L1S2. Earths Subsystem

Hello!
Earth’s
Subsystems
Teacher
Nash
Photo by Michael Collier
2020
References:
arbuck and Lutgens, 2015. Earth Science 14th Edition.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, the learners will be able to:
Explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems, across 1. Define the concept of a system.
whose boundaries matter and energy flow.
2. Recognize the Earth as a system composed of subsystems.
DISCOVER DISCOVER
Main Idea:
The interaction between Earth’s subsystems is
vital in sustaining life on the planet.
Essential Question:
How do Earth’s subsystems affect each other?
References:
Marshak and Rauber, 2017. Earth Science.
Topic Outline
• Systems: Closed vs. Open
• Earth’s Subsystems
• Feedbacks: positive vs negative
References:
Marshak and Rauber, 2017. Earth Science.
Earth’s Subsystems
Earth science looks at the entire planet as a system of interacting

parts or subsystems. It focuses on the changes within and among
these parts. Each subsystems can be studied separately, but
ultimately, they are dependent on and connected with other
subsystems.
References:
Ferguson, Julie. UCI.
Olivar II, and Morales-Ramos, 2016. Exploring Life Through Science Series: Earth and Life Science. Phoenix Publishing House Inc.
Earth’s Reservoir
Geosphere
Solid Earth (rocks and regolith)
Hydrosphere Biosphere
All of Earth’s water e.g. ocean, All of Earth’s organisms + any
lakes, underground water, snow organic matter which has not
and ice (cryosphere). decomposed.
Atmosphere Anthroposphere
Mixture of gases (N, O, CO2, Ar Parts made or modified by
and trace amount of other gases, human.
and H2O vapor) that surrounds
DISCOVER
the Earth.
Materials move between these reservoirs at different rates.

DISCOVER
If the rates change then the volume of the reservoir changes.
References:
Systems: Open vs. Closed
A system – an isolated portion of the universe under consideration.
e.g. classroom, MSU, the atmosphere, the Earth.
The boundaries of the portion define the limits of the system.
A system is characterized by whether it exchanges energy and mass with surroundings across
its boundaries.
A. Isolated system B. Closed system C. Open system
Concept Check!
Is the Earth a closed or open system?
a.Open
b.Closed
c. Neither
References:
Concept Check!
Is the Earth a closed or open system?
Earth is a nearly closed system because:
- energy can enter and leave the system
- vast majority of matter cannot enter of leave
References:
Earth does exchange energy
Some energy is
reflected to space
Earth intercepts
energy radiated by Some energy is
the sun absorbed and heats
the Earth
Earth has
temperature, so
radiates energy to
References: space
Earth does exchange matter
In: Out:
Comets, Meteorites Hydrogen and
Helium
References:
How we study complex systems
1. Identify the components of the system and how they interact
2. Determine the residence time (how fast do the elements interact, and how fast
will a change propagate through the system
3. Identify feedback loops – interactions between elements that tend to amplify
(positive feedback) or damp (negative feedback) changes to the system
For very complex systems with many interacting elements, we need to construct
computer models to predict how the system will respond to a disturbance (e.g.
climate change as a result of increasing CO2.
References:
Reservoir, fluxes and residence times
Reservoir: amount of material of interest in a given form
Flux: amount of material added to (source), or removed from (sink) reservoir, in
a given period of time.
Steady state: sources = sinks, no net change in amount of material
Residence time = the time it would take to empty (or fill) the reservoir.
𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑟

𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 =
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑂𝑅 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑠
References:
Concept Check!
My bathtub holds 30 liters. Water from the taps flows in at 5
liters per minute and water drains out at 5 liters per minute.
What is the residence time of a water molecule in the
bathtub?
a. 1.5 minutes
b. 3 minutes 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑟
𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 =
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑂𝑅 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑠
c. 6 minutes
d. 18 minutes
References:
Feedback loops
When the output of a system contributes to the input
Feedbacks can be:
1. Positive (amplifier; increase leads to increase, decrease leads to decrease)
2. negative (damping; increase leads to decrease, decrease leads to

decrease)
References:
Feedback loops: Negative/Stabilizing
Boarding House Amount of air

temperature conditioning used
Positive coupling Negative coupling

(increase causes increase, (increase causes decrease
decrease causes decrease decrease causes increase
References:
Feedback loops: Negative/Stabilizing
Boarding House Amount of air

temperature conditioning used
When the temperature increases results in an increase air conditioning which results in a
decrease in temperature
Positive coupling Negative coupling

