THE EARTH’S SUBSYSTEMS

LET’S HAVE A TRIVIA!

Do you know who

created the first ever
puzzle? Do you have a
guess?
 HOW ABOUT PLANET EARTH?

Now how about the

planet Earth? Do you
think it is a system
too? If it is a system,
is it open or close?
These spheres interact with one another
that enable Earth to sustain life.
EARTH SPHERES
Earth’s Subsystems
 1. HYDROSPHERE

 Makes up 71% of Earth’s surface.

 Earth’s water can appear in any
of its three phases.
 It interacts with other Earth’s
spheres through the water cycle.
 Distribution of Waters on Earth

97% salty water

 3% fresh water
 Earth’s water is 97% salt water and
just 3% fresh water.
FRESH WATER

SALT WATER
 1. HYDROSPHERE
Part of the hydrosphere
also is the cryosphere
the hydrosphere is
considered as an active mass
of water
 2. GEOSPHERE
 It covers the visible solid layer to
the center of the Earth.
 It deals with the solid components
(landforms, rocks and layers of the
Earth).
 It has a depth of 6,400 km, making
it the largest of the earth’s sphere.
LAYERS OF THE EARTH

Layers of the Earth is divided based on

chemical composition and physical properties.
A. Based on chemical composition
(Chemical Layers)
1. Crust
2. Mantle
3. Core
B. Based on physical properties
(Physical Layers)
1. Lithosphere
2. Asthenosphere
3. Mesosphere
4.Outer Core
5.Inner Core
 Mantle

• The Earth is
made up of 3 Outer core

main layers: Inner core

– Crust
– Mantle
– Core
Crust
 Crust
 outermost layer of the Earth
 it occupies about 1% of Earth’s
volume
 two types of crust
 CRUST
Continental Crust Oceanic Crust
- thick (10 – 70 km) - thin (7 km)
- buoyant (less dense - dense (sinks under
than oceanic crust) continental crust)
- some of the oldest
rocks - young rocks
 Mohorovic Discontinuity
- named after Andrija Mohorovicic

 itis the
separation
between the
crust and the
upper mantle
 MANTLE

 it comprises 82% of Earth’s volume

 a dense, hot layer of semi-solid rock
 it is approximately 2,900 km thick
 it is divided into the upper and
lower mantle
 Gutenberg Discontinuity
- named after Beno Gutenberg

it separates the

mantle and the
outer core

Lehmann
CORE
 it is made up of iron-
nickel alloy making it
very dense

 it is divided the outer

core and inner core
Outer Core – about Inner Core – 1,216 km;
2,260 km thick; contains more iron than
its liquid movement is nickel; is solid despite
responsible for of its high temperature
Earth’s because of the extreme
magnetic field pressure at the center
of the Earth.
 Lehmann Discontinuity
- named after Inge Lehmann

 The boundary between the outer

and inner core is the Lehmann
Discontinuity (Bullen Discontinuity).
 It is the hottest part of the core.
B. Based on physical properties
(Physical Layers)
1. Lithosphere
2. Asthenosphere
3. Mesosphere
4. Inner Core
5. Outer Core
 LITHOSPHERE

 Outermost, rigid layer

 Made up of two parts:
1. the crust
2. upper part of the mantle

 It is divided into pieces called as

tectonic plates
 ASTHENOSPHERE
 “asthenes” - weak
 plastic layer of the mantle which the
tectonic plates move
 ductile part of the earth below the
lithosphere up to the lower mantle.
 made up of semi-solid rock that flows very
slowly
 MESOSPHERE

 meso – “middle” - strong lower part

of the mantle between the
asthenosphere and the outer core
 3. ATMOSPHERE
 It is the thin life-giving gaseous
envelope of Earth.
 It is the “a sea of air” that
forms a protective covering
around the planet.
 Its major components provide
the air we breathe and they can
trap outgoing radiation to keep
Earth warm.
 The atmosphere is divided into
different layers.
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Troposphere is the lowest layer
where temperature decreases with
altitude.
It is about 11 km thick and weather
phenomena occur in this layer.

The boundary between the troposphere and

the next layer is called the tropopause.
• Troposphere
Most jets and planes would fly
slightly above this layer to avoid
turbulent weather.
 Layers of the Atmosphere
• Stratosphere it is directly above
the troposphere.
- Temperature increases in this
layer due to high levels of ozone.
- It is about 11 – 48 km thick.
- It is where jet aircrafts fly.
The boundary between the stratosphere and
the next layer is called the stratopause.
 Layers of the Atmosphere
• Mesosphere it is located on top of the
stratosphere.
- Temperature decreases in this area
and can reach to about -90°C.
- It is the coldest layer.
- It is about 50 – 90 km thick.
- It is where meteors burn out.
The boundary between the mesosphere and
the next layer is called the mesopause.
 Layers of the Atmosphere
• Thermosphere it is located on top of
the mesosphere.
- It has the least amount of
atmospheric molecules but
receives most of the high-energy
radiation
- It is about more than 90 km thick.
The boundary between the thermosphere and
the next layer is called the thermopause.
 Layers of the Atmosphere

Ionosphere is the lower portion of

thermosphere.
• layer of charged
particles
• help carry radio
waves.
 Layers of the Atmosphere
Ionosphere
• Where the Aurora (borealis /
australis) occurs
– Natural light
display
 Layers of the Atmosphere
• Exosphere is located directly above
the thermosphere.
• is the uppermost region of Earth's
atmosphere, where the atmosphere
thins out and merges with
interplanetary space
• Air in the exosphere is extremely thin
- in many ways it is almost the same
as the airless void of outer space.
Layers of Atmosphere
 4. BIOSPHERE
 It is the biological component of
the Earth.
 It encompasses all the living
things found on other spheres.
 It includes all of the microbes,
plants and animals.
 Living things breathe, take in
water, and are agents of
sedimentation.
 Our life processes drives us to be
in constant need of interaction with
the planet we live in.
Is the
component of
Earth
encompassing
all the living
things found on
the other
spheres.