Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Earth Science
SY 2023-2024

Unit 1: Origin and Structure of the Earth

Lesson 2: Subsystems of the Earth

Introduction
Everything in Earth's system can be placed into one of four major subsystems: land, water,
living things, or air. These four subsystems are called "spheres." Each of these four spheres can be further
be divided into sub-spheres.

Learning Objectives
After studying this module, you should be able to:

• Explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and
energy flow

Pre-requisite Skills / Review

REVIEW: Characteristics of Earth to Support Life

a. Escape Velocity
- minimum speed an object needs to escape a planet's pull of gravity.

b. Surface Pressure
- atmospheric pressure at a location on the surface of the planet. It is proportional to the
mass of air above the location.

c. Temperature If No Greenhouse Gases Are Present:

- the temperature of the Earth would be around 18°C lower without the warming effect
of greenhouse gases.

EARTH AS THE RIGHT PLANET

If Earth were considerably larger (more massive), its

force of gravity would be proportionately greater. Like the
giant planets, Earth would have retained a thick, hostile
atmosphere consisting of ammonia and methane, and
possibly hydrogen and helium.

EARTH AT THE RIGHT TIME

The last, but certainly not the least, fortuitous factor

for Earth is timing. The first organisms to inhabit Earth were
extremely primitive and came into existence roughly 3.8
billion years ago. From that point in Earth’s history,
innumerable changes occurred—life-forms came and went,
and there were many changes in the physical environment
of our planet.

Factors that make a Planet Habitable

1. Temperature
2. Atmosphere
3. Energy
4. Nutrients to build and maintain an organism’s body
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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Earth Science
SY 2023-2024

MOTIVATION:

Heuristics Reading Material

Directions: Read the following article and answer the questions in your discussion board.
Article: https://www.dw.com/en/global-ideas-extinction-biodiversity-anthropocene/a-18592451

Comprehensions Checks:
1. What does the term “Anthropocene epoch” mean?
2. What are the key four human-driven changes in the Earth’s systems?
3. How does the technosphere affect the biosphere?

Lesson 2.1 – The Four Spheres

SYSTEM: group of interacting, or interdependent, parts that form a

complex whole.

A LITTLE OF HISTORY: the picture shows the Earthrise which is one

of the first pictures showing the spheres of the Earth.

Lesson 2.2 – Geosphere

• Of the four spheres of the Earth, geosphere is by far the largest covering a
staggering depth of 6400 kilometers (4000 miles), extending from the
surface of the earth to its center.

• CRUST- thin and subdivided into two. The oceanic crust which is relatively
made up of Basalt and extends for up to 7 kilometers only. The continental
crust consists of different rock types and has a thickness of about 35
Kilometers. Density and age are also two factors that distinguish continental
from oceanic crust. Oceanic crust is denser (about 3g/cm³) and only about
180 millions of years and less. Continental crust has a density of 2.7 g/cm³
and age of more than 4 billion years.

• MANTLE- the layer beneath the crust which contains 82% of the Earth’s
volume and extends to a depth of 2900Km. Asthenosphere is the upper
portion of the mantle below the crust where melting and deformation of
rocks starts due to temperature and pressure change. The movement of
the molten rocks in the asthenosphere accounts for the movement of the
rigid crust producing volcanisms, earthquakes and other natural
disasters.
Below the asthenosphere is the lower mantle (660Km-2900Km) contains
molten rocks in gradual motion due to the increasing temperature and
pressure.

• Core- theoretically, the core is believed to be composed mostly by iron and nickel with traces of oxygen,
silicon and sulfur. The core is subdivided into two, namely, the outer and the inner core. The outer core
is a liquid layer which generates the Earth’s magnetic field and is believed to the 2260Km thick. The
inner core (1216Km) is solid due to intense pressure.

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Earth Science
SY 2023-2024

Lesson 2.3 - Hydrosphere

• “Blue Planet”
• The hydrosphere is 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.
• 71% of the Earth is covered by ocean.
• Average depth of oceans: 3800 meters (12,500ft)
• Global oceans account for about 97 percent of Earth’s water.
However, the hydrosphere also includes the freshwater (3%) found
underground and in streams, lakes, and glaciers. Moreover, water is
an important component of all living things.

