Cge

11
EARTH SCIENCE
Quarter 1 – Week 1
Four Subsystems
of the Earth

EARTH SCIENCE
Quarter 1 – Module 2: Week 1
Four Subsystems of the Earth
 Aiming at the Target

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you master the four
subsystems of planet Earth and the real life applications of the concept. The scope of this
module permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language used
recognizes the diverse vocabulary of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard
sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond
with to textbook you are now using.

The module is divided into lessons on:

Lesson 1: the Geosphere
Lesson 2: the Atmosphere
Lesson 3: the Hydrosphere
Lesson 4: the Biosphere
Lesson 5: interactions between the spheres and within the spheres.

After the lesson, it is expected that you

a. identify and describe the different subsystems that make up the earth
b. describe the interactions that take place between the spheres and within the spheres
c. diagram the subsystems that make up the earth including the interactions that occur in
each interface
d. explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems across whose boundaries matter and
energy flow.

Trying the Challenge

1. Where is the mantle found?

a. between the crust and the core c. the outermost part of the Earth
b. the innermost part of the Earth d. beneath the tectonic plates
2.What is the hottest part of the Earth?
a. the mantle c. the crust
b. the inner core d. the outer core
3. Which among the layers of the Earth’s internal structure is the densest layer?
a. crust c. core
b. mantle d. none of the above
4. The outermost layer of the Earth is
a. inner core c. outer core
b. mantle d. crust
5. The Earth’s core is made up of
a. rock and salt c. metal and gold
b. rock and metal d. gold and salt
6. Which layer of the Earth’s interior is liquid?
a. crust d. outer core
b. inner core e. a, b, c, and d
c. mantle
7. The Earth’s crust is made of two types: continental crust and oceanic crust. Which of the
following is true?
I. The continental crust is thinner than the oceanic crust.
II. The continental crust is thicker than the oceanic crust.
III. The continental crust is more dense than the oceanic crust.
IV. The continental crust us less dense than the oceanic crust.
a. I and III c. I and IV
b. II and IV d. II and III
8. Which layer produces the Earth’s magnetic field?
a. crust c. mantle
b. inner core d. outer core
9. Which of the following is NOT true about the hydrologic (water) cycle?
a. Water in our planet may stay in just one place for a very long time, even thousands
of years.
b. Animals and plants do not play a part in the water cycle.
c. The sun is the main source if energy needed for evaporation to take place’
d. Most water evaporates from the ocean.

2
10. What is the lithosphere composed of?
a. the continental and oceanic crust d. the lower mantle and outer core
b. the crust and the upper mantle e. the upper mantle
c. the lower mantle
11. Which of the Earth’s spheres contain mountains, valleys and other landscapes?
a. atmosphere c. geosphere
b. biosphere d. lithosphere
12. The sphere that includes whales, birds and elephants is the ____
a. hydrosphere c. lithosphere
b. geosphere d. biosphere
13. What processes allows waters of the Earth to enter the atmosphere?
a. condensation and evaporation c. evaporation and precipitation
b. evaporation and transpiration d. condensation and precipitation
14. Which process form clouds?
a. condensation c. transpiration
b. evaporation d. precipitation
15. Which of the following is are energy-releasing processes?
a. evaporation and melting c. condensation and melting
b. freezing and evaporation d. condensation and freezing

Gearing Up to a Start

Over the course of the history of our Universe, people have developed many interconnected
and validated ideas of our galaxy, our solar system, the planets as well as the other members of
the solar system.

It is an undeniable fact that we consider the planet Earth as the most beautiful of all the
planets. After all, it is the only planet that can support life, our home and the only one we
have.

To fully understand our planet, we must learn how its individual components (land, water,
air and life forms) are interconnected. Earth as a system is composed of numerous interacting
parts or subsystems. Each system science attempts to integrate the knowledge from traditional
sciences - geology, atmospheric science, chemistry, biology and so on.

In 1988, Scientists made a study of the interaction between and among events and the
subsystems of the Earth. This is the Earth System Science (ESS), a relatively new field of
study. It is the study of how the four spheres of the Earth system interact continually, each
affecting the others. A scientist that studies global warming is an Earth System Scientist.
Not a bad choice for a future career!

