Components of Earth’s Climate System

The Climate System There are four main components of Earth’s climate system: 1. Atmosphere Made of layers of gases surrounding Earth 2. Hydrosphere Includes all water on and around Earth 3. Lithosphere Earth’s rock crust, including land surfaces 4. Living Things All living things are part of the climate system

The Atmosphere Life would not be possible without atmosphere Oxygen and nitrogen are needed to support life Carbon dioxide is needed for green plants Maintains temperature acts as a blanket wrapped around the Earth Reflects, absorbs and radiates energy from the Sun

Contents of the Atmosphere (Troposphere)

Layers of the Atmosphere Altitude Layer Description Temp. exosphere few particles, mainly hydrogen Cold 85-690 km thermosphere xrays are absorbed 30°C 50-85 km mesosphere ↓ density of gases -75°C 20-50 km stratosphere ↑ concentration of ozone 10°C 0-20 km troposphere contains most of the moisture responsible for weather temp. ↑ as altitude ↓ -50 – 20 °C

Ozone in the Stratosphere highest concentration of ozone absorbs harmful UV rays from getting to the Earth’s surface ozone depletion has been noted in several places around the Earth caused by CFC’s may take 50 years or more for the ozone to replenish itself View of the Earth directly over the North Pole The dark blue region has an ozone layer that is about 40% thinner than normal

Ozone in the Troposphere Toxic and corrosive effect in the lower troposphere Mixes with car exhaust to produce photochemical smog Harmful to human health, damages buildings, affects plants and animals

The Hydrosphere The following parts of the hydrosphere affect climate: 1. The Water Cycle warms and cools surroundings moves energy from one place to another

2. Large Bodies of Water water absorbs and stores more thermal energy than land (acts as a heat sink) water heats up and cools down more slowly than land regions near an ocean or large lake tend to be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter (temperature moderator)

3. Ice and Snow About 2% of all Earth’s water is frozen Ice and snow reflect more radiant energy than surfaces covered in soil, rock, or vegetation This lowers the temperature of regions covered in ice and snow

The Lithosphere The following parts of the lithosphere affect climate: 1. Land Formations Mountains produce the shadow effect Wet on one side and dry on the other

2. Altitude at high altitude atmospheric pressure is lower air from lower altitudes rises and cools down effects the ecosystems found at high altitudes

Living Things through various process plants and animals change the relative amounts of gases in the atmosphere plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen animals take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide some animals such as cows produce methane gas methane and carbon dioxide can absorb infrared radiation

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