Section 1.2 and 1.4 Earth’s Spheres

A sphere is… … like a ball. …or a series of three dimensional circles

Earth’s Major Spheres Atmosphere Hydrosphere Geosphere Biosphere

The meaning of the prefixes Atmo means Air Hydro means Water Geo means Earth Bio means Life

Atmosphere the gaseous sphere that surrounds the earth 90% is concentrated within 16 km of Earth’s surface Provides oxygen to breath Provides carbon dioxide for photosynthesis Provides nitrogen for protein synthesis and DNA building Protects from UV radiation

Atmosphere Weather and climate are produced by exchange of energy between atmosphere, space, and the Earth’s surface

Hydrosphere The sphere of water that covers 70% of the Earth 97% is salt water 3% is freshwater

The hydrosphere is made up of all the salt water and fresh water on Earth. Salt water in the oceans and seas. Fresh water in the lakes, rivers and streams Water vapor in the atmosphere Frozen Water (aka cryosphere)

Geosphere the sphere of rock that is the Earth Three main parts Core (outer/inner) Mantle Crust

Biosphere The sphere of living things on Earth This includes all the plants, animals, fungus, protists and bacteria

Forces that change the Earth’s Surface Destructive forces Break down earth Ex- Weathering and erosion Constructive forces Depend on earth’s internal heat Ex- mountain building, volcanism, seafloor spreading

Earth’s Systems Systems- any size group of things that form a complex whole closed system open system Each of the spheres (atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere) is considered a system because they are always moving and being recycled!

In the biosphere the life forms have a lifespan and when they die they provide nourishment for other organisms In the geosphere, the rocks are endlessly being broken down, then recycled into new rocks In the hydrosphere, the water is endlessly moving, changing states and becoming refreshed. In the atmosphere, the air is continually rising, falling and mixing.

The spheres / systems are endlessly interacting. Can you think of ways that they interact?

How about the biosphere and the hydrosphere? All living things require water to live. Many animals live in the water. Animals like beavers can alter the path of the water.

Describe the spheres / systems that are interacting.

Describe the spheres / systems that are interacting.

Describe the spheres / systems that are interacting.

Earth System All of spheres combined make up the Earth System Powered by: Earth System The Sun (external) - drives atmosphere, hydrosphere, earth’s surface Earth’s interior (internal) - drives mountain building, earthquakes, volcanoes Linked effects- a change in one part may affect the other parts

Think about it In your table groups, come up with two examples of how changing one part of Earth’s system will affect other parts

People and the Environment In Your table groups discuss: How are humans causing changes on Earth? Which spheres are affected by climate change ? Which spheres are affected by a hole in the ozone layer? (ozone helps protect against UV radiation from the sun) Which spheres are affected by air pollution?

Review