Spheres of the Earth

Atmosphere
Biosphere
Hydrosphere
Geosphere
Diagram of the Earth’s Spheres
What is a System?
• Earth system science’s aim is to understand
Earth as a system made up of numerous
interacting parts, or subsystems
• System – any size group of interacting parts
that form a complex whole
• Most natural systems are driven by sources of
energy that move matter and/or energy from one
place to another, and are called open systems
(energy and matter flow into and out of the
system)
 Earth As A Closed System

Mass conserved
within system
(no gain or loss)

Closed system: exchange of energy but negligible

exchange of mass with surroundings
Four Spheres Within Closed System

Within this closed system are

four major, interlinked
components:

Geosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere

Energy and matter are

exchanged between these
components.
THE ATMOSPHERE
Layers of the Atmosphere

• Thermosphere—highest

• Mesosphere

• Stratosphere (contains ozone)

• Troposphere---layer we live in
Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres

What a Gas!
What is the atmosphere?
• The atmosphere is a mixture of mostly invisible
gases that surround Earth.

• It extends outward about 500 to 600 km from

Earth’s surface, but most of the gases lie within 8
to 50 km of Earth’s surface.

• The atmosphere is about 78 percent nitrogen, 21

percent oxygen, and 1 percent many other gases.

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres

What is the atmosphere?

• Minor gases in the atmosphere include argon,
carbon dioxide, and water vapor.

• The atmosphere contains the air we breathe.

• It also traps some energy from the sun, which

helps keep Earth warm enough for living things to
survive and multiply.

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Layers of the Atmosphere

•Troposphere---layer we live
in
- densest among the
other layers.
- it is where weather are
generated.
- tropopause, a thin
buffer zone just above
troposphere.
Layers of the Atmosphere

• Stratosphere (contains ozone)

– Has strong horizontal winds
which is advantageous to a long-
distance flights.
– Contains the ozone layer where
it absorbs UV rays.
– Stratopause, zone just above
stratosphere.
Layers of the Atmosphere

• Mesosphere
– Temperature reaches -90°C
(coldest layer).
– CO2 tends to cool the layer by
radiating heat into space.
– Most space rocks and meteors
break down into smaller pieces
such that by the time they reach
the Earth, they are already in
very small pieces.
– Mesopause, the coldest region of
the atmosphere.
Layers of the Atmosphere

• Thermosphere—highest
– Hottest layer because of the highly
energetic solar heat.
– This extreme heat causes the
atmospheric particles to become
electrically charged, making it possible
for radio waves to bounce off and be
received beyond the horizon.
– The lower part is the ionosphere where
particles of oxygen and nitrogen
causing the spectacular lights called
aurora.
Earth as a system

• Can you think of any other spheres that interact

with the atmosphere?
• Biosphere?
• Hydrosphere?
• Geosphere?
THE BIOSPHERE
 Biosphere
Biosphere: The sphere that includes all living organisms.
Plants, animals, and microbes are all part of the
biosphere. It also includes organic matter not yet
decomposed.

Most of Earth’s life is found from

about 3 metres below the ground
to 30 meters above it and in the
top 200 metres of the oceans and
seas.

But…life can thrive in the most unlikely places, from

hot springs to ice caps.
 Biotic vs. Abiotic
• Bio = means life
• Biotic—living parts or components
• Abiotic—nonliving parts of components (air, water,
temperature)
 Biosphere

Under the biosphere is the

“Anthroposphere” or Human Sphere

Part of the earth has been modified by

humans.
Possible Origin of Biosphere
1. The Theory of the Primordial Organic
Soup.
- life from non-living matter.

2. Deep- Sea vent Theory.

- life from marine hydrothermal vents.

3. Panspermia.
- life form outside the Earth carried by
meteorites, asteroids or comets
Earth as a System

• Can you think of any other spheres that interact

with the biosphere?
• Atmosphere?
• Hydrosphere?
• Geosphere?
THE HYDROSPHERE
 Hydrosphere
Hydrosphere:The hydrosphere is composed of all of the
water in the Earth system, including water in the
oceans, rivers, lakes, air, and below Earth’s surface.

97 percent of the earth's water is in

the oceans.

The remaining 3 percent is fresh

water (mostly in ice sheets, but also
in the air as vapour, and below
Earth’s surface as groundwater).
Surface temperatures of
oceans The presence of liquid surface water
(blue= coldest red=
warmest)
makes our planet unique.
Importance of Water

• Water could be in liquid form, not just

solid and gas.
• Has neutral pH.
• A good Conductor of Heat and energy.
• Has a high specific heat.
• It a universal solvent
Hydrosphere
 Distribution of Water on Earth

Surface Water Ground Water

Aquifer
Marine Water Freshwater
- Reservoir for
- High salt - Low salt groundwater and
content content may contain large
amount of
minerals.
Earth as a System

• Can you think of any other spheres that interact

with the biosphere?
• Atmosphere?
• Biosphere?
• Lithosphere?
THE GEOSPHERE
 Geosphere
Geosphere: The solid, inorganic Earth, including
Earth’s surface and layers of its interior.

The Earth is
composed of
nested shells
that are
classified
according to
their chemical
and
mechanical
characteristics.
Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres

What is the geosphere?

• Describe the characteristics of the layers of Earth.

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 Earth’s Layers: Composition and Mechanical Characteristics
Composition Physical Characteristics
crust Primarily silica
lithosphere brittle solid
plus light asthenosphere solid (but
metallic nearly
elements liquid)

mantle
mesosphere solid
Primarily
silica plus
iron and
magnesium

outer core liquid

Primarily iron
core and nickel
inner core solid

Note: Lithosphere contains both crust and uppermost (brittle) layer of mantle
 Geosphere: Chemical and Mechanical
Characteristics Combined

Note: Lithosphere contains both crust and uppermost (brittle)

layer of mantle
Lithosphere
Earth as a System

• Can you think of any other spheres that interact

with the Geosphere?
• Atmosphere?
• Biosphere?
• Hydrosphere?
Overlapping Cycles in the Earth
System

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