Hitting the Target

Lesson
1 The Geosphere

 The geosphere is the earth

itself: the rocks, minerals, and
landforms of the surface and
interior
 Makes up the solid portion of
the Earth, its structure and
land, from the core to the
surface.
 Includes volcanoes, rocks,
minerals, coal, oil etc.
 Mineral resources are mined
from the geosphere.
 The planet’s outer core which
extends to the crust to the
upper mantle is called the lithosphere.
 Geosphere includes the non-living land features. “Geo” means ground.
 3

 Solid rock does not mean that that the geosphere is immobile. On the other hand, the
geosphere is very dynamic and is constantly moving.
 The asthenosphere is solid upper mantle material that is so hot that it behaves like
plastic and can flow like toothpaste The lithosphere rides on the asthenosphere..
 The geosphere is divided into three parts: crust, mantle and core.

Crust
 The crust is the outermost layer of the earth making up 0.5-1.0 per cent of the earth’s
volume and less than 1 per cent of Earth’s mass.
 Density increases with depth, and the average density is about 2.7 g/cm3 (average
density of the earth is 5.51 g/cm³).
 The thickness of the crust varies in the range of range of 5-30 km in case of the oceanic
crust and as 50-70 km in case of the continental crust. Andrija Mohorovicic discovered
that the oceanic crust has a relatively uniform thickness, while continental crust is
thickest under mountain ranges and thinner under plains.
 The continental crust can be thicker than 70 km
in the areas of major mountain systems. It is as
much as 70-100 km thick in the Himalayan
region.
 The temperature of the crust increases with
depth, reaching values typically in the range from
about 200 °C to 400 °C at the boundary with the
underlying mantle. The temperature increases by
as much as 30 °C for every kilometre in the
upper part of the crust.
 Diagram on the right shows the composition of
the crust.

Discontinuities
Earth’s interior is made of different kinds of materials. Each of those materials are different
from each other by their physical and chemical properties, such as temperature, density etc.
Unique layers are there according to their characteristics inside the earth. All those layers are
separated from each other through a transition zone. These transition zones are called
discontinuities.

How are these discontinuities determined? When an earthquake occurs, the seismic waves
(P waves and S waves) spread out in all directions through the Earth's interior. Seismic
stations located at increasing distances from the earthquake epicenter will record seismic
waves that have traveled through increasing depths in the Earth. The speed of the seismic
waves varies depending on the medium in which they are traveling.
- Seismic waves travel more quickly through denser materials and therefore generally
travel more quickly with depth.
- Seismic waves travel slower in hot areas
- Seismic waves move more slowly through a liquid than a solid.
- Molten areas within the Earth slow down P waves and stop S waves because their
shearing motion cannot be transmitted through a liquid. Partially molten areas may slow
down the P waves and weaken S waves.
When seismic waves pass between
geologic layers, the seismic waves change
velocities. , it results in reflection or
refraction between boundaries. Sudden
jumps in seismic velocities across a
boundary are known as seismic
discontinuities.

There are five discontinuities inside

the earth.
 Conrad Discontinuity: the
border between the upper
continental crust and the lower
one. It is not as pronounced as
the Mohorovičić discontinuity,
and absent in some continental
regions.
 Mohorovicic Discontinuity:
known as the Moho, it is the
transition zone between the Crust
and Mantle.
 4

 Repiti Discontinuity: Transition zone between Outer mantle and Inner mantle.
 Gutenberg Discontinuity: Transition zone between Mantle and Core.
 Lehman Discontinuity: Transition zone between Outer core and Inner core.

Mantle
 The Mantle is the second layer of the Earth. It is the biggest and takes up 84 percent of
the Earth. It is about 2900 km thick. The average temperature of the mantle is 3000°
Celsius. The temperature of the mantle will become much hotter as you get closer to
the Inner Core.
 The Earth's mantle plays an important role in the evolution of the crust and provides
the thermal and mechanical driving forces for plate tectonics.
 Upper mantle is mostly solid and its flexible regions contribute to tectonic activities