(increase causes increase, (increase causes decrease
decrease causes decreasec decrease causes increase
References:
Feedback loops: Positive/amplifying
For example- the interaction between sunlight, global temperature and ice
Reflected light
Incoming sunlight
Dark surface absorbs more Lighter surface (ice, cloud)

sunlight reflects more sunlight
Warmer (absorbs less)
Colder
References:
Feedback loops: Positive/amplifying
References:
Earth as a Nearly Closed System
The amount of matter in a closed system is fixed.
-e.g. mineral resources.
* Resources use up can never be
regenerated, and waste produced cannot really be
disposed. Once used up, the mineral resources are
transformed into something else, maintaining the
amount of matter within this closed system.
Although Earth is considered a closed system, its

four subsystems are open, and matter and energy
can freely transfer between them. Thus, a
Aerial view to the south of the 3-kilometer-wide Pinatubo caldera showing the
start of a small explosion on 1 August 1991. Credit: T. J. Casadevall/USGS.
disturbance in a one system affects the others.
References:
Earth’s Spheres
Our environment is characterized by interactions as
air comes in contact with rock, rock with water , and
water with air.
The biosphere , the totality of all life-forms, extends

into each of these spheres and is an equally integral
part of the planet.
Each can be thought of as consisting of four major

spheres; the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere
and biosphere
References:
Geosphere
Solid Earth.
It is composed of naturally-occurring solid
aggregate of minerals, organic material, or
natural glass called rocks, and loose
particles of rocks that blanket the surface of
Earth called regolith.
Includes landforms such as mountains and
hills.
References:
Olivar II, and Morales-Ramos, 2016. Exploring Life Through Science Series: Earth and Life Science. Phoenix Publishing House Inc\
References:
Tarbuck and Lutgens, 2015. Earth Science 14th Edition..
Hydrosphere
Totality of Earth’s water including cryosphere.

- a dynamic mass of water that is continually on
the move, evaporating from the oceans to the

atmosphere, precipitating to the land, and running
back to the ocean again.
References:
Tarbuck and Lutgens, 2015. Earth Science 14th Edition.
https://discoveringantarctica.org.uk/oceans-atmosphere-landscape/ice-land-and-sea/the-coast-and-adjacent-seas/
Atmosphere
Mixture of gases that surrounds the planet.

The atmosphere is generally composed 78% nitrogen, 21 %
oxygen, 0.9% argon, and the remaining 0.10% is made of
up of different traces of gases.
Aside from the presence of important gases, its relative
© NASA.
abundance is also crucial.
References:
Tarbuck and Lutgens, 2015. Earth Science 14th Edition. © SlideModel.
Biosphere
All life forms and even organic matter that has not yet
decomposed.
Most life on Earth exists within a zone not less than 20km
Earth Science SHS MSU-GSC

wide, where interactions between the lithosphere,
hydrosphere, and atmosphere create a habitable
environment. It is also in this zone where that the interaction
between subsystems is most dynamics.
References:
Tarbuck and Lutgens, 2015. Earth Science 14th Edition
Subsystems Interaction
The four subsystems are closely linked through the biogeochemical cycles which as the term
implies, involves biological, geochemical, and chemical factors.

References:
Subsystem Interaction

Some examples of interactions
between two or more spheres.
erences:
guson, Julie. UCI.
var II, and Morales-Ramos, 2016. Exploring Life Through Science Series: Earth and Life Science. Phoenix Publishing House Inc.
ps://ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/dynamic/session4/sess4_interactions.htm
Recap of today's class

Geosphere 01 Hydrosphere 02 Atmosphere 03 Biosphere 04
Solid Earth (rocks All of Earth’s water Mixture of gases All of Earth’s
and regolith) e.g. ocean, lakes, (N, O, CO2, Ar organisms + any
underground H2O vapor) that organic matter
water, snow and surrounds the which has not
ice (cryosphere). Earth. decomposed.
DISCOVER DISCOVER DISCOVER
DISCOVER
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Thank you!

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Hello!

Photo by Michael Collier

Earth science looks at the entire planet as a system of interacting

Materials move between these reservoirs at different rates.

𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑟

Feedbacks can be:

1. Positive (amplifier; increase leads to increase, decrease leads to decrease)

2. negative (damping; increase leads to decrease, decrease leads to

Boarding House Amount of air

Positive coupling Negative coupling

Boarding House Amount of air

Positive coupling Negative coupling

Dark surface absorbs more Lighter surface (ice, cloud)

Although Earth is considered a closed system, its

The biosphere , the totality of all life-forms, extends

Each can be thought of as consisting of four major

Totality of Earth’s water including cryosphere.

the move, evaporating from the oceans to the

Mixture of gases that surrounds the planet.

Earth Science SHS MSU-GSC

Earth Science SHS MSU-GSC

Earth Science SHS MSU-GSC

Earth Science SHS MSU-GSC

Earth Science SHS MSU-GSC

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