
Components or Subsystems of the Earth System

HYDROSPHERE
 Earth is known as the “blue planet” because of its water
component. Water covers almost 71% of Earth’s
surface.
 The abundance of water on earth makes it distinct from
the other plants in the solar system.

ATMOSPHERE
 The atmosphere is the thin gaseous layer that
envelopes the lithosphere.
 It is a thin layer but an important part of the planet. This
layer does not only provide the air we breathe and the
other gases that sustain life, but also acts as protective
blanket from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

GEOSPHERE
 The solid Earth extends from the surface to the center.
 Geosphere has various surface features like mountains,
valleys, hills, plains, plateaus, volcanoes, and other
landforms which are formed and shape the wind, water,
waves, and glaciers.

BIOSPHERE
 The set of all life forms on Earth.
 It covers all ecosystems – from the soil to the rainforest, from
mangroves to coral reefs, and from the plankton-rich ocean
surface to the deep sea.
Processes of Flow of Matter in the Earth System
 Photosynthesis- during this process CO2 is
sequestered from the atmosphere, while oxygen is
release as a byproduct.

 Carbon Cycle-The carbon cycle describes the

process in which carbon atoms continually travel
from the atmosphere to the Earth and then back into
the atmosphere. Since our planet and its
atmosphere form a closed environment, the amount
of carbon in this system does not change.

 Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle
is a repeating cycle of
processes during which nitrogen moves through
both living and non-living things: the atmosphere,
soil, water, plants, animals and bacteria.

 Respiration-Cellular respiration is a metabolic

pathway that breaks down glucose and produces
ATP. The stages of cellular respiration include
glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, the citric acid or
Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.

 Sulfur Cycle-Circulation of sulfur in various forms

through nature. Sulfur occurs in all living matter as
a component of certain amino acids. It is
abundant in the soil in proteins and, through a
series of microbial transformations, ends up as
sulfates usable by plants.

 Phosphorous Cycle-The phosphorus cycle is the

process by which phosphorus moves through the
lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
Phosphorus is essential for plant and animal
 growth, as well as the health of microbes inhabiting the soil, but is gradually depleted
from the soil over time.

 Water cycle-The water cycle describes how water

evaporates from the surface of the earth, rises into the
atmosphere, cools and condenses into rain or snow in
clouds, and falls again to the surface as precipitation.

Inside the box choose the right key words to complete the Concept map of Earth System.

Interact atmosphere gases biosphere

Earth’s surface water
Lithosphere rocks Hydrosphere soil
From what you have learned in the lecture, do the task below. Make a concept map to
explain the flow of matter and energy in the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and
biosphere.

Quiz: In one whole sheet of paper answer the question briefly. (5pts each)

How do the substances (molecules) in each of the subsystem distributed in all parts of the
Earth?
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What are the processes that enable the flow of matter on Earth ensures and maintains the
harmony of the four subsystems?
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Transfer:
Earth support life because of its water and atmosphere. The sun is main source of energy
and plate tectonics recycles the different substances needed life. What will happen if water
as one of the factor that supports life on earth will vanish?
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“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” —B.B. King