Outer Core
 It is about 2,200 kilometers thick and is composed entirely of super heated
liquid molten lava of liquid iron and nickel.
 The temperature ranges from 4,5000C to 5,5000C.
 The liquid metal has low viscosity, which makes it easily deformed and flexible.
 The churning metal action of tr outer core as it moves around the inner core
creates and sustains the Earth’s magnetic field.
 Elements that dissolve in iron, called siderophiles, are also found in the core.
Because these elements are found much more rarely on Earth’s crust, many
siderophiles are classified as “precious metals.” Siderophile elements include
gold, platinum, and cobalt.
Inner Core
 Extremely hot, dense huge metal of mostly iron tar is 2500 km wide.
 The temperature is from 5,0000C to 6,0000C which is enough to melt the iron.
 The liquid outer core separates the inner core from the rest of the Earth, and as
a result, the inner core rotates a little differently than the rest of the planet. It
rotates eastward, like the surface, but it’s a little faster from the rest of the
planet.

Lesson The Atmosphere

2

The Earth’s atmosphere is not just merely the air we breath but also the blanket of gas that
surrounds our planet up to the edge of space. It extends from less than1m below the planet’s
surface to above10,000 km above

The parts of the atmosphere are:

a. Troposphere is the densest part. It contains
most of our weather - clouds, rain, snow. The
top layer the troposphere us the tropopause.
b. Stratosphere is the region where the ozone layer
is found. Stratopause is the topmost layer of
the stratosphere

5
 c. Mesosphere is coldest layer of the atmosphere
where temperature decreases with height,
reaching a minimum of about -90°C at the
mesopause, the boundary between the

mesosphere and the thermosphere. It is also in

this region where meteors usually burn up as
they approach our planet.
d. Thermosphere is where auroras and satellites
occur. Here the temperature starts to increase
due to absorption of energetic ultraviolet and X-
Ray radiation from the sun. The region of the
atmosphere above about 80 km is the ionosphere
since the energetic solar
radiation knocks electrons off molecules and
atoms, turning them into "ions" with a positive
charge. This region makes radio communication
possible.
e. Exosphere is the upper limit of our atmosphere. It
extends from the top of the thermosphere
up to 10,000 km (6,200 mi).

Lesson The Hydrosphere

3

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.

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.

Water moves through the hydrosphere in a cycle called the water cycle. Water cycle facts tell
us all our water is recycled and some of it can be very old! In fact, we could be washing in and
drinking, the water that dinosaurs used millions of years ago. Of all the water on earth, only
1% of it is suitable for human use. Powered by the sun, water evaporates from the ground,
turns into clouds, falls as rain, sleet or snow, and the whole process continues endlessly in a
cycle. Plants can sweat, and the process is called transpiration – an essential part of the water
cycle. Industry and agriculture rely heavily on the water cycle to keep going.

The cryosphere is the frozen water part of the Earth system. There are places on Earth that
are so cold that water is frozen solid. These areas of snow or ice, which are subject to
temperatures below 32°F for at least part of the year, compose the cryosphere. The term
“cryosphere” comes from the Greek word, “krios,” which means cold. The cryosphere includes
ice and snow on land, the continental ice sheets found in Greenland and Antarctica, as well as
ice caps, glaciers, and areas of snow and permafrost. The other part of the cryosphere is ice
that is found in water. This includes frozen parts of the ocean, such as waters surrounding
Antarctica and the Arctic. It also includes frozen rivers and lakes, which mainly occur in polar
areas.

Lesson
The Biosphere
4

 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. It is the sum of all the
ecosystems.
 It could occupy the oceans, land surfaces and the atmosphere. It extends from the
deepest root systems of trees, to the dark environment of caves and deep oceans to ush
rainforest to the high mountaintops.

6
  It measures about 20 kilometers from top to bottom where almost all forms of life exists
between 6000 meters below the surface of the ocean to about 10 kilometers above sea
level.
 The development of the term is attributed to the English geologist Eduard Suess (1831-
1914) and the Russian physicist Vladimir I. Vernadsky (1863-1945)
 Scientists claim that the biosphere existed for about 3.5 billion years ago, Prokaryotes
were the earliest forms of life, which survived without oxygen.

Lesson
5 Systems Interaction

The five subsystems of our planet are enormous and complex systems that are interconnected
and interact with one another to maintain the Earth as we know it.

