The Earth’s Systems

Learning Goals and Expectations

I will know:
• What a system is
• The different parts of the earth’s system
• How each part of the earth’s system works as its own
system

I will be able to:

• Label diagrams of the earth’s systems
• Explain how each part of the earth’s system works and is
interconnected
1. Let’s remember what a system is:

• A series of interconnected parts that form a complex

thing
• Each part is connected and works together to make the
whole thing function
• You cannot affect one part of the system without affecting
the whole system
• A frame holding all
the parts
• Wheels that allow
movement
• Pedals and a chain
that move the wheels
• Brakes that stop
movement
• Handle bars that
guide the movement
What elements of a system do you see?
2. What are the elements of the earth’s
system?

• The Geosphere
• The Hydrosphere
• The Atmosphere
• The Biosphere
3. How does the geosphere operate as its
own system?

• The geosphere is made up of bunch of

interconnected parts
– Inner core (solid metals)
– Outer core (liquid metals)
– Lower mantle (solid rock and metals)
– Upper mantle (partially solid/partially liquid rock and
metals)
– Crust (solid rock)
3. How does the geosphere operate as its
own system?

• The immense pressure on the inner core creates an

intense amount of heat
• The alternating solid and liquid layers allow the heat
to escape from the core through convection
– Heat rises into the layer above and the liquid layers rise up
and push on the solid layers which move around on top of
the liquid layers
– The heat is transferred to the next layer above
3. How does the geosphere operate as its
own system?

• It is the movement of heat through the upper mantle

and up into the crust that causes the movement of
tectonic plates in the earth’s crust.
4. How does the hydrosphere operate as its
own system?

• Water exists in three states:

– Liquid
– Gas (water vapor)
– Solid (snow/ice)

• Water also exists in three places on earth:

– Air (water vapor)
– Surface water (oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.)
– Ground water (subterranean aquifers and channels)
4. How does the hydrosphere operate as its
own system?

• Water moves between these states and places

through the hydrologic cycle (water cycle)
4. How does the hydrosphere operate as its
own system?

• Water moves between these states and places

through the hydrologic cycle (water cycle)
– Water evaporates from surface water into the atmosphere
– Water condenses back into a liquid and falls as
precipitation
– Water either collects in surface water or filters through
ground water systems
5. How does the atmosphere work as a
system?

• As we’ve seen when we looked at weather maps,

there are systems of high and low pressure within
the atmosphere
– Low pressure is created when air is heated and it rises up
and away from the earth’s surface
– High pressure is created when air is cooled and it sinks and
pushes down on the earth’s surface
5. How does the atmosphere work as a
system?

• High and low pressure systems push and pull on each

other
– As air warms and rises, it creates a vacuum which pulls
other air on the earth’s surface in
– As air cools, sinks, and hits the earth’s surface it is forced
to spread out
6. How does the biosphere operate as a
system?

• All living things are connected through many various

ecosystems
6. How does the biosphere operate as a
system?

• All living things are connected through many various

ecosystems
– Plants produce energy through photosynthesis
– Primary consumers eat plants
– Secondary consumers eat the primary consumers
– Tertiary consumers are top-level predators
– Decomposers like mold, fungi, and bacteria break down
dead organisms
How can we see each of the parts of the
earth’s system as being interconnected?