Lesson 2.4 – Atmosphere

• The atmosphere is the thin gaseous layer that envelopes the lithosphere.
• It not only provides the air that we breathe but also protects us from the Sun’s dangerous ultraviolet
radiation.
• The present atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen (N), 21%
oxygen (O2), 0.9% argon, and trace amount of other gases.
• One of the most important processes by which the heat on the
Earth's surface is redistributed is through atmospheric circulation.
• There is also a constant exchange of heat and moisture between
the atmosphere and the hydrosphere through the hydrologic cycle
affecting weather and climate.
• Refer to the figure:
• 90% of the atmosphere is below 16 km (10 mi)
• The air pressure atop Mt. Everest is about one-third that at sea
level.
• Average sea-level pressure is slightly more than 1000 millibars
(about 14.7 lbs/sq. in)
• Altitude and pressure are inversely proportional.

Lesson 2.5 – Biosphere

• The biosphere is the set of all life forms on Earth.

• It covers all ecosystems
✓ from the soil to the rainforest
✓ from mangroves to coral reefs
✓ from the plankton-rich ocean surface to the deep sea.
• For the majority of life on Earth, the base of the food chain
comprises photosynthetic organisms.
• During photosynthesis, CO2 is sequestered from the
atmosphere, while oxygen is released as a byproduct. The
biosphere is a CO2 sink, and therefore, an important part of
the carbon cycle.

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Earth Science
SY 2023-2024

Lesson 2.6 – Interconnectedness of Earth Systems

VOLCANIC ERUPTION

• Volcanic eruption is a natural phenomenon wherein interior

Earth materials, such as lava, tephra, and volcanic gases are
expelled outside through a volcano.
• Volcanic eruption affects the hydrosphere as it can influence the
drainage system by creating a lake or causing streams to change
course. In addition to that, lava flow can block water systems like
valleys and contaminate waters causing death to the place’s
natural flora and fauna
• Atmosphere is also affected to as large quantities of volcanic ash and gases could result in air
temperatures drop over the entire hemisphere. Also, volcanic gases have adverse effects on our ozone
layer.
• Volcanic ash can bury existing soils affecting vegetation, climate and biological activity in the area.
Lava can also affect the habitat of flora and fauna in the area.
• FORCES THAT DRIVES A SYSTEM
• SUN- The Sun drives external processes that occur in the atmosphere, in the hydrosphere, and at Earth’s
surface. Weather and climate, ocean circulation, and erosional processes are driven by energy from the
Sun
• EARTH’S INTERIOR- Heat remaining from when our planet formed and heat that is continuously
generated by radioactive decay power the internal processes that produce volcanoes, earthquakes, and
mountains.

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Earth Science
SY 2023-2024

Key Concepts

❖ System is group of interacting, or interdependent, parts that form a complex whole.

❖ Geosphere is the solid portion of the earth. The crust and upper mantle of the earth.
❖ Hydrosphere- all the waters on the earth's surface, such as lakes and seas, and sometimes
including water over the earth's surface, such as clouds.
❖ Atmosphere is the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.
❖ Biosphere is the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth (or analogous
parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms.

Learning Activity

Directions: From the picture below, give an example of the following relationships:
a.Biosphere-Lithosphere
b.Atmosphere-Hydrosphere
c.Biosphere-Hydrosphere
d.Lithosphere-Hydrosphere
e.All subsystems

Tutorial Videos

Geosphere and Hydrosphere: https://youtu.be/VMxjzWHbyFM

Atmosphere and Biosphere: https://youtu.be/UXh_7wbnS3A

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Earth Science
SY 2023-2024

Enrichment Activity
Directions: Read each item carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer.
Multiple Choice

1. Which is an example of biosphere?

a. Amoeba
b. clouds
c. soil
d. aurora borealis
2. Which part of the atmosphere are satellites found?
a. mesosphere
b. exosphere
c. thermosphere
d. troposphere
3. Which subsystem contains all the gases of the Earth?
a. atmosphere
b. biosphere
c. hydrosphere
d. geosphere
4. Which shows a connection between biosphere and atmosphere?
a. plants produce oxygen
b. fish swimming in water
c. waves eroding rocks on beach
d. water evaporating to make clouds
5. Which subsystem contains all living organisms of Earth, including those on the land, in the water
and air?
a. atmosphere
b. biosphere
c. geosphere
d. hydrosphere
6. Which of the following is NOT classified under the biosphere?
a. algae
b. Amoeba
c. plankton
d. soil
7. Which does NOT illustrate the interconnection of the subsystems?
a. earthquake
b. hydrologic cycle
c. convection current
d. weather and climate
8. In which part of the atmosphere are satellites located?
a. exosphere
b. mesosphere
c. thermosphere
d. troposphere
9. What makes the lithosphere and crust move?
a. magnetic field from the core
b. high pressures of inner core
c. convection current of asthenosphere
d. low melting point of rocks and minerals
10. Which is NOT part of the geosphere?
a. Asthenosphere
b. Lithosphere
c. Stratosphere
d. Tectonic Plates

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