A change in the atmosphere can cause a change in the hydrosphere, and vice versa.
Here are some other examples.
•Humans (biosphere) built a dam out of rock materials (lithosphere).
•Water in the lake (hydrosphere) seeps into the cliff walls behind the dam, becoming
groundwater (lithosphere), or evaporating into the air (atmosphere).
•Humans (biosphere) harness energy from the water (hydrosphere) by having it spin turbines
(lithosphere) to produce electricity

Hydrosphere Evaporates and condenses into clouds Atmosphere

Clouds, Rain, Wind, air in lungs,
Precipitates as rain floating balloons,
Rivers, Streams
Lakes, Oceans gases from
transpiration
Habitat for aquatic life

Soil contains air

Life Most
processes
living
Soil Erodes put methane
things
contains the soilWind erodes soil into the
atmosphere
use
soil
water Humans pollute waters
oxyge

Biosphere
Geosphere Plants grow in soil
People, animals,
Soil, sand, rocks, fish, birds, trees,
mountains, hills Rotting organisms enrich the soil grass, bacteria

On the right is a specific example of interactions that occur in a forest fire. Notice
that the event is in the center and that arrows run from the event to each of the
four spheres. These arrows represent the effects the event can have on the
spheres.

7
 Strengthening the Gap

Part A. The passage below show the Earth’s systems interact with each other. A diagram
shows this interaction.

Direction: Create two scenarios of your own example. Then, make your own diagram to picture
your idea. Write down the features that are shown in your scenario

After a volcanic eruption , an earthquake can occur and can damage buildings and other
infrastructures, as well as cause fires which release steam and gases into the air. Earthquakes
in the ocean may cause a tsunami which can eventually hit land and kill animals, people and
destroy plants and trees

Biosphere
Atmosphere
People, anjmals,
Gases released in the
plants, air
trees

Geosphere
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Land, volcano Animals, people,
Gas released into the
air trees
plants,

Hydrosphere
Steam, Ocean

Part B. Think of an event that could occur in our planet:

typhoon, mudslide, landslide, floods, earthquake, even events that that occur due to human activity like
mining, quarrying, road construction etc.

Direction: Draw a similar diagram as in the right. Write Air Water

the event that you thought of the center. Then write
down the consequences that could happen to each sphere
brough about by the event .
Event

Land
Relating to Real Life Life

Plate tectonic movement is ongoing, and humans can witness its sometimes violent
activity in the form of earthquakes and volcanoes. More regularly, however, human interaction
with the dynamic geosphere comes in the form of surface erosion, our use of arable land for
farming, and excavations for the construction of buildings, roads, and mines.

Aside from surface disturbances such as excavations and agriculture, humans have a fairly
minor impact on the workings and scale of the geosphere. Humans still live largely at the
mercy of powerful geologic forces. The 2010 Haiti earthquake is just one of many examples of
the impact of these forces. While we may never be able to stop earthquakes or volcanoes,

studying their mechanics can enable us to better understand their dynamics so that we may
continue to develop means for reducing risk to homes and people when they occur.

Understanding the interactions that occur in the Earth System also helps people to prepare for
the effects of natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and severe storms. This
understanding allows people to predict things like how far and in what direction the lava will
flow or the storm surge will rise and help them to evaluate their options throughout the
time period of the event.

Checking the Target

Let us find out how much you have earned about the lesson by answering the questions.
Answer key will not be provided.

