the solid rocky and metallic portions of the Earth. Earth’s “Spheres” the Geosphere, including the Lithosphere, the Asthenosphere, and the Pedosphere the solid rocky and metallic portions of the Earth.

the Hydrosphere, including the Cryosphere Earth’s “Spheres” the Hydrosphere, including the Cryosphere the water of the Earth

the gaseous blanket surrounding the Earth Earth’s “Spheres” the gaseous blanket surrounding the Earth the atmosphere

the living organisms of the Earth Earth’s “Spheres” the biosphere the living organisms of the Earth

Earth’s “Spheres” Geosphere the solid matter of the Earth, as distinct from the seas, plants, animals, and surrounding atmosphere

Geosphere Geosphere

Earth’s “Spheres” Hydrosphere The ocean is the most prominent feature of the hydrosphere, as it covers nearly 71% of Earth’s surface and contains about 97% of Earth’s water The hydrosphere also includes fresh water found in streams, lakes, and glaciers, as well as that found underground.

Hydrosphere

Earth’s “Spheres” Cryosphere This is the frozen part of the Earth's surface, including the polar ice caps, continental ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, and permafrost. The cryosphere is very important to our understanding of climate change.

Cryosphere Cryosphere

Atmosphere Earth’s “Spheres” One-half of the atmosphere lies below 3.5 miles (18, 500 feet.) Our atmosphere shields us from harmful solar rays. Our atmosphere is the thin, tenuous blanket of air that surrounds Earth.

Atmosphere Atmosphere

Earth’s “Spheres” Biosphere Earth’s Biosphere includes all life, and is concentrated near the surface in a zone that extends from the ocean floor upward for several kilometers into the atmosphere. Biosphere

Biosphere

Earth’s “Spheres” Lithosphere The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of solid Earth that can be broken. It includes the crust and the uppermost mantle, which constitute the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth.

Lithosphere

Earth’s “Spheres” Asthenosphere The asthenosphere is the weaker, hotter, and deeper part of the upper mantle.

Asthenosphere Asthenosphere

Earth’s “Spheres” Pedosphere The pedosphere is the uppermost part of the lithosphere that chemically reacts to the atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere through the soil forming process.

Pedosphere Pedosphere

An illustration shows the volume of all the world’s liquid water if put in the form of a sphere (green) and the volume of the atmosphere (pink) if the air were all at sea-level pressure. Adam Nieman, Science Photo Library

How many of Earth’s spheres can you see in this picture?

The Launch Pad Draw a tree map representing Earth’s spheres and their relationships. Describe each in one or two words. Earth’s “Spheres” Geosphere Lithosphere Asthenosphere Pedosphere Hydrosphere Cryosphere Atmosphere Biosphere air life solid water crust solid, mobile ice soil

Earth’s Spheres

Earth’s Systems Interact Video Earth’s Systems Interact https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnpF0ndXk-8&index=1&list=PLAkeRSVZBKKarFGsOOZxZWtCfsBR4_VWu

Worksheet Earth’s Spheres

Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? The Launch Pad Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? atmosphere

Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? The Launch Pad Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? pedosphere

Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? The Launch Pad Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? asthenosphere

Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? The Launch Pad Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? biosphere

Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? The Launch Pad Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? cryosphere

Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? The Launch Pad Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? hydrosphere

Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? The Launch Pad Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? lithosphere

Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? The Launch Pad Which of Earth’s “spheres” do the following pictures describe? geosphere