1. Which statement best describe the hydrosphere?

a. The mixture of gases that surround the earth.
b. The waters on earth including underground water.
c. Surface waters only such as oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, puddles, etc.
c. Water vapor in the atmosphere only
e. Drinking water from Esprutingkle.
2. A crow (uwak) flying high in the sky is an interaction between
a. Cryosphere and Hydrosphere d. . Hydrosphere and Biosphere
b. Biosphere and Geosphere e. Atmosphere and Biosphere
c. Geosphere and Atmosphere
3. The Earth’s crust is thickest
a. below the oceans c. below the Moho discontinuity
b. beneath the continents d. below the North and South poles
4. The crust of the Earth consist mostly of
a. Oxygen and silicon d. Iron and salt
b. Iron and nickel e. Nitrogen and oxygen
c. Iron and silicon
5. The cryosphere include
a. Rain and flashfloods inundating the valley
b. Cloud formations above North America during winter
c. Frozen waters of the ocean
d. Rocks underneath the continent of Antarctica
e. Polar bears hunting for food on an iceberg
6. The thinnest layer of the Earth is
a. Inner core d. Mohorovicic line
b. mantle e. Crust
c. Outer core
7. To what subsystem do the white beaches of Boracay belong to?
a. Geosphere d. Atmosphere
b. Hydrosphere e Biosphere
c. Cryosphere
8. Which of the following statements is correct?
a. The oceanic crust is thinner than the continental crust.
b. The continental crust is thinner than the oceanic crust.
c. The presence of mountains make the continental crust thinner than the oceanic crust.
d. The continental crust is more dense than the oceanic crust.
9. When a volcanic eruption spews gases and ash into the air, which two spheres are
interacting?
a. Hydrosphere and geosphere c. Biosphere and geosphere
b. Geosphere and atmosphere d. Biosphere and atmosphere
10. What layer of the atmosphere does lightning occur?
a. Stratosphere c. Mesosphere
b. Troposphere d. Thermosphere
c. Ionosphere
11. The densest layer of the atmosphere is the
a. Stratosphere c. Mesosphere
b. Troposphere d. Thermosphere
c. Ionosphere
12. What is most significant about the mesosphere?
a. where auroras are displayed c. where weather occurs
b. presence of the ozone layer d. hottest layer of the atmosphere
13. The asthenosphere is significant because it is-
a. where typhoons are formed
b. the source of the Earth’s gravitational field
c. where the crust “floats” supporting the movement of tectonic plates
d. where all forms of life on Earth are found

14. The Mohorovicic discontinuity divides the mantle from the crust. Discontinuities in the
Earth’s interior are boundaries where
 a. the temperature is constant c. rocks melt to become magma
b. seismic waves behave differently d. the Earth’s magnetic field extends from
15. What happens in the ionosphere?
a. The ozone layer absorbs radiation from the sun
b. Planetary debris are prevented from entering the Earth’s atmosphere
c. Excited ions of oxygen and hydrogen radiate light energy that create auroras
d. Wind, clouds and moisture give rise to weather systems
16. Which layer of the Earth’s interior is liquid?
a. crust d. outer core
b. inner core e. a, b, c and d
c. mantle
17. The roots of a big tamarind tree are rooted deep into the ground. The tree is connected to
which sphere?
a. hydrosphere, atmosphere and geosphere
b. biosphere only
c. biosphere and hydrosphere only
d. geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere
18. Increase in human population impacts which of Earth's spheres?
a. biosphere only
b. biosphere and hydrosphere only
c. biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere only
d. biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere
19. Which is an example of a human impact on the geosphere?
a. burning fossil fuels
b. mining for mineral ores
c. building a dam for hydroelectric energy
d. hunting an animal to extinction
20. In Qatar, humans pump oil from the ground. Which spheres are interacting?
a. Biosphere and Geosphere c. Biosphere and Hydrosphere
b. Geosphere and Hydrosphere d. Biosphere and Atmosphere

10
References
ASPEN Global Change Institute. What is the Geosphere? (AGCI, 2020) Retrieved from
https://www.agci.org/earth-systems/geosphere

Chris Kreger. An Introduction to Earth System Science (ESSC Team, 2000) Retrieved
from http://www.cotf.edu/essc2/outline/week2a.html

Facts Chief. Water Cycle Facts (FactsNet,2019). Retrieved from

https://facts.net/science/geography/water-cycle-facts#:~:text=Water%20Cycle
%20Facts%20%E2%80%93%20Facts%20about%20the%20Water%20Cycle
%20Summary,Water%20cycle%20facts&text=Water%20evaporates%20from%20the
%20ground,part%20of%20the%20water%20cycle.

Gloria G. Salandanan and Ruben E. Faltado. Earth and Life Sciences (Lorimar
Publishing Inc., 2016) Manila

NOOA. What is the cryosphere? (National Ocean Service, 2019) Retrieved from
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/cryosphere.html#:~:text=The%20cryosphere
%20is%20the%20frozen,that%20water%20is%20frozen%20solid.

References for diagram

CuBotNG. Mantle convection (Wikipedia, 2020) Retrieved from

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantle_convection

Rashid Faridi. Discontinuities Inside the Earth (Rashid’s Blog, 2017) Retrieved from
htts://rashidfaridi.com/2017/08/31/discontinuities-inside-the-earth/